Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays outlast Mariners in extra innings, 3-2

13 innings of baseball had me like... (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
13 innings of baseball had me like… (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Drew Smyly returned to form Wednesday night, striking out a career high 12 over 6-2/3 innings, as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied from a deficit for a second consecutive day — edging out Seattle 3-2 in extra innings. Tampa Bay has won the first two games of this series, and four of five to start the home stand. They also have won four straight series, something the couldn’t say last season.

The Rays walked it off in the bottom of the 13th inning with the bases loaded. Tampa Bay started the rally with one out against Mike Montgomery when Logan Forsythe ripped a triple to right — the first hit by either team in extra innings — and pinch-hitter Tim Beckham was hit by a pitch. Taylor Motter, who entered the game in place of Evan Longoria (after being pulled due to left forearm tightness), worked a full-count before drawing a walk to load the bases. Logan Morrison capped the rally by walking on a 3-2 pitch, scoring Forsythe for the winning run.

Per Neil Solondz (Rays Radio), it was the Rays first walk-off walk since Luke Scott drew one on May 9, 2013 against Toronto. It was also the longest game of the Year (4:38) by time and innings. Seattle walked 11 batters, their most since 2008, and also struck 19, the most ever for the franchise in a road game.

Tampa Bay’s relievers were the unsung heroes of the ballgame, collecting a combined 6-1/3 innings of 4H/4 K baseball. Xavier Cedeno and Matt Andriese held the Mariners hitless over the final four innings of play.

As for Longoria, the third baseman had previously experienced left forearm tightness, although it flared up in his last at-bat of the game.

It’s not certain is Longoria, who is listed as day to day, will appear in today’s lineup.

Longoria the media it’s “truly day to day,” and expects to be available to pinch hit if needed. The plan is for Longoria to be back in the lineup tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Steven Souza Jr., who did not play Wednesday evening, has been placed on the 15-day DL with a left hip strain. The roster move creates space on the 25-man roster for LHP Blake Snell.

The outfielder injured his hip on a diving catch attempt Monday night. The Rays have now lost three of their outfielders to the injury bug, and the loss of Souza’s bat could be a significant blow to the team. While streaking, Souza has shown more pop at the plate, slashing .255 BA/.315 OBP/.443 SLG/.758 OPS/.327 wOBA/2.1 wRAA with 10 home runs.

The New What Next

Blake Snell (0-0, 1.80 ERA) will get the start for the Rays, opposite of James Paxton (0-2, 3.72 ERA). Snell struck out 13 his last start for Durham, and will make his second Major League start today (his first at Tropicana Field). The lefty will face the team he grew up rooting for, something he said he’ll “get used to.” Paxton is coming off his best Major League start of the season, throwing 6-1/3 scoreless innings against the Rangers on June 11th. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 6/16/16 Starting Lineup

Forsythe 2B
Mahtook RF
Pearce DH
Morrison 1B
Jennings CF
Beckham SS
Motter 3B
Decker LF
Casali C
Snell LHP

Noteworthiness

— Different home plate umpire, same inconsistent strike zone:

Green dots are balls and red dots are strikes.
Green dots are balls and red dots are strikes.
Green dots are balls and red dots are strikes.
Green dots are balls and red dots are strikes.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays come from behind to beat the Mariners, 8-7

Evan Longoria hit a game-tying, three-run homer in the seventh inning, his 16th of the season. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
Evan Longoria hit a game-tying, three-run homer in the seventh inning, his 16th of the season. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays battled back from deficits of 4-0 and 7-4 on Tuesday night, coming from behind to beat the Seattle Mariners, 8-7. Tampa Bay has now amassed 15 come-from-behind wins this season.


Look at that rollercoaster! Source: FanGraphs

Seattle took a four-run lead in the second inning against Jake Odorizzi, after he hurled an efficient 11-pitch first. Odorizzi started the frame by giving up a Nelson Cruz double to left center, while Kyle Seager followed with an opposite field homer to put the Mariners up by a pair. Chris Iannetta worked a walk and Nori Aoki laid down a bunt single up the left side, putting two on with one out. Odorizzi composed himself and struck out Ketel Marte (swinging), however, Leonys Martin hit a two-run double to right-center, capping the four-run frame. Marte was thrown out trying to swipe third to end the inning, but the damage was done.

As they have been wont to do this season, the Rays answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Steve Pearce reached on Marte’s fielding error at short, before Corey Dickerson hammered a two-run, 448 foot blast off the D ring in right-field, his 12th of the season.

Nevertheless Seattle answered in the third when Seth Smith hit a ground-rule double to left, then scored on Cruz’s single up the middle, extending the advantage to three runs. But Tampa Bay pulled to within a run of Seattle in the fourth after Pearce homered to left off Taijuan Walker, his ninth home run of the season. Dickerson, who ended the night a double shy of the cycle, then tripled off the wall in left, hustling ahead of Aoki’s throw.

Walker left the game with an Achilles injury, and was replaced by Edwin Diaz. With Steven Souza Jr. at the plate, Diaz uncorked  a first pitch passed ball off Iannetta’s glove, allowing Dickerson to come home.

Odorizzi was faced with control issues all night — especially on his split changeup, which was flat coming out of his hand — yet he was able to prevent any further damage, and ended up throwing 5-2/3 innings before being ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

About that ejection…

Jake worked a 2-2 count to Martin, then threw two consecutive cutters on the inside corner of the zone.

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Somehow both pitches were denied by home plate umpire Jerry Meals, who had an inconsistent strike zone throughout the duration of the contest.

Green dots are balls and red dots are strikes.
Green dots are balls and red dots are strikes.
Green dots are balls and red dots are strikes.
Green dots are balls and red dots are strikes.

After 116 pitches the writing was on the wall — Jake knew his night was likely over. Why not make a show of the walk to Martin, right?

The ever shaky Dana Eveland took over for Odorizzi and got the final out of the sixth.

It’s showmanship, George is trying to get out on a high note.
— Jerry Seinfeld

In my mind, Eveland shouldn’t have retaken the mound in the seventh, rather Kevin Cash should have let him get out on a high note. Cash’s crystal ball must have been cloudy, as Eveland allowed the first three batters to reach. Adam Lind followed with a long sacrifice-fly to the wall in right-center, where Taylor Motter — who entered the game for the injured Steven Souza Jr (left hip soreness) — made a leaping catch to extend the Mariners’ lead to two. Cash had seen enough of Eveland, and called upon Ryan Garton with runners on the corners and one out.

Seager promptly swiped second against Garton, though not that it mattered since Iannetta ultimately walked, re-loading the bases. Recalling his time with Kansas City, Aoki chopped a ball over the mound, scoring Cruz for a three-run advantage. However, the stingy Garton kept the Mariners from tacking on any other runs.

If the Rays have done one thing well of late, it’s possess a never say die attitude — an attitude that allowed them to take the lead in the bottom of the inning. Trailing by three runs, Curt Casali singled to left with one out against Nick Vincent. Yet the Mariners hurler put down Logan Forsythe on three pitches, giving Tampa Bay just one out to play with. The heat was on, but Brad Miller saw to it to put the pressure back on the pitcher. Miller walked on eight pitches, bringing Evan Longoria to the plate.

On the first pitch he saw from Vincent, a slider down and on the outside corner, Longoria hammered his 16th homer of the season to left-center, tying the contest.

Vincent was lifted for Mike Montgomery, who walked Logan Morrison and Steve Pearce before surrendering the go-ahead, opposite field single to Dickerson for a one-run lead.

Xavier Cedeno threw a perfect eighth, and Alex Colome took over in the ninth.

El Caballo struck out Cruz to start the frame, before Seager drew a walk on 10 pitches. Two pitches later, Colome got Lind to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game. Colome has now collected 19 consecutive saves to begin the season. As for the team, Tuesday night’s one-run win was just their sixth of the season

The New What Next

Pitching on nine days rest for the only the second time in his career, Drew Smyly will take the mound opposite of Nathan Karns. Smyly won his last outing to snap a three-game losing skid. The lefty allowed six runs on 10 hits earlier this season at Seattle. Karns was the Rays rookie of the year last season after going 7-5 with a 3.65 ERA. He is 4-1 with a 3.73 ERA over his last eight starts, although Karns walked five in 4-1/3 innings in his last start against Cleveland. .

Rays 6/15/16 Starting Lineup

Forsythe 2B
Miller SS
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Pearce DH
Dickerson LF
Jennings CF
Conger C
Mahtook RF
Smyly LHP

Noteworthiness

— Eveland has now posted a 7.56 ERA/6.13 FIP in 16-2/3 innings of work. And while his 9.18 K/9 is excellent, his 7.02 BB9/1.62 HR9/14 ER/13 BB isn’t.

— Because of Souza’s injury, and Eveland’s inability to offer the Rays bullpen much of anything, the team has designated the left-handed reliever for assignment, while adding OF Jaff Decker to the active roster. Decker, 26, is out of options, so they’d have to run him through waivers to try to send him back down. The outfielder made a strong impression on the Rays during Spring Training (hustling, hitting everything, good defender), although he posted a modest .233 BA/.351 OBP/.358 SLG/.709 OPS/.330 wOBA with Triple-A Durham, hitting five homers and collecting 22 homers and 14 RBI over 54 games.

— Souza told Roger Mooney his left hip is still sore, and said he’ll know more tomorrow.

Celebrate unity and inclusion with the Rays

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Looking forward to this weekend’s series with the Giants, the Rays are dedicating Friday’s annual Pride Night to the victims of Sunday’s mass shooting in Orlando. All open seats to Friday’s game are available for $5.00, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Pulse Victims Fund.

We’ll be there in section 143, and so should you!

You can find out more about the event below via the Rays’ official press release:

The Rays invite you to join us as we dedicate Pride Night to the victims of the Orlando tragedy. 

All open seats to Friday’s Rays-San Francisco Giants 7:10 p.m. game at Tropicana Field will be available for $5 with 100% of proceeds from those sales benefitting the Pulse Victims Fund, set up for the families of the victims. Additional donations for the Fund will also be accepted through the link below. 

Special ‘We are Orlando’ T-shirts will be distributed to all fans in attendance as a symbolic gesture of unity and inclusion – we all stand with Orlando.

Also planned for Friday:

Proceeds from the team’s daily 50/50 raffle will also benefit the Pulse Victims Fund and additional donation centers will be located at the ballpark.

  • OneBlood will hold blood drives at Tropicana Field starting at 4 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. for Saturday’s 4:10 game. Donors will receive a OneBlood T-shirt and a pair of tickets to a future Rays game.
  • The National Anthem and God Bless America will performed by Una Voce, the Florida Men’s Chorale.  
  • There will be a video pre-recorded by Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.
  •  Major League Baseball’s Vice President of Social Responsibility and Inclusion Billy Bean will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and Senior Vice President, Diversity and Strategic Alliances Wendy Lewis will also be in attendance.
  • The Rays and Giants will also observe a moment of silence while the names of the Orlando shooting victims will be scrolled on the video board.
  • Parking will be $5 in Rays controlled parking lots.

Tickets can be purchased directly from the team here.

The New What Next: Rays vs Mariners, part two — a series preview

Mikie Mahtook hit a pivotal two-RBI single in the series finale with the Houston Astros on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
Mikie Mahtook hit a pivotal two-RBI single in the series finale with the Houston Astros on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays have won three series in a row for the first time this season, and they will try to make it four when the Seattle Mariners come to town, starting Tuesday.

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The Rays are coming off a solid 5-0 win against the Houston Astros on Sunday. For a team that went 11-15 at home going into the previous series, taking two-of-three from the Astros was huge.

It’s a great pattern, Rays manager Kevin Cash said following the series finale. It’s really good it’s coming here at home, because we’re not winning enough series at home. We talked about it before this series started, before this home stand started, we need to start winning ballgames at our park.

Tampa Bay got second baseman Logan Forsythe back from the DL last week, yet they continue to play without Kevin Kiermaier and Brandon Guyer. Mikie Mahtook, who was recalled when Kiermaier was placed on the DL, stepped up in Sunday’s win, getting a two-run single in the series finale.

It’s huge, any time you can win a series, it’s big, Mahtook told AP Sports. We are playing really good baseball right now. The guys in this clubhouse have never doubted each other and we believe in each other. We feel like we are a really good team. I think we are showing that right now by finding different ways to win, day in and day out.

Screen Shot 2016-06-14 at 12.25.05 PM

Tampa Bay has averaged four or more runs in eight of its last 10 games. Thanks to a pitching staff that has limited the opposition to 3.6 runs (on average) over that span, the Rays have won seven straight games when scoring four or more runs. The captain, Evan Longoria, leads the team with 67 hits, while Steven Souza Jr. has 25 RBI and Logan Morrison has seven homers.

On the contrary, the Seattle Mariners have lost seven of their last 10 games, while allowing 13 runs in their last three, and five or more runs in seven of their last 12. Even though Mariners’ hurlers have a combined 3.66 ERA, the team has lost five of its last seven when allowing more than three runs.

Seattle is 5-1 in its last six against the AL East, yet 1-4 in Tijuan Walker’s last five starts. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, is 9-4 over a 13 game span. Be that as it may, the Mariners are 6-0 in the last six contests with Tampa Bay.

Kevin Cash will throw Jake Odorizzi (3-3, 3.47 ERA), Drew Smyly (2-7, 4.94 ERA), and Blake Snell (3-5, 3.29 ERA) over the next three days. Scott Servais will counter with Tijuan Walker (3-6, 3.48 ERA), Nathan Karns (5-2, 4.09 ERA), and James Paxton (0-2, 2.25 ERA).

Screen Shot 2016-06-13 at 9.53.01 PM

Rays series starters

Odorizzi has been consistent of late with a sparkling 2.52 ERA at the Trop. He is 1-1 with a 0.52 ERA and 18 strikeouts in his career against Seattle.

Smyly had his start pushed back to Wednesday, giving him a mental break. After a poor stretch of starts dating back to the start of May, the team wanted to give Smyly some time to clear his head.

This is the second time Snell, 23, has been promoted, with the first coming in a spot start against the New York Yankees on April 23 — his Major League debut. The southpaw looked good in that start, holding the Yankees to just one run on two hits and a walk over five innings, collecting six strikeouts along the way.  He was returned to Triple-A Durham, where he has put together an impressive season thus far, slashing, 3.29 ERA/2.58 FIP/12.9 K9/3.21 KBB over 63 innings. However, Snell has exhibited some control issues over his Minor League career — 28 walks this season, and a 4.4 BB/9 over 485 innings pitched.

Mariners series starters

Walker limited the Indians to three hits over eight scoreless inning, striking out 11. The 11 strikeouts tied a career high for the righty, and propelled him to his first win in his last seven decisions. Still Walker has had a hard time with being able to consistently control his pitches…although that wasn’t apparent Wednesday, when he threw strikes on 21 of 27 first pitches, didn’t walk a batter, and induced 17 whiffs. This season Walker has relied primarily on his 95 mph four-seam fastball, while also mixing in a hard 89 mph worm-killer of a splitter, a 76 mph 12-6 curveball, and a ground ball inducing 89 mph cutter. Key matchups: Hank Conger (3-5, 2B), Corey Dickerson (1-3, HR, 4 RBI), Evan Longoria (1-2, 2B, BB), Steve Pearce (3-5, RBI)

Karns walked five and lasted just 4-1/3 innings Thursday against the Indians, but allowed only one run on two hits. He fanned five and didn’t factor into the decision. His control has abandoned him of late, as he’s walked five and failed to finish five innings in consecutive outings. He threw 92 pitches before being chased by Cleveland on Thursday. Karns’ FIP is better this season than it was last season with Tampa Bay, although his ERA is worse. The increase in walks has become a big problem, as has his 23.9% line-drive rate. As a Rays fan, you should already know what to expect from Karns: a big fastball, a power curveball and a much-improved changeup. Key matchup: Steve Pearce (2-6, HR, 2 RBI)

Paxton scattered six hits over 6-1/3 scoreless innings, but didn’t factor in the decision on Saturday night. He walked a pair and struck out seven. The lefty has been the unfortunate recipient of terrible run support. He allowed one run over six innings two  starts back, and did even better the last time around, however, he still remains winless through three starts. Paxton has fanned seven or more in each of his games, and sports an impressive 6.00 K/BB through 16 innings of work. In 2016, Paxton has relied primarily on his blazing 96 mph four-seam fastball with arm-side run, while mixing in a whiffy 91 mph cutter, a hard 83 mph knuckle curveball that generates a good number of fly balls, a hard 87 mph changeup, and an unfair 98 mph sinker. Key matchup: Evan Longoria (1-3, HR, 2 RB)

Noteworthiness

— Seattle’s lineup hasn’t fared well against lefties — the Mariners are hitting .246 as a team vs. .267 against right-handed pitchers.

— Both teams will see familiar faces over the life of the series: Nathan Karns, who pitched for the Rays last year; Brad Miller, who is batting .242 with six home runs and 20 RBI, and four stolen bases; Logan Morrison, who slashed .351 BA/.455 OBP/.486 SLG/.941 OPS/.135 ISO/.411 BABIP/17 wRC/6.7 wRAA/.410 wOBA in May; and Mike Montgomery, who has collected a 2.27 ERA in 23 appearances.

— Looking forward to this weekend’s series with the Giants, the Rays are dedicating Friday’s annual Pride Night to the victims of Sunday’s mass shooting in Orlando. All open seats to Friday’s game are available for $5.00, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Pulse Victims Fund. We’ll be there in section 143, and so should you!

Rays to recall Blake Snell, move Matt Andriese to the bullpen

The Tampa Bay Rays announced that LHP prospect Blake Snell will be recalled on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)
The Tampa Bay Rays announced that LHP prospect Blake Snell will be recalled on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

The Tampa Bay Rays announced that top pitching prospect, LHP Blake Snell, will be recalled for a start on Thursday afternoon. RHP Matt Andriese will be shifted into a fireman role in the bullpen.

This is the second time Snell, 23, has been promoted, with the first coming in a spot start against the New York Yankees on April 23 — his Major League debut. The southpaw looked good in that start, holding the Yankees to just one run on two hits and a walk over five innings, collecting six strikeouts along the way.  He was returned to Triple-A Durham, where he has put together an impressive season thus far, slashing, 3.29 ERA/2.58 FIP/12.9 K9/3.21 KBB over 63 innings. However, Snell has exhibited some control issues over his Minor League career — 28 walks this season, and a 4.4 BB/9 over 485 innings pitched.

Rays manager Kevin Cash would not comment on the length of Snell’s latest stint the the rotation.

We’ll get through one start and then kind of see where it goes from there, Cash said.

Yet as Roger Mooney (Tampa Bay Times) noted, Snell won’t amass enough service time to attain Super Two status, should he remain on the Rays’ active roster for the remainder of the season. That said, if he pitches well there shouldn’t be any reason that Tampa Bay wouldn’t keep him in the big leagues.

The Rays entered the season expecting to be led by a dominant rotation, though only right-handed pitchers Jake Odorizzi and Andriese have performed consistently well. Even so, Snell will be added to the rotation since Andriese is headed to the bullpen, where he will assume the role Erasmo Ramirez played earlier this season — a pitcher who can get outs and get a lot of them.

We think that’s going to help us win ball games, Cash said. Matt’s very capable of providing a huge boost in the bullpen. (We) fully understand what he’s done as a starter has been tremendous, but we got to think about what we’re doing to win ball games. That was our thought process.

Andriese, who is 5-0 with a 2.82 ERA and holds the lone complete game-shutout on the staff, has acknowledged that he has mixed feelings about the move,

I have some mixed feelings, obviously, but I think overall for the team it’s going to be good. I still see myself as a starting pitcher, but in the meantime I’m going to go down to the bullpen and give them some extra length.

Mark Polishuk (MLB Trade Rumors) wrote about things, saying,

Andriese’s 2.82 ERA, by contrast, has perhaps a bit fortunate, as ERA predictors (3.22 FIP, 4.25 xFIP, 4.42 SIERA) paint a less flattering view of his performance. Andriese doesn’t miss many bats (6.04 K/9) and relies on grounders and soft contract to rack up outs.  It’s not a dissimilar arsenal to that of Erasmo Ramirez, who has also pitched quite well for Tampa in a fireman role this season.  Having a pair of versatile, multi-inning relievers could provide a boost to a Rays bullpen that has been plagued with injuries, most notably closer Brad Boxberger spending almost the entire season on the DL.

A corresponding move is to be determined, and we’ll post that information once it is released.