Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays thump Blue Jays, 13-2

(Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Times)
(Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Times)

A little more than 24-hours after a tough ninth inning defeat, the Tampa Bay Rays began an eight-game road trip with their biggest offensive output of the season. The Rays scored nine combined runs in the front four innings, en route to a 13-2 shellacking of the Toronto Blue Jays.


Source: FanGraphs

Tampa Bay took a 2-0 lead in the first inning against left-hander J.A. Happ, who had thrown seven consecutive quality starts to begin the season. In his first Major League at-bat, utility player Taylor Motter reached with one out on an infield hit that was just wide of first. Motter became the 17th Ray to record a hit in his first plate appearance.

Two batters later, Steve Pearce launched a two-run shot to left, his sixth of the year. The Lakeland Launcher has now collected four homers in 25 at-bats against Happ. The Rays were far from done; their lead was extended to 5-0 in the second inning. Mired in an ugly 1-36 stretch, Desmond Jennings hit a ball through the middle to start the rally. Curt Casali followed with a hard hit double to left, putting runners into scoring position for Kevin Kiermaier. The Outlaw hit a sacrifice-fly for a 3-0 lead, before Tim Beckham hit a two-run homer to center, his first of the season.

 

The good guys chased Happ in the third inning after the lefty allowed an Evan Longoria single, a Pearce walk, and a Steven Souza Jr. RBI base hit to right. Casali welcomed reliever Dustin Antolin by hammering a three-run homer to left, putting Tampa Bay up by nine.

The Rays still weren’t done. Jennings came up with a two-run double to left-center, giving Tampa Bay its second double-digit output of the season. Pearce then singled in another run in the eighth, before Jennings homered in the ninth to cap the scoring for Tampa Bay.

 

Each Ray had at least one hit.

The offensive outburst was more than enough to mask the uneven start by Drew Smyly, who allowed a run on four hits while striking out six and walking four through five innings of work. Some how, and in some way, Smyly was able to be effective despite getting into 10 three-ball counts in the first 3-1/3 innings, and throwing just 59 of his 101 total pitches for strikes.

Toronto had an opportunity to strike early against Smyly, after he picked up the first two outs with ease. The Rays southpaw walked three straight and loaded up the bases for Troy Tulowtizki in the bottom half of the first inning. But Tulowtizki struck out on six pitches, and Smyly left the inning unscathed despite throwing 32 pitches.

Overall, Drew’s strike zone plot did not look like that of someone who only relinquished a run.

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However, Smyly was able to find the zone when he needed to record an out.

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Steve Geltz took over in the sixth and threw a perfect frame. Ryan Webb worked a scoreless seventh, before Dana Eveland gave up a run in the eighth. Enny Romero took over in the ninth, and though he allowed a hit, the flame-throwing lefty was able to close out the game on 11 pitches (six strikes) ― collecting a double play and a fly ball to put the Jays out of their misery.

The New What Next

Chris Archer will toe the rubber opposite of Marcus Stroman on Tuesday. Archer is coming off a no-decision in Seattle that included 33-pitch, three-walk first inning on Wednesday. The ace is 2-0 with a 2.28 ERA in his past four starts. Prior to that, he was 0-4 with a 7.32 ERA in first four, and is 5-4 with a 3.26 ERA in 17 starts against Toronto. Stroman has no-decisions in his past two starts, but beat Rays twice this season. He is 3-1 with a 3.67 ERA overall in four starts against Tampa Bay. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 5/17/16 Starting Lineup

Guyer LF
Miller SS
Longoria 3B
Pearce 2B
Souza RF
Dickerson DH
Morrison 1B
Kiermaier CF
Casali C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— The Rays scored a season high 13 runs on 16 hits. Equally as impressive, however, the went 6-12 wRISP and plated five two-out runs.

— Jennings had one hit since April 22 and three Monday night. The secret?

I don’t want it to sound crazy, I just didn’t try as hard.

— Quote of the day, courtesy of Taylor Motter:

The hair’s my thing. I’m trying to make a statement with that.

 — The Rays have Steve Pearce at cleanup tonight, Corey Dickerson hitting sixth, and three straight left-handed hitters batting 6-7-8.

Rays 5/16/16 starting lineup, hard hit rate report, etc

A new, shiny infield for the Rogers Centre, in Toronto.
A new, shiny infield for the Rogers Centre, in Toronto.

Rays 5/16/16 starting lineup

Guyer DH
Motter SS
Longoria 3B
Pearce 1B
Souza RF
Jennings LF
Casali C
Kiermaier CF
Beckham 2B
Smyly LHP

Noteworthiness

― Taylor Motter is making his first big-league start tonight at SS, and hitting second.

― Mark Simon (ESPN Stats Info) just released the hard-hit rate leader boards for the previous week. As it pertains to the Rays, Evan Longoria is ranked 12th on the hitters leader board (23.2%), and the the team ranked fourth in making hard contact (16.5%). The pitching staff, however, is ranked 27th in hard contact allowed (16.7%).
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― You can read about tonight’s pitching matchup, and so much more, in our series preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs. Blue Jays — a series preview; part three

(Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)
(Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

A day after the Athletics finished off the Tampa Bay Rays, and Rougned Odor finished off Jose Bautista, a pair of AL East foes will clash north of the border, at the Rogers Centre. The Rays and Blue Jays have previously battled twice this season, with Tampa Bay winning three of the seven contests.

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Suffice it to say, the Rays are not playing their best baseball right now, losing five of their last six contests. They did beat up on the Athletics 6-0 on Saturday, however, the team has allowed 30 runs over a six game stretch. Simply put, they need both their pitching and offense to step up.

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Granted, as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) wrote*, they are hitting more home runs than ever at this point of the season — 50 through Sunday, 1.43 per game — and are on a pace for 226, which would smash their club record of 199 set in 2009. However, the homers have accounted for an unsustainable percentage of the total runs scored, nearly 60% — well above the league average of 37.3%.  And even with the power surge, the team ranks near the bottom of the league in runs scored.

Steven Souza Jr. has eight of those homers and 16 RBI, while Corey Dickerson also has eight homers — and leads the team with 17 RBI — but he is hitting just .183.

As for Toronto, the Blue Jays are starting to play better, yet they are still too inconsistent, especially offensively. This was an offense that was one of the best in baseball last season, but this year it has been a different story altogether. In 2015, the Jays outscored their closest competitor by over 100 runs as they led the majors. Currently, however, Toronto is just seventh in the AL in scoring.

That offense also ranks 20th in the league in scoring, putting up just 4.08 runs per game. And while they average 4.32 runs per game in the Six, the Jays allow 4.11 runs per game in the Rogers Centre. As of Thursday, the 3-4-5 batters were hitting a combined .179 in 452 plate appearances. Toronto’s greatest strength has been the weakness of the club so far.

Kevin Cash will throw Drew Smyly (1-4, 3.63 ERA), Chris Archer (2-4, 4.57 ERA) and Jake Odorizzi (0-2, 3.83 ERA) over the next three days. John Gibbons will counter with JA Happ (5-0, 2.05 ERA), Marcus Stroman (4-0, 3.54 ERA) and RA Dickey (2-4, 4.31 ERA).

Smyly didn’t have his best stuff in his last start, but he competed Tuesday, taking the loss against Seattle. With a deceptive fastball thanks to his over the top delivery, look for Smyly to try to get ahead of Toronto’s batters. He is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three career outings at Rogers Centre. Archer went 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA in three starts leading up to Wednesday’s no-decision, when his control lapsed once again. Not attacking the zone, and falling behind in the counts, have been his biggest enemy this season. He’s 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA in two starts against Toronto this year. Odorizzi is still searching for his first win. He’s 0-1 with a 4.24 ERA in three May starts, and he’s 2-2 with a 3.31 ERA in eight career starts against Toronto.

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Happ turned in a gem on Tuesday, pitching 8-2/3 innings of six-hit shutout ball. He baffled the Giants lineup all night long, throwing 75 of 111 pitches for strikes and recording 20 of 32 first-pitch strikes. Happ has been particularly sharp in his last two starts, surrendering just one earned run over the last 15-2/3 innings, while fanning 10 and not surrendering any home runs. A caveat for the 33 year-old lefty, the current metrics indicate that he’s pitching above his head. Happ’s 2.05 ERA is almost two full runs below his career figure (4.04), while his .267 BABP over the last 14 days speaks to a certain measure of luck. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (3-9, 2B, RBI, BB), Desmond Jennings (3-12, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (9-24, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB), Brad Miller (2-3), Logan Morrison (7-14, 3 2B, 4 RBI, BB), Steve Pearce (8-24, 2 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB), Steven Souza Jr. (4-9, 2 2B, HR, RBI)

Stroman is on a nine-game winning streak — the longest by a Toronto pitcher since Roy Halladay won 15 consecutive decisions in 2003. Wednesday’s late-inning rally against San Francisco got Stroman off the hook for the loss and kept his winning streak alive. the 25 year-old righty was last tagged with a loss on September 20, 2014. This will be Stroman’s third start against Tampa Bay in 2016. He went eight innings each of the first two times and has allowed a total of four runs. Key matchups: Curt Casali (2-3), Hank Conger (3-8, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Desmond Jennings (3-8, RBI), Evan Longoria (6-12, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB), Steve Pearce (3-5, HR, RBI, BB)

Dickey pitched eight scoreless frames and gave up just three hits in a victory over Texas on Friday. He fanned six and walked one.  The veteran knuckleballer posted his third consecutive quality start, flummoxing batters up and down the Rangers lineup. Dickey induced 14 whiffs — the most for him since he recorded a season-high nine against the Red Sox on April 9th. The 41-year-old has been able to lower his ERA from 6.75 to 4.31 because of most recent trio of solid appearances. Dickey is 8-8 with a 5.45 ERA in 16 career starts against Tampa Bay. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-3, 2B, 2 BB), Curt Casali (1-4), Hank Conger (1-2), Brandon Guyer (3-12, 2B, RBI, BB), Evan Longoria (12-46, 5 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 BB), Steven Souza Jr. (3-8, HR, 2 RBI, BB)

*I updated the numbers to account for Tampa Bay’s four weekend homers.

Noteworthiness

— Evan Longoria has collected a double and a run scored in four consecutive games.

— Brandon Guyer homered twice on Sunday and has recorded four hits and seven RBI in his last two games, but is just 2-14 (.143) lifetime against Happ.

— Troy Tulowitzki is 8-20 (.400) with three homers, seven RBI and as many runs scored in his last five contests.

— Josh Donaldson went 0-14 in his last three games, but is 7-14 with three homers in his career versus Smyly.

— According to Winners and Whiners…

Tampa Bay is:

  • 1-4 in their last five road games vs. a left-handed starter
  • 1-4 in their last five during game one of a series

Toronto is:

  • 15-5 in their last 20 home games vs. a team with a losing record
  • 19-9 in their last 28 home games following a road trip of seven or more days

 

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays win 6-0, Motter called up, news on Boxberger

Matt Andriese became the first Rays starter since Chris Archer (8/20/15 at HOU) to toss a complete game shutout.
Matt Andriese became the first Rays starter since Chris Archer (8/20/15 at HOU) to toss a complete game shutout. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Not only did starter Matt Andriese lead the Tampa Bay Rays to victory on Saturday, he notched the team’s first complete game of 2016 in dominant form, blanking the Athletics while allowing just two hits.

Friends, I may have celebrated the victory a little too hard last night, and because of it I’m more inclined to lay down than type. What follows is a smattering of moments that mattered in the second game of this three-game set between the Rays and A’s.

― Early scoring opportunities for not. The Rays mounted an early threat in the second inning after Corey Dickerson led off the frame with a triple off the wall in right. Steven Souza Jr. and Logan Morrison followed by working a pair of walks, loading the bases for Steve Pearce. And while Pearce hit a rocket to the left side of the infield, it was right at the Athletics third baseman Danny Valencia for out number one. The inning quickly came to a close when Steven Souza Jr. was caught off second base after center fielder Kevin Kiermaier flied out with the bases loaded. It was another bone-headed running gaffe by Souza, who’s collected at least four other base running mistakes this season in my estimation.

― Tampa Bay took a 2-0 lead in the third inning against Kendall Graven, after Brandon Guyer hit a one-out double down the left field line. Four pitches later, Brad Miller drilled a two-run homer to right-center, his fifth of the year. Miller reached down for an 87 mph cutter as it trailed toward the outside of the plate, and impressively pulled it 412 feet to deep to right-center field.

― The Rays tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth inning after Evan Longoria singled left, then moved to third on a one-out double by Souza that deflected off of Valencia’s glove. Logan Morrison ― who’s slashed .125 BA/.231 OBP/.150 SLG/.381 OPS/.183 wOBA and isn’t truly an RBI threat at the moment ― was walked intentionally after getting ahead in the count 2-0. Athletics manager Bob Melvin was likely trying to setup a double play, however, that strategy failed when Pearce hit a sac-fly to right, and Kiermaier rolled a single through the middle, scoring Souza for a four run advantage and chasing Graveman.

― They put the game out of reach in the eighth as Andrew Triggs and Marc Rzepczynski walked three batters (Pearce, Morrison and Kiermaier) before Guyer singled to left, scoring a pair.

― Flash the leather, Steve. After Valencia reached on a one out single in the seventh, former Ray Steve Vogt lined out to the diving Pearce, who quickly fired to first to complete the inning ending double play.

― You didn’t think I’d forget about Matt Andriese, did you? The right-hander delivered a complete game, two hit shutout ― becoming the first Rays starter since Chris Archer (8/20/15 at HOU) to toss a complete game shutout. Roger Mooney (Tampa Bay Times) put things into perspective, writing,

After two starts, Andriese is tied with Chris Archer for wins among the team’s starters.

I digress.

Andriese breezed through Oakland’s lineup, retiring eight straight to start the game before allowing a pair of base runners in the third on Matt McBride’s two-out single to right and a Billy Burns hit by pitch. But just one pitch later, Andriese got Yonder Alonso to foul out behind the plate to end the threat.

Andriese then went on a stretch where he retired the next 10 batters before he allowed a single in the seventh, which setup the double play a spoke about above.

Rays skipper Kevin Cash attributed Andries’s success to his ability to throw strikes and attack the zone, forcing weak contact:

The overall commitment to throwing strikes, he’s got really good stuff, and his stuff has improved from where it was last year. He’s throwing a tick harder. … The way he attacks, he’s just a little bit of a different pitcher in a positive way.

Andriese approached his last two starts as though he was fighting for a spot in the rotation:

When I got called up, my last start, I kind of told myself I want to be here for good, so I kind of was taking that mentality and kind of built off that each outing.

The New What Next

Matt Moore (1-3, 4.83 ERA) will take the mound opposite of Sonny Gray (3-4, 6.00 ERA) in the series finale. Moore hasn’t been unable to finish five innings in his past two starts. The southpaw has faced the Oakland twice (0-1, 9.00 ERA), but both appearances were four seasons ago at Tropicana Field. Gray has struggled, going 0-3 with a 12.79 ERA in his last three starts after posting a 2.73 ERA in his first four outings of the season. He is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA lifetime against Tampa Bay. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 5/15/16 Starting Lineup

Guyer RF
Miller SS
Longoria 3B
Dickerson LF
Souza DH
Morrison 1B
Pearce 2B
Kiermaier CF
Conger C
Moore LHP

Noteworthiness

― Following Saturday night’s game, Taylor Motter was called from Triple-A Durham. Motter, a utility player, was predominantly playing shortstop with the Bulls, although he has played all over the field, including second base where he’d likely fill in for Logan Forsythe. Motter was hitting just .190 for Durham, however, he’s collected five multi-hit games since May 4th, and has played sparkling defense. Motter was Durham’s MVP a season ago.

The Rays corresponded by designating RHP Danny Farquhar for assignment following the game, for the purpose of optioning him to Triple-A Durham on Monday. He’ll remain on the 40-man roster.

― I’m going to leave this right here.

― Brad Boxberger will be making the first of five or so rehab appearances this afternoon with the Charlotte Stone Crabs, as he comes back from core surgery. He’s expected to throw 20 or so pitches, or one inning, whichever comes first.

Logan Forsythe placed on DL

Logan Forsythe was placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday.

The Tampa Bay Rays have placed Logan Forsythe on the 15-day DL with a hairline fracture in his left shoulder blade. The team corresponded by recalling Danny Farquhar from Triple-A Durham.

Forsythe left Monday night’s game after getting hit on the left shoulder by a Felix Hernandez fastball. The infielder told Roger Mooney (Tampa Bay Times) the best case scenario is that he will miss four weeks from the date of the injury.

One cannot help but wonder if Taylor Motter will be called up at some point in the near future.

In any case, keep checking back as we’ll update this piece as the news becomes available.

Noteworthiness

― Kevin Cash told the media that Farquhar is back to help an overworked bullpen. The team still might call up an infielder, but they needed bullpen help now.