Chris Archer will take the mound in the series opener against the Red Sox tonight. (Photo Credit: Cliff McBride/Getty Images)
Rays 9/21/15 Starting Lineup
Guyer LF
Mahtook RF
Longoria 3B
Forsythe 2B
Cabrera SS
Loney 1B
Shaffer DH
Kiermaier CF
Arencibia C
Archer RHP
Noteworthiness
― In an interesting twist on things, JP Arencibia will start behind the plate not Rene Rivera, who got the call in Chris Archer’s last 17 starts. Overall, Rivera has caught 24 of Archer’s starts, with Bobby Wilson catching six, and Curt Casali one. Arencibia has worked 1/3 of an inning with the Rays ace.
It was a mob scene! The Rays celebrated their second walk-off win of the season after they closed out the series against the Baltimore Orioles with a 7-6 win. (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)
On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Rays did something they hadn’t since the beginning of September, close out a series having won two games. They’ll look to exact some revenge on the Red Sox when they start a four-game set in Boston on Monday.
The Rays capped their home stand with a walk-off win off one of the best closers in the game, Zach Britton. It became the first time Britton allowed two extra base hits in relief, and it all began with a first pitch, game tying pinch-hit homer off the bat of Brandon Guyer. Britton has allowed just three home runs in 60 games, and this one proved costly for the lefty.
Evan Longoria followed with a one-out, opposite field triple, while Britton allowed back-to-back walks of Logan Forsythe (intentional), and Richie Shaffer. After Joey Butler went down swinging ― as he is wont to do ― Kevin Kiermaier beat out an 0-2 tapper to the right side, plating the winning run for Tampa Bay! It was the second walk-off win of the season for the Rays, and the first since April. It was also the first game winning walk-off hit of Kiermaier’s MLB career.
On the other hand, Boston continues to build its confidence for the 2016 season, while also playing the part of spoilers against playoff-bound teams. Winners of 14 of their last 22 games, the Red Sox look to ride that wave of momentum against the Rays.
James Loney is 11-for-22 during a six-game hitting streak for the Rays, while Xavier Bogaerts and Dustin Pedroia have both collected nine game hitting streaks. Mikie Mahtook is 2-3 against Monday’s starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who did not factor into the decision after yielding three runs in five innings versus the Rays on July 31. Rookie Travis Shaw is 6-11 in his last three contests and has reached base safely in 12 straight.
Kevin Cash will start Chris Archer, Matt Moore, Drew Smyly, and Erasmo Ramirez over the next four days. Archer (12-12, 3.95 ERA) set the Rays’ single-season strikeout mark in a seven-strikeout performance against New York on Wednesday. The righty notched his 19th quality start of the season, while allowing two earned runs on four hits and four walks in six innings. Moore (1-4, 7.06 ERA) delivered his best outing of the season last Thursday, holding the Orioles to two hits over seven shutout innings, with nine strikeouts and no walks. The lefty, however, has struggled in two starts against Boston this season, allowing 12 earned runs on 18 hits. Smyly (3-2, 3.64 ERA) is two-for-two in quality starts versus the Red Sox this year, allowing just one earned run in a combined 12 innings of work, with 17 strikeouts and four walks. The lefty surrendered five earned runs on four hits against Baltimore on Friday. Finally, Ramirez (10-6, 3.70 ERA) has delivered quality starts in each of his last two outings, allowing a total of two earned runs and 10 hits in a combined 14-2/3 innings, with 10 strikeouts and two walks.
The Rays are 7-8 against the Red Sox this season (3-3 at Fenway), with a -5 run differential. That is, expect all four games to be close affairs.
Rays and Red Sox series starters over the last 14 days.Rays and Red Sox offensive production over the last 14 days.Rays and Red Sox, but the numbers.
Eduardo Rodriguez (9-6, 3.64 ERA) is slated for another 10-14 innings this season, as the Red Sox protect one of their most valuable hurlers. The lefty has pitched his most consistent baseball of late, going 3-1 with a 1.72 ERA over his last five starts. The Venezuelan rookie ― who primarily relies upon a 95 mph four seam fastball, an 88 mph change-up, and a, 87 mph slider ― has struck out 16 over 12-1/3 frames in his last two starts, and is 6-2 across 11 home starts. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-3), Asdrubal Cabrera (1-3), Evan Longoria (1-2, BB), Mikie Mahtook (2-3, 2B, RBI), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3, RBI).
Henry Owens (3-2, 4.33 ERA) is coming off his best Major League start, as he hurled 7-2/3 shutout innings with no walks in a win over Baltimore. Owens is 1-1 with a 6.86 ERA in four starts at Fenway Park, and has never faced Tampa Bay. The lefty boasts a four pitch repertoire, and he relies primarily on a 91 mph four seam fastball, and a 90 mph sinker. He also mixes in a 78 mph change-up, a 73 mph curveball, and a 78 mph slider for good measure.
Rick Porcello (8-13, 5.16 ERA) allowed five earned on eight hits, walking two and striking out four over six innings of a 6-1 loss to Toronto on Friday night. Porcello has improved since returning from the disabled list in late August, coming off a string of outings where he had completed at least seven innings, so it might be best to chalk up his subpar outing to facing a tough offense. The Rays tagged the righty for three runs on five scattered hits and three walks over seven innings back on September 12. Key matchups: JP Arencibia (1-4), Asdrubal Cabrera (15-52, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB), Logan Forsythe (4-10, 2 BB), John Jaso (3-1, HR, 3 RBI), James Loney (5-19, 2B, HR, RBI, BB), Luke Maile (1-1, 2B, RBI), Daniel Nava (2-3, BB), Rene Rivera (1-3), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3).
Wade Miley (11-10, 4.34 ERA) allowed two runs on three hits and five walks while striking out seven in 6-2/3 innings in a win over Toronto on Saturday. Miley fought with his control, but kept the game tied before leaving the game. It was his third consecutive quality start, a stretch that also includes a three-run seven inning outing against Tampa Bay on September 11th. Key matchups: Asdrubal Cabrera (4-15, 3B), Brandon Guyer (3-10, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (3-6, 2B, 3B), James Loney (2-8, 2B, RBI), Rene Rivera (5-14, 2B, 2 RBI), Grady Sizemore (2-3, 2B).
Noteworthiness
― Evan Longoria, who needs one homer to reach 20 for the seventh time in his first eight years in the majors, is 4-9 with a double and a triple over the last two games.
― Jake McGee (knee) threw a simulated game on Sunday and is expected to return at some point this week.
― David Ortiz is 9-23 with two homers and 11 RBI against Chris Archer, who is 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA in three starts against Boston this season.
― The countdown to our last regular season watch party continues to tick down to Friday. Hope to see you at Green Bench Brewing Company then!
Grady Sizemore falls to the ground after being hit with a pitch by Darren O’Day during the eighth inning. (Photo Credit: Brian Blanco/Getty Images)Wei-Yin Chen pitched seven effective innings, and Adam Jones drove in two runs as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 on Saturday night. Baltimore has now won two of the first three games in the four-game series.
Both teams scored in the first inning. In the top of the frame, with Erasmo Ramirez on the mound, Manny Machado reached on a one out bunt single up the third base line. Machado went to third on a Chris Davis double to the right-center gap, and then scored on Adam Jones’ groundout to short. Tampa Bay countered in the bottom half of the inning after Brandon Guyer led off with a single to center, then came home on Richie Shaffer’s double that bounded past the diving Steve Pearce in left.
Ramirez calmed down and retired eight consecutive batters until he allowed three batters to reach in the fourth. He, however, was able to coax a double play at one point in the frame to get two quick outs. Then with two on, Erasmo forced a comebacker from Matt Wieters to end the inning unscathed.
Baltimore took the lead for good in the sixth as Davis (3-for-3 against Ramirez) doubled to right on the first pitch of the inning. Jones singled in the go ahead run on a bloop to right-center for a one-run advantage.
In his seven innings of work, Ramirez scattered nine hits to go with four strikeouts, yet he surrendered just single tallies in the first and sixth innings thanks to good command and solid defense behind him. Of Erasmo’s 86 pitches, 65 went for strikes, and he walked none. On most days that would be good enough for a win. Then again, this wasn’t most days. Ramirez has now gone seven innings or more six times this season. Chris Archer leads with 13 such starts.
Wei-Yin Chen helped make the lead stand. After allowing hits to the first two batters, Chen was in control ― giving up just two hits and an HBP against next 20 he faced. And though Tampa Bay had a chance to tie the game (or take the lead) in the seventh, getting singles from James Loney and Asdrubal Cabrera to start the frame, Steven Souza Jr. flew out to right, Kevin Kiermaier couldn’t advance the runners on a liner to short, and pinch-hitter Joey Butler went down swinging to end the threat.
Andrew Bellatti threw a scoreless eighth, and Matt Andriese did the same in the ninth to keep the Rays in striking distance.
The Rays were unable to score against Darren O’Day and Zach Britton in the eighth and ninth innings. Grady Sizemore just missed a possible homer ― pulling a ball foul down the right field line ― and then was hit by a pitch by O’Day in the eighth inning; the only base runner against the Orioles bullpen. Excitement ensued.
Mikie Mahtook, on to pinch run after Sizemore, swiped second thanks to a great slide. Yet in a terrible interference call by home plate umpire Dale Scott, Mahtook was sent back to first and Evan Longoria was called out for interfering with Wieters. Longoria swung at the pitch, and while he lost his balance, Evan never left the batters box, in fact he even squatted out of the way on the follow through! Interference calls are based solely on an umpire’s judgment, but a batter should be allowed to swing the bat normally. Mahtook was caught stealing a pitch later, ending the rally with Logan Forsythe at the plate.
The New What Next
Jake Odorizzi (8-8, 3.26 ERA) will take the ball for Tampa Bay on Sunday, opposite of RHP Kevin Gausman. The 25 year-old Odorizzi is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in two starts against Baltimore this season, holding the Orioles’ batters to a .196 average. Odorizzi notched a victory against the Yankees on Tuesday, allowing three earned runs on three hits ― including two home runs ― in six innings. Gausman is 3-6 with a 4.15 ERA on the season. He threw six scoreless innings against the Red Sox on Monday. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 9/20/15 Starting Lineup
Jaso DH
Sizemore LF
Longoria 3B
Forsythe 2B
Loney 1B
Mahtook RF
Kiermaier CF
Arencibia C
Beckham SS
Odorizzi RHP
Noteworthiness
― Last night’s game being another close one, Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) wrote of the Rays inability to win tight games:
Because of the way they are built, focused on pitching and defense and lacking artillery on offense, the Rays are predisposed to play tight games. And that is exactly what happened this season, a majors-most 84 of their first 147 decided by one or two runs. But they weren’t good enough at it, going 41-43 in those games and 24-27 in one-run games. Even worse, of course, was their performance when working overtime as they are a majors-worst 2-13 in extra innings (scoring only four runs in those frames) and losing a record-threatening 11 straight. Also, they have 12 walkoff losses vs. one walkoff win.
― Only five more days until our last regular season watch party. Let’s send off the season with a bang!
― Jake McGee, who will accompany the team on their upcoming road trip, was pleased with the 30-pitch simulated game he threw prior to Sunday’s matinee game. The plan now is to see how his knee feels tomorrow, throw maybe another bullpen session or simulated game, and return to the roster during the Boston series:
“I felt really good, a lot better than last time.”
Mikie Mahtook became one of eight Rays to go 5-for-5 in a game. That list also includes BJ Upton, T. Perez, Carl Crawford, and Jeff Keppinger. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)Carlos Pena retired as a Ray Friday night, and the Tampa Bay Rays honored the former first baseman by plating six runs in the fifth inning en route to an 8-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Mikie Mahtook tied a franchise record with a five-hit night, to highlight a 13-hit attack.
Baltimore broke out in front in the second inning, thanks to a three-run monster shot by J.J. Hardy to left field. The homer followed a two-out hit by pitch of Steve Pearce and a four pitch walk of Caleb Joseph off starter Drew Smyly. An opportunity to end the inning unscathed presented itself, but J.P. Arencibia was unable to hold onto a two-strike foul tip that would have ended the frame. Whatever the case, Tampa Bay entered the bottom of the inning down by three.
Smyly efficiently put down the first five batters on four strikeouts (swinging) and a Johnathan Schoop fly ball out to right, needing just 22 pitches to do so. Yet the lefty ended the second inning having thrown 43 pitches. Despite walking a pair ― one that was erased on a third inning caught stealing of Manny Machado, and a base hit ― Smyly didn’t allow another run until the sixth.
Tampa Bay answered in the bottom of the frame, taking advantage of a second life as well. After Jonathan Schoop threw wildly to first on a potential Arencibia double-play ball, Tim Beckham homered to left center. The two-run shot (his ninth of the year) got the Rays within one.
The 3-2 score held until a six-run rally in the bottom of the fifth. John Jaso began the rally against Orioles hurler Tyler Wilson with a one-out single to left. Mikie Mahtook doubled over the head of Adam Jones in center, and Evan Longoria was intentionally walked to load the bases. Grady Sizemore followed by belting a three-run double to right-center, giving Tampa Bay a go-ahead lead.
Chaz Roe entered in relief and promptly walked Steven Souza Jr. on seven pitches. James Loney, who had a productive night at the plate on Thursday, plated a pair of runs on a double into the right field corner. Finally Nick Franklin capped the scoring with a bloop double that fell in front of Jones in shallow center.
However, Baltimore answered in the sixth with a two-out two-run homer from Steve Pearce, chasing the lefty. Smyly gave up just four hits, but allowed five runs — all on homers — and all of them scored with two outs. Brandon Gomes took the mound and retired the next four hitters, handing the ball to Steve Geltz in the eighth.
Geltz started the frame by coaxing a popper out of Machado before walking Davis. Yet the righty coaxed a double-play ball out of Jones to face the minimum.
Brad Boxberger took the hill in the ninth and quickly induced a weak grounder to third out of Schoop for the first out of the frame. Though Boxberger made the game a bit more uncomfortable when he gave up a hard hit solo shot to left to Pearce (his second homer of the night). In spite of that, the much maligned righty was able to pick up his 35th save of the season. The Rays won, 8-6.
The New What Next
ErasmoRamirez (10-5, 3.75 ERA) will try to build on his last outing, opposite of LHP Wei-Yin Chen. Ramirez carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Yankees. He came away with a no-decision after pitching his longest outing of the season at 7-2/3 innings. Erasmos is 2-1 with a 4.01 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against Baltimore. Chen is trying to put the finishing touches on another solid season. He is tied for second on the team in wins and has a 3.44 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 172-2/3 innings. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 9/19/15 Starting Lineup
Guyer LF
Shaffer 3B
Longoria DH
Forsythe 2B
Cabrera SS
Loney 1B
Souza RF
Kiermaier CF
Maile C
Ramirez RHP
Noteworthiness
— Carlos Pena signed an honorary contract with the Rays on Friday, and the 14-year veteran immediately announced his retirement from Major League Baseball.
Pena spoke at a pre game news conference in which he said,
After 17 years of living my childhood dream, I am honored to walk away from the game I love, with the team that I most cherished. The Tampa Bay Rays will forever hold a very special place in my heart. It felt like home. It felt like family. …This is just a dream come true to end my career in such a way. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. The Rays, it was the most fun I ever had playing baseball — including Little League, I must say. And it’s something I repeat often. … I’m floored (by getting to retire as a Ray). Words cannot really express how grateful I am and how indebted I am to this organization and the people of Tampa Bay.
Matt Silverman, who signed Pena to the honorary contract was complimentary of the former first baseman,
Carlos played such a key role during the transformation of our franchise to the Rays. His contributions both as a player and a person can still be felt today. The respect he has for our organization and the connection he feels to Tampa Bay and our fans is heartwarming. It is with great pride that we welcome him back to the Rays organization.
Prior to the game against the Orioles, Pena took to the field wearing his familiar number 23 jersey to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to his father after a video tribute played on the scoreboard.
— Chris Archer game Mikie Mahtook an ice bath during his post game interview after tallying five hits against the Orioles:
— Hey, sign that minor leaguer! Oh wait, they already have:
— LHP Xavier Cedeno should be available tonight. He has been out more than a week due to side tightness.
Reliever Alex Colome reflects after a 3-0 lead disintegrates in the eighth inning and the Rays fall to 70-76. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)The Tampa Bay Rays start the day at 70-76 after RHP Alex Colome allowed a three-run lead to evaporate in the eighth inning of last night’s ballgame. At this point it’s all but certain the Rays will miss out on the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Rays 9/18/15 Starting Lineup
Jaso DH
Mahtook CF
Longoria 3B
Sizemore LF
Souza RF
Loney 1B
Arencibia C
Franklin 2B
Beckham SS
Smyly LHP
― Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), OF Desmond Jennings said he is likely done for the season. In addition to a bruised knee, he has been sidelined with tooth infection that required oral surgery. Jennings hoped to return from his knee issues before the end of season, but as he said,
(It’s) probably not going to happen.
Jennings continued,
It’s been a tough year, obviously. Can’t go nowhere but up at this point, hopefully. Don’t know how much lower you can go.
Rays skipper Kevin Cash later confirmed that Jennings’ season is over, saying the outfielder would have made it back from the knee bruise, however, the tooth issue is what ended his season.
