Join us, Green Bench Brewing Co., and The Brewery Bay on Friday, August 14, when we team up to host a Tampa Bay Rays watch party. Come cheer on your favorite ball club as they take on the Texas Rangers, in a game that could have postseason implications. We’re bringing all of the camaraderie of the game, and some delicious foodstuffs, all just a stones throw from Tropicana Field.
Enjoy the game on either of the two flat screen televisions in the tasting room, then make your way to the beer garden after sunset, where the game will also be projected on an adjacent wall in all of its big screen glory.
First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 pm, but be sure to get down to Green Bench early to enjoy some family friendly pre-game activities including giant Jenga and corn hole (to name a couple). While away the time with your friends by sipping on some ice cold craft beers, and consuming some delicious foodstuffs.
Green Bench will be offering $1.00 off beers to folks wearing Tampa Bay Rays gear throughout the evening – including our own Rays inspired designs. We’ll also offer raffle off some great Rays swag between the innings.
Alexei Ramirez is tagged out by Curt Casali during the ninth inning on August 3, 2015. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)The Tampa Bay Rays rallied late on the road for the second straight day, scoring against the opposing bullpen to beat the Chicago White Sox on Monday night by a 5-4 margin. At 53-54 on the season, Tampa Bay is 2-for-2 on its current six-game road trip, and two games back in the Wildcard race.
Tampa Bay took a one run lead in the first inning when, with one out, Joey Butler hit a rocket up the middle, Evan Longoria hit a hard liner to left, and Logan Forsythe doubled to right for the game’s first run. But starter Jose Quintana ― who threw 29 pitches in the first inning ― limited the damage by striking out Asdrubal Cabrera with a pair of runners in scoring position and one out. After Richie Shaffer was hit in his first big league plate appearance, Mikie Mahtook grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Rays extended the lead in the fifth inning after Butler doubled to right off Avisail Garcia’s glove. Longo moved Butler to third on a single to left, and Forsythe followed with a sacrifice-fly to right-center for a two-run lead.
Through the first five innings, Nathan Karns dominated Chicago’s lineup, allowing just one hit and two walks, while fanning out seven. That one hit was a Jose Abreu double to begin the fourth, but Karns retired the next three batters without Abreu advancing.
The righty was dominant for the majority of his start. All of his pitches ― the fastball, curveball, and change-up ― were working, and he located them well and efficiently. When he needed to get Chicago’s batters of his fastball, he used his late moving change-up. His most dominant pitch, however, was his curveball. Karns used the hook both ahead and behind in counts, and on both sides of the plate. He threw the pitch for a strike 69% of the time, coxing whiffs 24% of the time.
Karns was still pitching well into the sixth, when he gave up a luck dragon single to Tyler Saladino. The righty made a good pitch that was moving down and away, yet Saladino just did a better job of putting the bat to the ball. With a runner aboard and one out, Abreu made his way to the plate. Though Karns quickly got ahead of Abreu, he missed with a hanging curveball and the slugger made him pay by hitting the ball to deep centerfield. Kiermaier made tried to rob the long ball, but it carried a mere inches past his glove, tying the game at two.
One would have assumed that despite the events of the sixth, Karns would have stayed in the game after throwing only 79 pitches. False. Kevin Cash popped out of the dugout and pulled a visibly perturbed Karns in favor of Brandon Gomes, who got the final two outs in the sixth to keep the game tied.
Contrary to what we’ve seen all season, the Rays were able to answer the White Sox in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Grady Sizemore hit a double into the right field corner, and went to third on an errant throw by Avisail Garcia. After John Jaso was robbed of a hit on a rocket to first, Longoria doubled to left (his third hit of the night) for a one-run advantage.
Cash called upon Xavier Cedeno in the bottom of the inning. Cedeno got the first out of the frame, then was lifted for Steve Geltz. Garcia immediately doubled to left center and wild pitched to third, before Carlos Sanchez launched his third homer of the season into the right field seats. It was the first time this year Geltz pitched on three straight days. He put down the next three batters in order, but not before the damage was done.
Thankfully the Rays answered with runs in the next two innings.
Grady Sizemore came up against tough lefty Zach Duke with two outs in the eighth, and hit a mammoth homer to right, tying the game at four:
Then in the ninth with David Robertson on the bump, Forsythe helped the Rays take their third lead of the night. Forsythe drew a crucial one-out walk, and went to third on a single by Asdrubal Cabrera. Yet James Loney, who drove home the game-winning run on Sunday, struck out. However, Mahtook, who previously left the bases loaded twice, then lined a single to left for the go ahead run.
That put Jake McGee, who threw a 1-2-3 eighth, on the winning side of the ledger.
Brad Boxberger took the mound in the ninth and gave up a leadoff single to Alexie Ramirez, who got into scoring position by swiping second with Adam LaRoche at the plate. LaRoche hit a base hit to shallow center, and the Outlaw quickly fielded the play then let loose with a throw to the plate as Ramirez rounded third:
Ramirez was out by a wide margin. And while LaRoche advanced to second on the throw, Boxberger fanned Avisail Garcia, and Carlos Sanchez lined to right to finish the game.
Kiermaier spoke about the run saving play after the game, saying he didn’t think Ramirez would try to score off the bat:
No, no, not at all. We were playing kind of shallow anyways. I got the ball and I peeked up at him and I saw that they sent him. I told myself, ‘Just make a nice, good, long, one-hop …’ I short-hopped it and Curt made an unbelievable pick. I’ve hugged him at least seven times since the game’s ended. I told him it was unbelievable.
Perhaps the ChiSox have learned not to test the arm of The Outlaw.
The New What Next
Chris Archer (9-8, 2.54 ERA) will make his 23rd start of the season in Tuesday’s game, opposite of Chris Sale (9-6, 3.20 ERA). Archer has not picked up a win in his last six starts, going 0-4 with a 3.96 ERA. Archer retired the first 19 batters in order in his last start against the Tigers. Sale is coming off of a rare rough start against Boston, allowing seven runs on a career-high 12 hits over five-plus innings. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 8/4/15 Starting Lineup
Guyer LF
Beckham 2B
Longoria DH
Forsythe 1B
Cabrera SS
Shaffer 3B
Mahtook RF
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Archer RHP
Noteworthiness
— According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), the recently promoted Richie Shaffer (0-2 last night with an HBP and a walk) should see a lot of time with the Rays:
Shaffer, the 24-year-old who was the Rays’ top pick in the 2012 draft, is expected to stick around for a while, potentially the rest of the season, playing mostly first and occasionally third (to give Evan Longoria a day off his feet) or DH against all lefty starters, as the Sox have in all three games of this series, and some right-handers. Though he’s dabbled in the outfield, the Rays aren’t going to push that for now.
— With the above quote in mind, Shaffer will get the start tonight at third, while Longoria, who will be the DH tonight, gets a little time off his feet.
— The Rays have won back-to-back road games after trailing, going into the eighth inning, for the first time since June 1-2, 2010 at Toronto.
Tonight harkens the start of the Richie Shaffer era, as the Rays 1B/3B prospect has been promoted to the big leagues.
Rays 8/3/15 Starting Lineup
Guyer LF
Butler DH
Longoria 3B
Forsythe 2B
Cabrera SS
Shaffer 1B
Mahtook RF
Kiermaier CF
Casali C
Karns RHP
Noteworthiness
― Though the news of his promotion broke last night, the Rays made the promotion of Richie Shaffer official this afternoon, also announcing that Moore has been optioned to Triple-A.
―Shaffer will be in the lineup tonight, hitting sixth and playing first. He will become the 17th rookie used by the Rays this season — a new club record.
― Speaking of Shaffer, get to know your newest Ray here and here. We’ll have a writeup on Shaffer later.
― Haven’t read our Rays/White Sox series preview? Rectify that now! If you have, make it a two-fer.
Pablo Sandoval strikes out against Brad Boxberger, who retired Boston’s third baseman, on three pitches during the ninth inning on August 2, 2015 in Boston. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Rays were able to make a graceful exit from Boston on Sunday, after the team salvaged the final game of their three-game set against the Red Sox in come-from-behind fashion, winning by a 4-3 margin. The Rays will go from one Sox to another, when they head to the south side of Chicago to face another fringe contender over the next three days, the White Sox.
This series, like the one against the Tigers, is important because it could have playoff implications. Tampa Bay starts the day just three games out in the wildcard race, yet the White Sox sit just a half game behind the Rays. A series win by either team would put some space between the two. That doesn’t mean it will be easy.
While the ChiSox have lost six of their last seven at home, they’ve also gone 7-3 over their last 10 games. On the other hand, Tampa Bay has gone 4-6 over a 10 game stretch and looks to win back-to-back road games for the first time since a four-game streak spanning June 17-20.
To their credit, the Rays offense has been better of late. The team has averaged 4.2 runs per game extending back to July 22, and 5.3 runs in the last six games. However, the offense wasn’t the problem in the Red Sox series, rather it was the sloppy defensive work in the field which greatly effected pitching staff’s ability to hold Boston in its tracks.
Nathan Karns, Chris Archer, and Erasmo Ramirez (along with the bullpen) will be tasked with keeping Melky Cabrera (.500 BA with 16 RBI in his last 11 games and an RBI in 12 of his last 13), Jose Abreu (13 game hitting streak), Adam Eaton (11 game hitting streak), and Alexei Ramirez (homered in three of his last five games) in check. Karns (6-5, 3.37) has allowed just two runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, a stretch that began when he gave up one run while striking out against the White Sox on June 14. Archer (9-8, 2.54) fanned 11 and allowed a pair of unearned runs on three hits over seven innings in a losing effort Wednesday. Ramirez (8-4, 3.61 ERA) allowed just one earned run on five hits, while walking two and striking out six over six innings on Friday, yet came away with a no-decision after the team lost a heartbreaker by a 7-5 score.
Rays and White Sox series starters over the last 14 days.Rays and White Sox offensive production over the last 14 days.Rays and White Sox by the numbers.
Jose Quintana: Quintana (6-9, 3.52 ERA) has allowed two runs or fewer in 13 of 21 starts, however, his teammates have supported him with average of just 2.63 runs through his first 19. He’s gotten some help of late though, hurling his first career shutout in a 6-0 win over Cleveland on July 24 before giving up two runs in 6-1-3 innings of Wednesday’s 9-2 victory over Boston. Quintana primarily relies upon a 92 mph swing and miss four seam Fastball and an 81 mph 12-6 curve. He also mixes in a 92 mph sinker and 86 mph worm-killer of a change-up. He rarely throws a 91 mph cutter. Key matchups: Logan Forsythe (2-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (2-3), James Loney (1-3).
Chris Sale: Sale (9-6, 3.20 ERA) struggled Thursday, allowing seven runs on 12 hits, a walk and two hit batsmen in just five innings, though he still struck out seven. And while the Rays beat the left-handed Chris Archer on June 14th, Sale has held Tampa Bay to an ugly combined .173 BA/.244 OBP/.296 SLG/.541 OPS slash line. Key matchups: Asdrubal Cabrera (9-35, 4 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 2 BB), Brandon Guyer (1-2, BB).
Carlos Rodon: Rodon (4-4, 4.84 ERA) lasted just three innings on Friday, relinquishing eight runs on eight hits and four walks in a loss to the Yankees. He struck out four in the effort. The Rays have never faced the 22 year-old left handed hurler. Rodon relies primarily on his 94 mph four seam Fastball, a hard 87 mph slider that generates a lot of ground balls, and a 94 mph sinker. He will also mix in an 85 mph change-up that generates a high number of swings and misses, and rarely throws a 93 mph cutter.
Noteworthiness
— Asdrubal Cabrera is batting .400 with a 1.238 OPS in his last seven games.
— As I wrote on Sunday, Richie Shaffer is expected to be called up on Monday. Shaffer will take the place of Matt Moore, who was optioned to Triple-A Durham, on the roster.
— Just sit back and relive Brad Boxberger’s three strikeout ninth in the series finale, on Sunday:
Don’t look now, but Richie Shaffer is getting called up to the bigs! (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)
For those of you who’ve followed our #PromoteShaffer and #FreeShaffer campaigns on Twitter, our hard work has finally come to fruition. Now that you’ve made it past that megalomaniacal sentence, the Tampa Bay Rays will promote Richie Shaffer — the power hitting third base/first base prospect — to the majors on Monday.
Looks like Shaffer time for #Rays. Slugging prospect Richie Shaffer removed from AAA Durham game, expected to be called up Monday.
Shaffer was Tampa Bay’s 2012 first-round draft pick and started the season with Double-A Montgomery. But the prospect broke out in a big way this season, slashing .262 BA/.362 OBP/.470 SLG/.832 OPS with seven homers in 149 at-bats. His success in the box earned Shaffer a promotion to Durham where he continued to produce, slashing .261 BA/.353 OBP/.592 SLG/.945 OPS with 16 homers in 184 at-bats.
Shaffer is a right-handed hitter that will likely immediately be placed into the Rays lineup, due to Steven Souza’s placement on the DL. The Rays are about to face three left-handed pitchers, and a right handed power bat could help bolster the team’s scuffling offense.
Since Shaffer is primarily a corner infielder — be that either at first or third — it is probable that he’ll platoon at first base, where he can give James Loney a break against left handed pitching. He, too, could slot in at third on days when manager Kevin Cash wants to give Evan Longoria some time off his feet.
#Rays AAA manager Sandberg told @stevewisemanNC Shaffer has worked some in RF, was to play there this week — Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 3, 2015
Interestingly enough, Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) noted that Shaffer has been working in right field at Durham, another option that could offer him more playing time because of his flexibility.
While the timetable for his promotion has been expedited, as he was projected to be a September call up, it is no less exciting to see the first player of the Rays’ 2012 draft class make his way to the big leagues.
The excitement was palpable for Shaffer, who told Topkin:
I can’t even begin to describe the feeling, it hasn’t really set in. Right now, I’m actually under control a little bit. It probably will really hit me when I get on the plane (today).
