Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Beat Astros 3-1

Runners on the corners and two outs in the bottom of the first inning at Tropicana Field. (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)
Erasmo Ramirez continued his string of terrific pitching on Friday, as the Tampa Bay Rays came from behind to beat the first place Houston Astros by a score of 3-1. The Rays ended the night one game under .500 tied for third place with the Blue Jays.

Erasmo buzzed through the Astros lineup on nine pitches in the first inning with a little help from René Rivera, who gunned down lead-off hitter Jose Altuve as he attempted to swipe second. Ramirez put down the first two batters in the second before Colby Rasmus homered to deep right field to give Houston a one run lead. At that point things looked as though they might turn south. Ramirez walked Chris Carter on five pitches, then allowed a single to center to Jason Castro. Kevin Kiermaier was able to cut off the hit before it bounded to the wall, and saw Carter as he headed to third. The Outlaw air mailed a wild throw to third, but no one was covering the bag. The errant throw caught Evan Longoria flatfooted, but Ramirez hustled over to third and caught the ball, thus avoiding disaster. Erasmo followed by fanning Jake Marisnick to end the inning.

It was just instinct, Ramirez said following the game. Go to the ball. No matter where it is, go and catch it.

From that point on, Ramirez was terrific. He retired 12 of his last 13 batters, and gave up one run or fewer for the ninth time — Erasmo is now tied with Dallas Keuchel, and one behind Chris Archer and Felix Hernandez for the most in the American League. What’s more, he culled an impressive 95.2% LOB over his last 25-2/3 innings of work, something no other starter in the rotation can say. His final line: 6 IP/4 H/1 ER/1 BB/5 K on 77 pitches (50 strikes, 65% strike percentage)

The Rays were able to put Ramirez on the winning side of the ledger with a two-run rally against Collin McHugh in the sixth. Rene Rivera got things started with a base-hit to left off the glove of shortstop Carlos Correa. John Jaso followed with a hard hit double to right, putting runners at second and third. David DeJesus and Evan Longoria each came up with hard-hit RBI groundouts to the pull side for a one-run advantage.

The Rays added to their lead in the seventh when Brandon Guyer belted a two-out solo shot to left for a well needed insurance run.

Jake McGee took over in the seventh and got four outs after allowing a leadoff double to Luis Valbuena. Kevin Jepsen put down both batters he faced in the eighth, and Brad Boxberger tossed a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his 21st save.

The New What Next

Jake Odorizzi will make his return to the Rays’ rotation on Saturday after being sidelined since June 5 with a left oblique strain, opposite of ace lefty Dallas Keuchel (11-3, 2.14 ERA). In his only career start against the Astros, he surrendered just one hit — a single by Jose Altuve — over 7-1/3 innings en route to a win. Keuchel will make his final start before the All-Star Game. He’s thrown at least six innings in 29 consecutive starts and is the first Astros hurler to win 11 games prior to the All-Star break since 2005 (Roy Oswalt was the last). You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 7/11/15 Starting Lineup

Guyer CF
Jaso DH
Longoria 3B
Forsythe 2B
Butler RF
Loney 1B
Cabrera SS
Elmore LF
Rivera C
Odorizzi RHP

Noteworthiness

— Roster move: the Rays optioned RHP Andrew Bellatti to Triple-A Durham Bulls and have reinstated starter Jake Odorizzi from the 15-day DL.

Odorizzi is happy to get the opportunity to return to the bump prior to the All-Star Break,

I’m happy that I’m getting to start now so that I don’t have to wait the whole All-Star break to throw my first game back. It’ll be good for me that I can be on normal rest after the break so I can come back pretty quick and give these guys who haven’t had a break over the first half of the season, besides their normal rest, an extra break.

— By the by, I will heading to the mountains of North Carolina on Saturday. Contributor du jour Michael Nazzaro will handle the game recaps for the final two games before the All-Star Break.

— Here here:

Rays 7/10/15 Starting Lineup, Etc.

Rays 7/10/15 Starting Lineup

Jaso DH
DeJesus LF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Forsythe 2B
Cabrera SS
Guyer RF
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Ramirez RHP

Noteworthiness

― Read our Rays/Astros series preview if you haven’t already. If you have, make it a two-fer.

― Danny Russell (DRaysBay) is here to remind you to not panic, the Rays will be fine over the long run.

The New What Next: Rays vs. Astros — A Series Preview

James Loney forces out Eric Hosmer during the second inning of a baseball game on Thursday, July 9, 2015. (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
James Loney forces out Eric Hosmer during the second inning of a baseball game on Thursday, July 9, 2015. (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
To put it bluntly, the Tampa Bay Rays are scuffling, badly. The team boarded a plane bound for St. Pete (by way of Tampa) with a 1-6 record on their most recent road trip, and losers of 14 of 18 overall —  including a four-game sweep by the Kansas City Royals. To put things into perspective, it’s hard to lose four straight games to the same team, yet Tampa Bay did it twice in two weeks (the first came against Cleveland 6/29-7/2).

…About that ill fated series with Kansas City, the 52 hits allowed by Tampa Bay was the fourth most ever allowed by the team in a series, and the most since June 2007 against the Yankees (63). Then there’s the ugly fact that 20 of the Royals 32 total runs came with two outs. That is, Kansas City scored more runs with two outs than the Rays scored over the course of four games (16). It would be a little too convenient to blame on Derek Shelton and the offense — and let’s be honest, a .182 batting average wRISP certainly isn’t pretty — though the pitching was the main culprit of the Rays failure over the previous four games  against the reining American League champions.

Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) offered some perspective on the pitching woes:

After posting a 3.30 ERA through the first 70 games, the Rays staff has been at 4.93 during the 18-game skid. Those 1½ runs per game might not be much to some teams, but given how the Rays were offensively challenged anyway, that can be a monumental difference. (For context, five of the losses in that stretch came in games when they got 10 or more hits, which happened only four times before.)

The bullpen decline has been more acute, revisiting the idea — which the Rays refute — that the relievers are burned out by the heavy, and high-stress, use. The numbers suggest yes, as the bullpen ERA during the 18-game stretch is 6.75, including four game-losing homers from ninth innings on.

It’s not going to get any easier, as the Rays welcome the AL West leading Houston Astros into the Trop for a three-game series.

There is a bright side, however, Houston (49-39) finds itself in an offensive funk as the team has lost three in a row. The Astros have scored just three runs, while batting .170 during their skid. Though Houston is the American League’s third-worst hitting team at .242, their success is built on the team’s ability to mash — the Astros lead the league with 122 home runs. Houston also boasts a solid pitching staff that’s led by Dallas Keuchel, who the Rays will face on Saturday. The ‘Stros have the American League’s third best ERA (3.58) and FIP (3.62).

Erasmo Ramirez, Jake Odorizzi, and Matt Moore will be tasked with keeping the ball inside of the park for Tampa Bay. Ramirez has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts — the third longest streak in Rays history behind Alex Cobb (12), Drew Smyly (9). Make no mistake about it, the smiley guy has been very good, allowing just three home runs total in his last nine starts. Ramirez is 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA against Houston in three appearances (two starts). Odorizzi will return from the 15-day DL to face off with Keuchel on Saturday. The righty hasn’t taken the mound for the Rays since June 6, but he fanned five batters over 5-2/3 scoreless innings in a rehab start on Monday, and looks to pickup where he left off  before the injury. Moore allowed four runs on nine hits over 4-1/3 innings on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay took five of seven from the Astros last season. Everybody’s working for the All-Star break.

Rays and Astros series starters over the last 14 games.
Rays and Astros series starters over the last 14 games.
Rays and Astros offensive production over the last 14 days.
Rays and Astros offensive production over the last 14 days.
Rays and Astros by the numbers.
Rays and Astros by the numbers.
Collin McHugh: McHugh (9-4, 4.54), who went 0-2 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts against the Rays last season. The 28 year-old righty gave up four runs over 5-1/3 innings in Saturday’s 6-1 defeat at Boston after posting a 2.45 ERA in a three-start win streak. What can be expected out of McHugh? For one thing, there’s a hope for Tampa Bay. McHugh isn’t throwing his fastball as often as he once had. When he does, he throws is with less velocity and higher in the zone. Right-handed hitters have tattooed the pitch. McHugh is still racking up the whiffs on his breaking pitches, so John Jaso and company will need to be ready to hammer any mistakes. Key matchups: David DeJesus (1-3, 2 RBI), Grady Sizemore (1-3).

Dallas Keuchel: In a nutshell Keuchel (11-3, 2.14 ERA) is a pitcher who is better than average at controlling the running game, limits good contact (according to Statcast, the lefty has allowed an average exit velocity of 85 miles per hour), and plays good defense. He also gets a good number of strikeouts, doesn’t walk many hitters, and doesn’t give up many homers. Keuchel has allowed four runs or more only four times in his 18 starts. Key matchups: Asdrubal Cabrera (2-8, HR, RBI), Logan Forsythe (2-7), Brandon Guyer (2-3), John Jaso (1-1), James Loney (1-4, RBI), Evan Longoria (3-6, RBI).

Lance McCullers: McCullers (4-2, 2.16 ERA) boasts a 95 mph four-seam fastball with natural sinking action and an 85 mph curve that is thrown hard and generates a very high amount of ground balls. The 21 year-old righty also mixes in a 90 mph change-up that generates an extreme number of ground balls, and a rare 96 mph sinker.

Noteworthiness

— Evan Longoria is batting .343 during an eight-game hitting streak.

— Rays’ DH/OF John Jaso is hitting .583 BA/.600 OBP/.917 SLG/1.517 OPS/.333 wOBA since returning from the DL, with three runs and two RBI.

— Expect a roster move ahead of the activation of Jake Odorizzi from the DL. Either Andrew Bellatti or Joey Butler will likely be optioned to Triple-A Durham, although I’d argue it might be wise to designate Alex Colome for assignment. Whatever the case, I’ll update this piece to reflect any roster move.

— Steven Souza got his stitches out on Friday, and will resume baseball activities Saturday. Souza, who Kevin Cash is said to be “hearing good things,” is shooting to return to the lineup in Philadelphia on July 21.

— Per Ken Rosenthal (Fox Sports), the Rays lost RHP Preston Guilmet on waivers to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Guilmet was designated for assignment in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Jaso.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Another Game, Another Ugly Loss

Chris Archer falls to the ground as a ball is hit back toward him during the game against the Kansas City Royals on July 8, 2015. (Photo Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Chris Archer falls to the ground as a ball is hit back toward him during the game against the Kansas City Royals on July 8, 2015. (Photo Credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
If the W in the W/L columns stood for would have, then the Tampa Bay Rays should be one game over .500 after they came within two runs of their counterparts in the ninth inning. However, it doesn’t, and the team earned another ugly loss on Wednesday, thanks to Chris Archer who got shelled to the tune of nine two-out runs over six innings. Kansas City has now won 11 of their last 12 home games against Tampa Bay, while the Rays have lost 14 of their last 17.

The Rays took a one run lead in the third inning after James Loney plated John Jaso from second on an RBI single to right field. Jaso initially reached on a base-hit to right, then was wild pitched 90 feet with Evan Longoria at the plate. However, Archer couldn’t put together a shutdown inning and Royals took a one run lead in the bottom of the inning after Lorenzo Cain hit a two-run moon shot to center.

Yet the Rays built a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning on an inside-the-park homer by Logan Forsythe, and a bases-loaded single by Rene Rivera.

With the bases still loaded and none out, Jaso hit a liner to left — but right at Jarrod Dyson, who was in the game because Alex Gordon was hurt on the Forsythe homer. Dyson turned the liner into a 7-2 double play, as Brandon Guyer was thrown out at the plate on the left-fielder’s bullet home. Tampa Bay didn’t put another runner on the base paths until the seventh inning. Yet the Royals held a commanding six-run lead by that point.

Kansas City took a commanding lead in the fifth inning with a five-run rally. Archer walked Cheslor Cuthbert, the number nine hitter, with one out, and Alcides Escobar — who went 4-4 against the Rays ace — blasted an infield hit off the Rays starter to put two on. Archer was able to put Dyson down (swinging) on a nasty slider in the dirt, but Cain hit a ground ball toward the middle that Forsythe fielded with his momentum going toward center field. The second baseman threw the relay to Archer, who then fired home to Rivera, but the play was late and Cuthbert scored to knot the game at three. Eric Hosmer followed with a bloop hit single to center for a one run lead. Kendrys Morales was next in on the fun, blasting a two-run double to center, while Salvador Perez capped the five-run rally with a single to right.

For whatever reason, Rays manager Kevin Cash allowed Archer to take the mound again in the sixth, and the Royals responded by scoring two more. Escobar blooped a two-out single to center, and Dyson followed with a liner to left. David DeJesus tried to make a diving grab on the play, but the ball glanced off his glove and rolled behind him for another inside the park homer. The effort on the play should be commended, however, DeJesus never should have let that ball get behind him.

Per the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first MLB game with two inside the park homers since May 26, 1997 (Cubs Sammy Sosa and Pirates Tony Womack). The Royals have now scored 18 two-out runs (of 25 total) in the series.

Cash called upon the recently activated Andrew Bellatti for the seventh and eighth innings, and the righty was excellent. Bellatti posted two innings of one hit ball on 19 pitches (12 strikes). And while hindsight is 20/20, Bellatti was fresh and ended the night with a low pitch count — he should have entered the game the inning prior.

The Rays were able to collect 14 hits, and the team actually did okay wRISP. The .178 hitting Rivera had three hits including a ninth inning homer (which sparked a three-run rally), and Jaso collected three hits a walk. Rivera’s solo shot began a string of five straight hits. Greg Holland, the Royals closer, allowed two of them, including a two-run single by Evan Longoria. But with two on and one out Forsythe flew out. Holland wild pitched the runners to second and third, but pinch-hitter Grady Sizemore struck out (swinging) to end the game.

To me, the blame for the loss should be placed on two people:

  1. Archer, for allowing nine runs.
  2. Cash, for allowing Archer to retake the mound after a five run fifth inning.

Unfortunately Cash aired on the side of caution and stuck with Archer in the sixth — although in retrospect, his decision to stick with Archer looked reckless, not cautious. In light of the ninth inning rally, the decision to stick with the striped one cost the team the opportunity to win the game in extra innings.

For his part, Archer was none to happy about his performance, saying after the game:

Just disappointing in the fact that I didn’t give my team hardly a chance to win. We put up seven runs and usually when we can do that we win. …I really was hoping to walk away with a split series here and go home and be in a good position at the break.

The New What Next

The Rays will try to avoid being swept in Kansas City on Thursday, when Nathan Karns pitches opposite of Yordano Ventura. In his last two starts, Karns has demonstrated an ability to pitch out of trouble — the righty came away with a quality start in both. Ventura last started for the Royals on June 12 before he was placed on the DL for the better part of a month. He has faced the Rays twice with two no-decisions and a 3.27 ERA. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 7/9/15 Starting Lineup

Jaso LF
Sizemore RF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Forsythe 2B
DeJesus DH
Cabrera SS
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Karns RHP

Noteworthiness

— Kevin Cash made it official, Jake Odorizzi will be activated from the DL on Saturday, when he is slated to take the mound for the first time since June 9. Matt Moore will get the start on Sunday.

— Per ESPN, Matt Silverman doesn’t plan to make any major moves at the trade deadline despite Tampa Bay’s recent 3-14 skid: “We’re in the hunt, and given all the injuries that have taken place, it’s a good spot to be in. We’re going to get healthier in the second half and have a club that resembles, or more closely resembles, the club we thought out of spring training.” Silverman also lauded the Rays coaching staff, including Derek Shelton. Silverman added that having James Loney, John Jaso and Steven Souza Jr. together in lineup (after the All-Star break) will lead to more runs.

— After reviewing video of Tuesday’s walk off loss with pitching coach Jim Hickey, Brad Boxberger said it was obvious he was tipping his pitches:

It was pretty obvious, looking at the video, so I’ll definitely make some changes with that and get back to not telling every hitter what’s coming.

Boxberger acknowledged that he needs to make adjustments against the opposing batters, who seem to have adjusted to the reliever:

It’s a combination of me not making my pitches along with a hitter’s different approach. (Tuesday’s game) definitely made me look at the video and see how I was attacking hitters and probably getting a little too happy with the changeup when they’re going to be looking for it. So I’ll definitely change my approach.

— Marc Topkin wrote about the return of Drew Smyly in the forthcoming months:

Baseball operations president Matt Silverman said the team is optimistic LHP Drew Smyly can return in August from shoulder issues, based on his response to a throwing program that has included several bullpen sessions. “He’s been getting his work in, he’s been pain free, and he’s starting to build up,” Silverman said, though live batting practices and rehabilitation games will be a truer test. Smyly has been sidelined since early May due to a torn labrum. It is possible the tear had been there and his discomfort was related to other issues.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Swept in Double Header

John Jaso rounds the bases to his own beat. Let it be said, with his choice of dreadlocks, that beat probably shares a lot in common with Sublime's "Santaria." John Jaso #28 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with Grady Sizemore #24 after hitting a home run in the third inning during the second game of a double header at Kauffman Stadium on July 7, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
John Jaso rounds the bases to his own beat. Let it be said, with his choice of dreadlocks, that beat probably shares a lot in common with Sublime’s “Santeria.” (Photo Credit: Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
Ouch! The Tampa Bay Rays once trustworthy bullpen allowed 11 runs over the span of Tuesday’s double header, resulting in a pair of ugly losses to the Kansas City Royals.

Rays manager Kevin Cash summed up both games in two sentences,

We had some opportunities, and maybe a little uncharacteristically, because we value and trust our bullpen so much. We didn’t quite get it done today.

Both games are recapped (in some capacity) below.

Game One

For the fourth time in five road games, the Rays fell in walk-off fashion. This time the Rays lost in grand-slam fashion by a score of 9-5, after Brad Boxberger allowed three batters to reach after getting the first out of the inning. He then gave up the slam to rookie Paulo Orlando.

For his part, Boxberger said there were times he didn’t know where was ball was going, and the homer was on change-up.

However, as the saying goes, you can’t win games if you don’t score runs — and the team had an opportunity to plate more than their five runs in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings against Chris Young and a Royals bullpen. Compound that with a second frame when Matt Moore, who lacked command throughout the course of his outing, gave up two runs with two outs. In that inning, Moore walked one and hit a pair of Royals — Drew Butera and Alex Gordon.

You can relive the first contest in all of its gory glory at our Tumblr page, where I live blogged the first of two.

Game Two

The Royals scored four two-out runs in the sixth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie en route to a 7-1 lashing of the Rays. The victory completed a sweep of a double-header as Tampa Bay has now dropped 13 of its last 16 games.

The Rays had more than their share of chances to tag Edinson Volquez in the front two innings. The dreadlocked one, John Jaso, hit a lead-off double the first, and Logan Forsythe did the same in the following inning. Yet, in neither case could the Rays advance the runner. Jaso was able to put the Rays on the board in the third with a solo homer to right (his first of the season).

tumblr_nr5b64i2bR1rs1483o1_400

However, that was all the Rays could muster against Volquez and the Royals’ bullpen. Tampa Bay went 0-8 wRISP against Volquez, and a combined 1-18 in the twin bill. Compare that with the Royals who went 8-24 wRISP.

After Volquez, Brandon Finnegan, Luke Hochevar and Ryan Madon held the Rays hitless over the final four innings.

Kansas City tied the game in the fifth inning. Matt Andriese, who allowed just three singles and a walk over the first four innings, gave up a walk to number nine hitter Jarrod Dyson, and he promptly swiped second. Andriese was able to strike Alcides Escobar out, but Alex Gordon followed with a bloop hit to shallow centerfield to plate a run and tie the game. The righty walked Kendrys Morales, and Rays skipper Kevin Cash called upon Everett Teaford to face Eric Hosmer. The lefty got Hosmer to bounce back to the mound to keep the game tied at one.

Yet the Royals rallied with one out in the sixth, and it all started when Brandon Gomes hit Paulo Orlando with a pitch. Gomes got Omar Infante to ground into a 6-4 fielder’s choice, however, Chestor Cuthbert singled to center — moving Infante into scoring position. Dyson, who scored the tying run an inning earlier, walked to load the bases, and then Alcides Escobar doubled in three runs after an 11-pitch battle with the Rays reliever. Gordon extended the lead on an RBI single to left-center off Alex Colome, who pitched 2-1/3 innings in relief. El Coballo gave up a two-run double to Gordon in the eighth inning to cap the scoring.

The New What Next

Chris Archer will get the ball for Tampa Bay, opposite of RHP Jeremy Guthrie. Despite 6-2/3 innings of scoreless ball against the Yankees on Friday, he came away with a no-decision. Guthrie has been tough at home of late, posting a 2.01 ERA over his previous five starts at Kaufman Stadium. He is 2-1 in that span and has held opponents to a .195 average. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 7/8/15 Starting Lineup

Jaso DH
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Forsythe 2B
DeJesus LF
Guyer RF
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— The Rays designated Everett Teaford for assignment after the second game of the double header, and reinstated Andrew Bellatti.

— Brad Boxberger became the eighth Rays pitcher to give up a walk-off grand slam on Tuesday afternoon.

The list:

  1. May 3, 1998 Roberto Hernandez at CLE (Sandy Alomar)
  2. August 14, 2000 Billy Taylor at BOS (Rico Brogna)
  3. May 16, 2001 Esteban Yan at KC (Joe Randa)
  4. August 8, 2006 Seth McClung at SEA (Richie Sexson)
  5. September 6, 2008 Troy Percival at TOR (Gregg Zaun)
  6. April 18, 2013 Brandon Gomes at BAL (Matt Wieters)
  7. April 25, 2014 Grant Balfour at CWS (Jose Abreu)
  8. July 7, 2015 Brad Boxberger at KC (Paulo Orlando)

— First baseman Casey Gillaspie, the Rays top pick in 2014 who was recently promoted to the Stone Crabs, will miss about eight weeks with a fracture in his fifth metacarpal (pinky finger) of his left hand. Gillaspie had 17 homers between the Bowling Green Hot Rods and the Charlotte Stone Crabs.