Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Win Eighth Straight, 6-4

After an eight inning, 10-strikeout effort from David Price, Jake McGee came into the game in the ninth to tally his 10th save of the year. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)
After an eight inning, 10-strikeout effort from David Price, Jake McGee came into the game in the ninth to tally his 10th save of the year. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

Going into last night’s contest, I thought if the Rays were going to drop any game in the series, it would be the one with Jon Lester on the mound. After all — prior to the first pitch — Lester put up insanely good numbers, to the tune of 0.23 ERA over the last 30-days. He also hadn’t lost a game to Tampa Bay in his last three starts. “As long as the Rays could walk away with the series,” I thought to myself, “they will still be in good shape.”  Much to my surprise — and Boston’s chagrin — Tampa Bay was able to tag Lester, Miller, and Tazawa for six runs en route to a big 6-4 win. The Rays start the day 7.5 games out of first in the East, 3.5 games behind the third place Blue Jays, and 4.5 out in the Wildcard race (just 1.0 behind the Indians). Per Fangraphs, they were also able to increase their playoff odds to 13.4%, decreasing Boston’s odds to 3.4% in the process. One game down, two more to go.

Source: FanGraphs

David Price started the game strongly, needing only 22 pitches to put down the first five batters in order (three strikeouts, two fly ball outs). My favorite moment of the game, up to this point, came when David Ortiz came to the plate for the first time. His name was announced to a chorus of very loud boos. Big Papi proceeded to go down looking at three perfectly located pitches.

Pitch number three. (Courtesy of Brooks Baseball)
Pitch number three. (Courtesy of Brooks Baseball)

But Price’s pristine start wouldn’t last. With two-outs and a 1-1 count in the second inning, Price served up a misplaced cutter out over the plate to Shane Victorino, which he consequently deposited into the left field stands. Undeterred, Price put down the next 11 of 13 batters — working around a pair of base hits, while wracking up three strikeouts (one swinging).

The wheels fell off for Price in sixth, after the Rays took a 2-1 lead. Dustin Pedroia hit a one out double to the left-center gap, instantly getting into scoring position. Big Poopi, urm…Papi followed with a full count, RBI single to right-center — knotting the game at two apiece. Price was able to coax a Mike Napoli fly ball out — coming within one out of minimizing the damage — but the Red Sox again took a one run lead after Jonny Gomes and Shane Victorino hit a pair of singles. The Massholes in attendance took the opportunity to get loud at this point, though their feelings of bliss would ultimately be fleeting.

Price settled down and put down six of the next seven Sox, ringing up four more in the process (three swinging). Price ended the night with a pretty good 8 IP/8 H/3 ER/0 BB/10 K 114 pitches (84 strikes, 74% K%) line, culling together his sixth consecutive win. Jake McGee came on in relief, and though he had a rough 2 H/1 ER ninth, he was able to tally his 10th save of the year — striking out one along the way.

On the offensive end of things, despite putting up threats in the front three innings, the Rays couldn’t crack Lester until the fifth when Desmond Jennings hit a two-run, 419 foot bomb to left center, on a 2-0 center-center cutter — his second career homer off Lester.

Previous to Jennings’ big fly, Ben Zobrist hit two infield singles. He followed Jennings with another infield single, and capped off a 4-4 night with an RBI base hit in the seventh. More on that in a moment. Brandon Guyer followed Jennings and Zobrist with a walk, bringing Evan Longoria to the plate with a runner in scoring position and two outs. Though he worked a seven pitch, full count at-bat, he flew out to shallow left to end the threat and the inning.

Though Boston’s ace was able to put together a 1-2-3 sixth on 13 pitches, Tampa Bay worked Lester over for 110 pitches in six innings — knocking him out of the game prior to the seventh, when the Rays would incur the bulk of their damage.

Andrew Miller started the seventh, though he wouldn’t make it past 1/3 of an inning. Miller quickly hit Jose Molina on the foot with a pitch, essentially giving the swarthy catcher a free pass. It was at this point that I assumed Maddon might pinch Molina for a faster runner. But he didn’t. Miller got Logan Forsythe to strikeout looking for the second time of the game, bringing Jennings to the plate. I again wondered if Maddon would pinch Molina — after all, Jennings has grounded into 10 double plays this season. But he didn’t.

John Farrel called upon Junichi Tazawa to face Jennings, and Tazawa walked the Rays’ center fielder on seven pitches. Maddon, at this point, (finally) pinched Molina for Cole Figueroa — a move that would pay instant dividends. With the count squared and only one out, Ben Zobrist laced an RBI base hit to Jonny Gomes in left. Gomes couldn’t field the ball cleanly, which allowed Jennings to move up to third. Tazawa followed by handing Guyer his second free pass of the night, loading the bases for Evan Longoria. The Rays franchise double and RBI leader didn’t disappoint; Longo slapped a three-RBI double to the left field corner, giving the Rays the go-ahead lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

The Rays are now 36-11 when they score five or more runs in a game — winners of eight straight, and 26 since June 11.

The New What Next

Jeremy Hellcikson and the Rays will go for their fourth consecutive series win tonight, against John Lackey and the Red Sox. Don’t get me wrong, Lackey (11-6, 3.66 ERA) has been pretty good this season, including his two starts versus the Rays this season when he yielded a measly two runs in 15-innings of work. However, he isn’t infallible. Lackey’s given up four or more runs six times this season, and three times in his last five starts. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 7/26/14 Starting Lineup

Jennings CF
Zobrist 2B
Joyce DH
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Guyer LF
Escobar SS
Molina C
Kiermaier RF
Hellickson RHP

Noteworthiness

  • The Rays have recalled Jeremy Hellickson to start, and designating Juan-Carlos Oviedo for assignment in the process. Could they be making room on the roster for another reliever? This move makes room for Hellickson, with the assumption that Jeff Beliveau will be optioned back to Triple-A Monday, ahead of Joel Peralta’s reactivation. However, once everyone is back (Hanigan, DeJesus, Myers), there will be a hole needing to be filled in the ‘pen — ie: either Beliveau, Rifenhauser, or an acquisition.
  • The Rays eight-game winning streak is tied for the second longest in team history. The longest was 12, from June 9 to June 22, 2004.
  • At 50-53 (.485 WP), the Rays have made up a lot of ground in their Pythagorean Expectation (51-52, .495 WP) chase.
  • Interesting. Per MLB Trade Rumors, the Red Sox have traded Sunday’s scheduled starter, Jake Peavy. We’ll keep you abreast of the matchup change.
  • Your tweet of the day:

Rays 7/25/14 Starting Lineup, Etc

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Rays 7/25/14 Starting Lineup

Jennings CF
Zobrist RF
Guyer LF
Longoria 3B
Rodriguez DH
Escobar SS
Loney 1B
Molina C
Forsythe 2B
Price LHP

Noteworthiness

  • David Price is 5-0 with a 0.90 ERA in his last five starts. He can tie the franchise record for consecutive wins, shared by Matt Moore (2X) and Scott Kazmir.
  • Joel Peralta is set to throw a bullpen session today. Peralta said he’s feeling much better, though the blood tests didn’t determine what it was that caused the fever and joint pain.
  • Don’t forget to check out our Rays/Red Sox series preview.

    • The New What Next: The Rays Are Set to Start a Three-Game Series with the Red Sox

    A battle between aces: David Price will take the mound, opposite of Jon Lester, in the first game of the Rays/Red Sox series, Friday.
    A battle between aces: David Price will take the mound, opposite of Jon Lester, in the first game of the Rays/Red Sox series, Friday.

    The Tampa Bay Rays will welcome the Boston Red Sox into The Trop for a three-game series, Friday night. (Editor’s note: I’m not sure if welcome is the right word)

    Tampa Bay has won seven in a row, all but recovering from their dreadful start of the season — charging back into the playoff conversation. Since June 11, the Rays have the best record in baseball at 25-11. And though they were 18 games under .500 at one point, the Rays have climbed within four games of evening their record.

    Boston, on the other hand, charged out of the All-Star break and put together a five-game winning streak — culminating in an offensive explosion in their first game in Toronto. But just when it seemed like the Red Sox could put up a viable threat in the AL East, it all started to fall apart again. Boston dropped the next three games to the Blue Jays, ending the series by getting beat in a one-hit shutout.

    Over the course of the series, the Rays will look to bury the cellar dwellers who start the day (Friday, July 25) 9.5 games out of first, and two games behind Tampa Bay. That doesn’t mean it will be easy. Jon Lester (10-7, 2.50 ERA) will take the mound in the series opener for Boston. He’s on an outstanding run over his past seven starts, posting a 0.85 ERA by giving up 2 runs or less in each of those outings — including 3 shutouts. He also hasn’t given up a home run in any of those starts and now faces a Rays team that ranks only 11th in the AL in home runs (80 – one more than the Red Sox).

    For the Red Sox, this is a make or break series. Another lost series means they’ll probably see some veterans packing their bags next week. Boston will be tasked with facing the Rays’ ace when he takes the mound, opposite of Lester. David Price (10-7, 3.06 ERA) is on a roll himself, shutting out his last two opponents over eight innings and giving up a total of only three runs all month. Price leads the league in strikeouts (173) and is 3rd in the league with a 8.24 K/BB ratio.

    Crybaby McArthur…urm, Big Papi tweaked his back in his final at-bat Thursday, and may sit out with back spasms. Taking Ortiz out of the lineup would deprive the fading Red Sox the drama between he and David Price. I’d imagine Boston would use that drama as a rallying cry of sorts.

    Rays and Red Sox series starters (over the last 30 days)
    Rays and Red Sox series starters (over the last 30 days)
    Rays and Red Sox offensive production (at home, away, and over the last 30 days).
    Rays and Red Sox offensive production (at home, away, and over the last 30 days).
    Rays and Red Sox (by the numbers).
    Rays and Red Sox (by the numbers).

    Jon Lester: Lester has won his last three starts versus Tampa Bay, including Game 1 of last year’s playoff series. In his only meeting this season, he allowed four hits with 12 strikeouts in seven innings of a 4-0 home win June 1. Despite all of that, More than a handful of Rays have good numbers against the Red Sox ace. Personally, I’d like to see the Rays treat Lester like they had Buehrle — that is, dictate the rhythm by stepping out of the box, making contact with borderline pitches, etc. Key matchups: Yunel Escobar (9-34, 2B, 2 RBI, 5 BB), Brandon Guyer (2-5), Desmond Jennings (9-27, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Matt Joyce (4-11, 2 HR, 6 RBI, BB), James Loney (3-10, 2B, RBI, BB), Evan Longoria (13-53, 3 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7 BB), Jose Molina (9-28, 2B, RBI, 3 BB). 

    John Lackey: Don’t get me wrong, Lackey (11-6, 3.66 ERA) has been pretty good this season, including his two starts versus the Rays this season when he yielded a measly two runs in 15-innings of work. However, he isn’t infallible. Lackey’s given up four or more runs six times this season, and three times in his last five starts. Key matchups: Yunel Escobar (8-21, 2 2B, RBI, 3 BB), Matt Joyce (8-24, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB), Evan Longoria (13-37, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB), Sean Rodriguez (2-7), Ben Zobrist (11-31, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 5 BB).

    Jake Peavy: To put it simply, Peavy (1-9, 4.72 ERA) has been atrocious this season. Boston’s lost 12 of the last 13 games Peavy’s started, while he’s given up (on average) just under four runs in each of those starts. In his most recent start Tuesday, Peavy gave up five earned runs on eight hits — two of them homers — across 6-1/3 innings against the Blue Jays. He also walked three and fanned seven. Key matchups: Logan Forsythe (1-2, 2 RBI), Brandon Guyer (3-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI), Desmond Jennings (3-12, 2B, HR, RBI), James Loney (10-36, 5 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB), Sean Rodriguez (2-4), Ben Zobrist (4-16, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB).

    Noteworthiness

    • Per Marc Topkin, “After surging back into the fringe of the playoff race by winning eight of nine, the Red Sox lost three straight in Toronto, and didn’t looked good in doing so. Plus, DH David Ortiz, who had been hot, left Thursday’s game with a back spasm, and team officials said they have tabled contract talks with ace LHP Jon Lester until the offseason. Pitching continues to be their strength. OF Shane Victorino is back from the DL, and veteran C A.J. Pierzynski was recently cut loose. A streak of homering in a season-high eight straight games ended Thursday.”
    • The Rays lead the season series 5-4, while the Red Sox lead 166-121 overall, and 73-69 at The Trop.
    • Evan Longoria compels thee to get out to the Trop: “I think the hope is we go back home and see a few fans in the stands and start to use that momentum and gain some of that home field advantage back,” Longoria said. “This team is fun to watch right now. We know the fans watch and support us on TV and hopefully that’s enough of an incentive to come out and see us at the ballpark. … I think the record (52-17 with regular-season crowds of 30,000 or more since 2008) speaks for itself. I’m excited to get back home and get some of that advantage back.”
    • Well, this is dumb:

    Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Win, 3-0 AKA — How Sweep It Is

    Evan Longoria throws out a runner at first base in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rays beat the Cardinals 3-0. (Photo courtesy of Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
    Evan Longoria throws out a runner at first base in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rays beat the Cardinals 3-0. (Photo courtesy of Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

    Let’s be honest here, no one thought the Tampa Bay Rays would return home with a perfect, 5-0 road trip record. 3-2 or 4-1, sure. 5-0? Not in the least. Low and behold however, the Rays shutout the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 last night, closing out their most successful road trip to date. Winners of seven straight, the Rays ended the night 7.0 out of first in the AL East, 4.5 out in the Wildcard race, and 1.5 ahead of the Red Sox who will enter The Trop Friday, for a three game set.

    Alex Cobb was back to his dominant form, tossing seven excellent innings of 10 strikeout ball. He was followed by the tandem of Brad Boxberger and Jake McGee — or “Jake in the Box,” as Joe Maddon likes to refer to them — who combined for a pair of 1-2-3 innings to close out the game — ringing up five in the process.

    Below are a few game peripherals and highlights from last night’s game.

    • Contrary to his previous outings, all Alex Cobb did was throw strikes.In the first three innings alone, seven of the nine outs were retired via the punch-out (six swinging). Overall, Cobb struck out 10 (eight swinging), and induced 10 ground ball outs. Cobb’s stuff was very good, and considering how he’s been up and down most of this year, it’s an encouraging outing.
    • Not only did his part on the mound, Cobb put the Rays ahead in the second inning with an RBI double to right field — his first big league hit. It was the first extra-base hit by a Rays pitcher in more than five years. (Andy Sonnanstine, 5/17/09)
    • A scary moment came in the fourth inning when Lance Lynn hit Cobb with a pitch on his right elbow. Cobb went down, and had to be tended to by the Rays’ training staff. Cesar Ramos started to warm up in the bullpen as the RHP took first base. But the swelling and pain weren’t enough to take Cobb out go the game though, and he went on to do what he did over the course of three more innings.
    GIF courtesy of DRaysBay
    GIF courtesy of DRaysBay
    • Cobb, Boxberger and McGee combined for 15 strikeouts and no walks. During this winning streak the pitching staff had a 1.14 ERA. Furthermore, 28 of the 54 total outs, split between two games, came as strikeouts by the Rays pitching staff.
    • In the two-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, the pitching staff crafted a 1.50 ERA.
    • The team swept the road trip 5-0, tying a club record with eight straight road wins.

    The Rays return home ahead of the extended home stand which starts Friday. While they have an off-day Thursday, the Red Sox will take on the Blue Jays in Toronto. Here’s to hope the Jays can hammer Rubby De La Rosa, and work into Boston’s ‘pen.

    Noteworthiness

    • Joe Maddon set the rotation ahead of the weekend series. David Price will get the start opposite of Jon Lester Friday, while Jeremy Hellickson will return to rotation Saturday, and Chris Archer will pitch Sunday.
    • My personal favorite sound bit from last night’s game: “Jośe Molina turned that triple into a double.” Dave and Andy on Molina’s fourth inning, one out double.
    • Best! Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo places crackers at the plate for Jose Molina, a treat from his younger brother Yadier.

    Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Crush Wainwright, Cardinals 7-2

    That moment when a pitcher who hasn't batted since high school executes a perfect safety squeeze. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)
    That moment when a pitcher who hasn’t batted since high school executes a perfect safety squeeze. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

    On paper, the Tampa Bay Rays should have lost against Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals last night. While the Rays offense has been pretty good over the last 30 days, Wainwright represented an incredibly tough hurdle to overcome — especially when you consider that he, prior to last night’s start, boasted an 0.96 ERA over the last 30 days, while yielding a total of six runs in his last 53-1/3 innings of work. But the Rays not only rose to the expectations set before them, they exceeded them; walking away from Busch Stadium with a huge defeat against one of the best pitchers in baseball, and taking the first game of the series by five run margin, 7-2.

    For the Rays, they’ve now won six straight (their longest streak of the season) and 15 of their last 19. They also regained a game on the Red Sox and now sit 8.o back in the AL East (4.o behind the third place Blue Jays), and 5.5 back in the Wildcard standings.

    Fastball command was the name of the game for both Adam Wainwright and Jake Odorizzi. The Rays righty didn’t have it early on, though he improved as the game progressed. Thankfully, the first two batters didn’t set the tone of the game. Matt Carpenter crushed a 3-1, center-center meatball to dead center, giving the Cardinals a quick one run lead. Odorizzi followed with a walk of Kolten Wong. But when Wong went for the swipe of second on the first pitch, Jose Molina — receiving the pitch standing up — gunned down the Cardinals base runner for the first out of the inning. He closed the first frame with a strikeout of Matt Adams, and followed by striking out the first two batters in the second inning.

    James Loney led off the second inning by lining a double to center, and Jose Molina followed with a base hit to put runners on the corners for Odorizzi who hadn’t stepped into the batter’s box since high school. After taking a strike, he laid down perfect  bunt up the first base line. James Loney easily scored on the fielder’s choice to first, and Odorizzi was mobbed by the dugout.

    Joe Maddon was ejected for the fourth time this season, after Ben Zobrist took an outside pitch for strike three. The egregious call caused the normally level headed Zobrist throw down his bat in frustration. As he walked to the dugout, home plate umpire Mark Ripperger effectively stared down Zobrist down the steps and into the dugout. Maddon was none too happy with the display and yelled repeatedly, “That’s outside, that’s outside!” By all accounts, the Rays skipper wasn’t yelling at Ripperger. Rather he was yelling in the direction of Wainwright and/or the second base umpire. After Maddon was ejected, he decided to take the field and explain his position. If the Pitch F/X below speaks to anything, it’s that both Zobrist and Maddon were right.

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    Matt Carpenter followed a Wainwright strikeout in the third inning with a single, and moved to second on a bobbled double play ball that Ben Zobrist should have handled. Unfazed, Odorizzi coaxed a towering foul ball out of Matt Holliday which James Loney was able to track down, reach over the tarp and into the first row, and nab for the final out in the third.

    Loney and Molina safely reached on a base hit and a walk (respectively) in the fourth, bringing Odorizzi to the plate in the fourth — this time with two outs, so no bunting. Loney and Molina, the slowest runners on the team, pulled off something remarkable: A double steal on a swinging strike. Too bad Odorizzi struck out on a center-center curveball.

    Odorizzi put the side down in order in the Cards’ half of the fourth, striking out Johnny Peralta on a high fastball, inducing a fly-ball out of Allen Craig (which Desmond Jennings was able to adjust to and flag down), and an easy John Jay popper to left.

    Things unravelled for Wainwright in the fifth inning.

    After a Kevin Kiermaier walk, and an error by Wainwright which allowed Zobrist to reach first, Evan Longoria took a bases loaded HBP — bringing Matt Joyce to the plate. Joyce was finally productive with the bases loaded, plating a run on an opposite field, seeing-eye double. Loney as next, walking on five pitches and driving in the third run of the game. With the bases still loaded, Yunel Escobar broke things open on a two run, ground-rule double. Molina stepped to the plate and drove in another run on a one out fielder’s choice. Odorizzi also reached safely on a walk, ending Wainwright’s night.

    Odorizzi was able to put a goose egg on the board following the big five run fifth, quickly striking out Tony Cruz for the first out of the inning, then following with a pop out to short by Daniel Descalso, and an 8-9-1 Matt Carpenter ground out to finish the inning.

    With the weather turning for the worst, Odorizzi started the sixth with another strikeout (Wong). But he wasn’t so lucky in the next at-bat, relinquishing a full count no doubter (to left) to Matt Holliday — bringing St. Louis within four. Matt Adams followed with a hard struck single to center, bringing Jim Hickey to the mound. Though Jake was able to take down Peralta once more, this time on a dead red split-change, his night came to an end after he walked Allen Craig. Odorizzi’s final line: 5.2 IP/5 H/2 ER/3 BB/8 K 106 pitches.

    Jeff Beliveau, Brad Boxberger, and Kirby Yates followed Odorizzi. And despite a tense two-base runner ninth inning by Yates, the ‘pen was able to preserve the lead.

    The New What Next

    Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn will butt heads in the series finale Wednesday night. The Rays beat up Lynn the last time they faced him (as a reliever), tagging the 27 year-old RHP for three runs in an inning of work. He has been good this season, though he isn’t infallible; opponents have touched the righty for four or more runs on five different occasions, and he’s walked three or more batters nine times — something that bodes well for the Rays’ patient hitters. Lynn can work his fastball into the 98 mph range out of the bullpen, though he’s more inclined to throw a low 90s fastball (touching 93) with sink as a starter. He also features an above average curve ball with tight spin, and an average change up. It should be noted, his curve pairs better with his fastball out of the pen due to the separation in velocity. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview, and I’ll post the starting lineup when it becomes available.

    Rays 7/23/14 Starting Lineup

    Jennings CF
    Zobrist 2B
    Joyce LF
    Longoria 3B
    Loney 1B
    Escobar SS
    Molina C
    Cobb RHP
    Kiermaier RF

    Noteworthiness

    • Evan Longoria mashed RBI number 593 on a ninth inning solo shot (his first since July 4) — surpassing Carl Crawford as the franchise RBI leader. Congrats, Longo!
    • Brad Boxberger pitched the eighth. Despite a cheap, infield single by Johnny Peralta, Boxberger was able to ring up a pair of Cardinals on two incredible strikeouts. He absolutely gutted both Holliday and Craig with some great strikes.

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