X-Rays Spex

Behind the trusty arm of Jarrod Cosart, the Houston Astros were able to snap the Rays’ first winning streak since mid-May, just as it was getting started. The Rays fell 7-3 in Houston, Saturday afternoon. Chris Archer took the loss after posting three innings of six run ball, ending a streak of five excellent starts.

Despite running into the bulk of his trouble in the bottom of the third, Archer seemed to lack the command of his previous five outings right out the gate. For example, in the first at-bat against Dexter Fowler, Archer was able to induce a swinging strikeout. However, the strikeout had more to do with a swing hungry Fowler, than it had with a quality pitch by the Rays righty. Archer missed his location by a long shot, leaving a mid-to-upper 80’s slider over the heart of the plate.

With this in mind, his third inning implosion was understandable — though not excusable. Archer eventually needed 40 pitches to get three outs, with the bulk of that work coming with two. Dave and Andy (on the radio side) noted that Archer has had a hard time with putting away the 7-8-9 hitters. As if on cue, Marwin Gonzalez, the number eight hitter in the Astros’ lineup, hit a one out double to right center, then moved the third on a wild pitch. Archer was able to coax a line out from shortstop Jonathan Villar, and appeared to be on the verge of escaping the inning unscathed. However, Dexter Fowler continued the inning by hitting a routine ground ball to James Loney — yet the subsequent play was anything but routine. Loney attempted to throw to Archer, who was running to cover first base. The throw from Loney was a little behind Archer, though it was catchable. Archer couldn’t come up with the ball, allowing Fowler to reach base safely and Gonzalez to come home from third. That’s where the brakes fell off.

Archer lost whatever command remained, drilling the next batter, George Springer, with a 96 mph fastball — giving the Astros two runners — then walking the next two batters to load the bases and score a run. Matt Dominguez cleared the bases, lining a double to left center, and giving the Astros a commanding four-run lead.

Somehow, Maddon allowed Archer to start the fourth. Dave and Andy also mentioned when Archer is lacking command, his fastball will miss high and inside to righties (think: the HBP of Springer), and high and outside to lefties — something that Archer exhibited in the previous inning. Still, Archer started the fourth and quickly walked Alex Presley. Maddon saw enough, pulling the righty in favor of Cesar Ramos. Ramos picked up where Archer left off, giving up a pair of hits (a single to Gonzalez and a double to Fowler) and allowing two runs to cross the plate. In his defense, Ramos was able to strikeout the side and prevent further damage. Ramos pitched three innings in relief, then was followed by Juan-Carlos Oviedo and Kirby Yates; each of whom contributed shutout innings for Tampa Bay.

On the offensive end of things, Tampa Bay didn’t wait long before scoring the first run. Kevin Kiermaier continued his hot hitting in the top of the first, sending a one out double to right field and giving the Rays an immediate threat. Evan Longoria followed, plating a run on an opposite field single. George Springer bobbled the ball and eliminated any chance of a play at home. However, one run was all the Rays would put up after Loney and Ben Zobrist failed to continue the early rally.

The Outlaw again doubled with one out in the top of the third, but was caught stealing third with Longoria at the plate. The Rays challenged the call, but the call on the field stood. In a bout of irony, Longoria grounded out to second for the third out of the inning. Had Kiermaier stayed on second, the inning would have continued. Or, had he successfully stolen third, the out could have been productive, and the run could have scored.

The Rays, once more, put a man in scoring position in the fourth. And like the second and third innings, the Rays were unable to do anything with base runners. Yunel Escobar wasted back-to-back hits by David DeJesus and Matt Joyce when he grounded out to third.

The Rays were able to put up two runs back in the fifth on an Evan Longoria home run (8). Desmond Jennings hit a one out single which was followed by a Kiermaier fielder’s choice. Longo launched a no doubter to left, bringing the Rays within four. Loney being Loney followed with a double to left center, but the Rays couldn’t keep it going — with a runner on second, Zobrist flew out to left. That Longo has gone 4-13 with a run and six RBI in the last three games is pretty encouraging. The loss, however, was not.

The New What Next

The Rays will attempt to bounce back in the rubber match of the series. David Price will butt heads with Brad Peacock and the Astros this afternoon. Peacock has been plagued with control issues over the years, this season being no different. The fly-ball pitcher has also given up his fair share of homers, which could bode well for the Rays in the hitter friendly confines of the Juice Box. He’s given up three or more runs in six of his 13 outings, averaging just under five innings per outing. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 6/15/14 Starting Lineup

Jennings CF
Kiermaier RF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Zobrist 2B
DeJesus DH
Joyce LF
Escobar SS
Molina C
Price LHP

Noteworthiness

• OF Brandon Guyer will play today in the outfield for Triple-A Durham, and RHP Jeremy Hellickson will start Tuesday in Louisville.
• Before the Rays can start thinking about the playoffs, they have to get back to even. And even that will be a challenge. Over the past 100 years, only two teams have been as many as 18 games under and gotten back to .500 at any point in the season — the 2006 Marlins and Lou Piniella’s 2004 Devil Rays,” writes Marc Topkin
• Your tweet of the day,

#Rays @KKiermaier39 has 12 extra base hits through 21 career games, most in Rays his-tory (Delmon Young had 11 in 2007)

— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) June 15, 2014