Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Drop Second Straight, 9-6

Alex Cobb delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays. (Photo courtesy of Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Alex Cobb delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays. (Photo courtesy of Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

The Rays dropped their second consecutive game to the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday, this time by a score of 9-6, in what could be described as a slugfest by both teams. It just so happens that the Blue Jays, who are playing with a metric butt-ton of confidence at the moment (the series is in Canada after all), out slugged the Rays. Alex Cobb got the start and watched as his scoreless steak came to pass at 25-1/3 innings (just two innings shy of the club record of 27-1/3 innings set by JP Howell in 2012), after the righty gave up back-to-back homers for the first time in his career — relinquishing six runs on nine hits overall. For only only the fifth time in 27 starts, Cobb gave up up more than three runs.

In all fairness, Cobb didn’t pitch terribly — he held the Blue Jays scoreless the first time through the order. Rather, credit the Blue Jays for making adjustments in the fourth inning after the Rays scored a couple of runs. And despite those runs, at 67 pitches thrown Cobb sat to start the fifth.

But then things began to unravel for the Rays righty.

Jose Reyes led off the inning by hitting a comebacker off Cobb’s leg for a single. After a productive groundout by Melky Cabrera, Jose Bautista singled up the middle scoring Reyes from second. The very next pitch Cobb threw — an knee high curveball on the outer third of the plate — to Adam Lind was sent over the wall in left-center. It wasn’t a bad pitch by any stretch of the imagination. Two pitches, later Edwin Encarnacion crushed an inside fastball to left field. In a span of four pitches, Cobb allowed four runs.

Pitch outcome chart. (Courtesy of Brooks Baseball)
Pitch outcome chart. (Courtesy of Brooks Baseball)

Had the Rays been able to hold Toronto at six, the game could have gone into extra innings. However,the tandem of Cesar Ramos and Josh Lueke allowed three more runs — the difference in the 9-6 loss. Lueke has now given up four runs in his last three appearances. Perception is everything, and the perception is that Lueke is going to give up runs almost every time he enters the game. If it seems like an inevitability, there’s a reason for that — Lueke has now given up earned runs in almost half of his 24 appearances. Ouch.

“José Molina, who needed that more than anybody on planet Earth.”
— Dave and Andy (Rays Radio), in response to a Molina single up the left side

Offensively, every starter contributed. Hell, even Jose Molina had a multi-hit game — his first of the season. Sean Rodriguez had a huge night at the plate, driving in three runs with a double and triple. Of his total 19 hits on the season, 13 have gone for extra bases. With more runs batted in than hits (20 RBI vs 19 hits), when SeanRod gets a hit, he makes it count.

The New What Next

The Rays will attempt to salvage the series tonight with Chris Archer on the hill. Archer is coming off a fairly dominant start, and he’ll attempt to silence the Blue Jays home run hitting buzzsaw. Liam Hendriks will toe the rubber for the first place Blue Jays. You can read about tonight’s pitching match up in our series preview, and I’ll post the starting lineup when it becomes available.

Rays 5/28/14 Starting Lineup

DeJesus DH
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Jennings CF
Joyce LF
Myers RF
Escobar SS
Molina C
Rodriguez 2B
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

  • The difference between the Rays and Jays last night? Runners in scoring position. Tampa Bay went 1-8 wRISP while Toronto was 5-9.
  • Ben Zobrist is scheduled to play nine innings at second base tonight for the Class-A Stone Crabs.
  • …And since we’re a mere two days away from our watch party this Friday, I’m compelled to mention something about it every day this week. We sincerely hope that each and every one of you can make it out!

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Rays Call Up Ali Solis, Ryan Hanigan Lands On DL (Updated)

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Updated from yesterday: The Rays have placed C Ryan Hanigan on the 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring. Kevin Kiermaier has been recalled from Triple-A Durham. Per Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, “Hanigan said he had to be talked into going on DL but understands it’s a smart decision. “It was tough. It’s not getting better.”‘ He went on to say, “Hanigan says he’ll do 3-4 days of rest, (and) get back into getting (the) hamstring ready in week. (He’s) optimistic it won’t be a long stay on DL.”

Some light has been shed on the Rays’ motivation in calling up catcher Ali Solis from Triple-A Durham, as opposed to a position player like Kevin Kiermaier or Vince Belnome. It seems there’s a good chance Ryan Hanigan could spend some time on the 15-day disabled list, due to complications extending from a tight hamstring. Per Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times,

“Turns out, Hanigan may eventually land on the disabled list, with the team likely to make a decision in the next few days. Hanigan said the hamstring, which sidelined him for three games on the last road trip out West, is not healing like it should, and he suffered a set-back Monday night when it was tight.”

The Rays primary catcher wants to play through the injury, hoping he’ll be able to rest it over the next few days — taking Thursday’s off-day into consideration. However, he doesn’t know how long it’ll take to get better, and putting him on the DL might be the best option.
Hanigan told the Times’ staff writer,

“It’s a tough call, because it’s not excruciating. I have been functional. But it’s bothersome. I think, being a catcher, it’s a little tougher putting weight on it.” He went on to say, “I don’t want to (go on the DL). That’s not what I want to do at all, to tell you the truth. I don’t know what’s best, I’m going to leave it up to the trainers. They know where I stand. I’d like to try to keep playing if I can stay functional.”

Hanigan went on to tell Smith that his hamstring felt tight in third or fourth inning last night, though he was also emphatic that he doesn’t want to spend time on the DL. However, going to leave the final decision up to trainers. The plan is to see how his hamstring feels over the next few days before the final decision is made. In the meantime, Jose Molina will likely carry the load while Hanigan is out, with maybe a spot start by Solis.

Ali Solis, 26, provides insurance at catcher. Solis has been the primary catcher for the Durham Bulls this season, where he hit .186 with a homer and 12 RBI in 29 games. He has a limited amount of major league experience with the Padres in 2012 (five games); he was held hitless in four at-bats.

There’s been no indication that catcher Curt Casali may see some time with the Rays. Rather, Rays manager Joe Maddon said Solis is here to play, and may get the start Wednesday.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall to Blue Jays, 10-5

Jose Reyes is congratulated by Jose Bautista after scoring a run in the first inning as Erik Bedard looks on. (Photo courtesy of Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Jose Reyes is congratulated by Jose Bautista after scoring a run in the first inning as Erik Bedard looks on. (Photo courtesy of Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Despite scoring five runs on ten hits — including three home runs by David DeJesus, Desmond Jennings, and James Loney — the Tampa Bay Rays dropped the first game of their current three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 10-5. Simply put, Erik Bedard couldn’t string together another good outing and the Blue Jays made him pay, tagging the lefty for eight runs on 12 hits. With a pitching duel between Alex Cobb and Mark Buehrle slated for Tuesday evening, Tampa Bay really needed to win this game — yet they failed to do so after running into the home run hitting buzz-saw that is the Blue Jays.

I live blogged the game for the most part, and you can read that account at our Tumblr page. A few brief observations are below.

Game Peripherals

  • Erik Bedard was hit hard in 4 IP/12 H/8 ER/0 BB/2 HR outing. Though he didn’t walk anyone, he couldn’t make it through the fifth inning, after tossing 78 pitches innings. Of the twelve hits he relinquished, Bedard gave up back-to-back home runs to Dioner Navarro (ouch) and Steve Tolleson, as well as three doubles. Bedard was quoted after the game, “You’re facing a hot team and they’re hitting every hole and everything was going their way.”
  • The newly promoted (and promtptly demoted) Alex Colome was tasked with soaking up innings, which he did. Yet Colome failed at preventing runs. Colome allowed six batters to reach base in the fifth inning alone, slashing 4 IP/3 H/2 ER/3 BB/1 HR overall.
  • Alex Colome was optioned back to Durham following the game. The corresponding move has been described below.
  • Jose Molina pinch-hit for Ryan Hanigan, who is in the throes of an 0-for-23 skid. As it turns, Hanigan’s hamstring flared up once again; the same one that sidelined him over a week ago.

The New What Next

Alex Cobb looks to extend streak of three scoreless starts (21.2 IP) against Mark Buehrle. At 8-1 with a 2.16 ERA, Buehrle has been on a tear. The question du jour, how long can Buehrle sustain the run he’s been on? The Rays have had success against the soft tossing lefty in the past. It’s only a matter of time before he regresses. You can read about tonight’s pitching match up in our series preview, and I’ll post the starting lineup when it becomes available.

Rays 5/27/14 starting Lineup

Escobar SS
Longoria 3B
Forsythe 2B
Jennings CF
Rodriguez LF
Myers RF
Loney 1B
Molina C
Joyce DH
Cobb RHP

Noteworthiness

  • The Rays have called up C Ali Solis to fill Brandon Guyer’s spot on the roster while he mends. Solis will provide insurance at catcher with Hanigan dealing with hamstring injury. LHP Matt Moore has been placed on the 60-day DL to make room for Solis on the 40-man roster.
  • MLB should decide by today if there will be any further discipline from Sunday’s benches-clearing incident with the Rays-Red Sox. Red Sox Jonny Gomes and Rays Yunel Escobar and Sean Rodriguez were ejected.
  • Joe Maddon on Mark Buehrle, whom they face tonight: “He’s having a career year right now, and he’s had a pretty good career.”
  • Jeremy Hellickson will throw a simulated game Wednesday in Port Charlotte, where he’ll go two innings (15 pitches each). Ben Zobrist is scheduled to play nine innings at second base tonight and Wednesday for Charlotte, with hopes of being activated for Friday’s opener in Boston.
  • …And since we’re a mere three days away from our watch party this Friday, I’m compelled to mention something about it every day this week. We sincerely hope that each and every one of you can make it out!

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Rays 5/26/14 Starting Lineup, Guyer to the DL, Colome Recalled

sliding-blue

Rays 5/26/14 Starting Lineup

DeJesus DH
Longoria 3B
Joyce LF
Jennings CF
Loney 1B
Myers RF
Figueroa 2B
Escobar SS
Hanigan C
Bedard LHP

Noteworthiness

  • The Rays have placed Brandon Guyer on the 15-day DL (left thumb fracture), and corresponded by recalling RHP Alex Colome who was recently activated from a 50-game suspension. The Rays expect Guyer to be out for three weeks. Joe Maddon said Guyer was “pretty distraught” when knew he’d be placed on the DL. Per Joe Smith of the Times, Colome said he was surprised and grateful to get the call-up so soon after suspension. Feels strong, ready, and comfortable in the pen. Tampa Bay needed length/coverage in the pen after weekend, and Colome can go long or short in the mid-to-late innings.
  • Erik Bedard will try to hold it down again tonight, when the Rays take on the Blue Jays in the series opener. Hey guys, how’s about giving Bedard a win, eh? You can read about tonight’s match up, and so much more, in our series preview.
  • RHP Juan Sandoval has been released by Tampa Bay.

The New What Next: From One Dome to Another — A Rays Vs. Blue Jays Series Preview of Sorts

Desmond Jennings, left, and Sean Rodriguez, center, greet Evan Longoria in the dugout after his solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Sunday, May 25, 2014 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Photo courtesy of AP Photo)
Desmond Jennings, left, and Sean Rodriguez, center, greet Evan Longoria in the dugout after his solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Sunday, May 25, 2014 in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Photo courtesy of AP Photo)

Two surging AL East ball clubs — Tampa Bay and Toronto — will start a three-game set Monday, when the Rays head to the Rogers Centre to battle the Blue Jays. The Rays are coming off a huge three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox, which culminated in a bench clearing scrum Sunday, and four consecutive wins overall (5-5 over their last 10). Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are on a six game winning streak (9-1 over their last 10), thanks to a pair of series’ sweeps against the Red Sox and Athletics.

The Blue Jays have been fairly long ball happy of late, mashing 20 homers in the last 14-games — eight of which are credited to Edwin Encarnacion, who leads the team in home runs at 14, and RBI at 40. Jose Bautista isn’t far behind, with 12 homers of his own, and 34 runs batted in.

The Rays will throw Erik Bedard and Alex Cobb on the mound in the front two games of the series. “What is so special about them?” you may be asking. Bedard, who has given up only one home run since September of 2013, has done an excellent job of coaxing weak contact out of opposing hitters, while Cobb — with a career 23.4% fly-ball rate, and a 4.3% HR/FB –doesn’t give up many fly balls, much less home runs. To that end, Chris Archer looks to be coming out of his funk, and none too soon.

Rays and Blue Jays series starters.
Rays and Blue Jays series starters. (Sorry for the spelling error, Drew…your last name is actually spelled Hutchison…but you probably already knew that)
Rays and Blue Jays offensive production at home, away, and overall.
Rays and Blue Jays offensive production at home, away, and overall.
Rays and Blue Jays, by the numbers.
Rays and Blue Jays, by the numbers.

Drew Hutchison: The Rays last faced Hutchison in April, and they were three-hit by the 23 year-old mid-90’s fastball/changeup/mid-80’s slider throwing LHP, in a 4-2 loss at the Trop. Since then, Hutchison has gone 2-3, with the Blue Jays winning five of the 10 games he’s started — including a nine inning, two hit gem against the Rangers on May 16th. Key match ups: Yunel Escobar (1-2), Desmond Jennings (1-1, 2B, BB), Matt Joyce (1-4, BB).

Mark Buehrle: Suffice it to say, the soft tossing Buehrle has fared very well since he blanked the Rays on April 2, going 7-1 with an overall 2.16 ERA. The Blue Jays are 10-1 with Buehrle on the mound. Don’t count on a high scoring game with he on the mound for Toronto, and Alex Cobb on the mound for the Rays. Key match ups: Yunel Escobar (5-16, 2B, RBI, 2 BB), Logan Forsythe (2-3, 2B), Ryan Hanigan (2-8, BB), Desmond Jennings (6-15, RBI, 3 BB), James Loney (5-18, 2 BB), Evan Longoria (9-28, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB), Jose Molina (10-28, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB), Sean Rodriguez (6-22, 2 2B, 2 RBI).

Liam Hendriks: The Rays last faced Hendriks when he was a member of the Minnesota Twins. He is described as having a fastball that isn’t a blazer, sitting at 87-92 MPH and averaging around 90, which he mixes with a curveball, slider, and change up — giving him a four pitch arsenal. The changeup is probably his best pitch, but both breaking balls are respectable, and all of his pitches play up due to good command. Key match ups: Desmond Jennings (1-3), Matt Joyce (2-2, HR, RBI), Evan Longoria (1-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Sean Rodriguez (1-2).

Noteworthiness

  • The season series is tied at 2-2, while the Rays lead 149-131 overall, and the Jays lead 75-64 at Rogers Centre.
  • The Blue Jays have tallied an extra-base hit in 36 straight games and homered in 27 of their last 32 contests, including each of the last eight.
  • Toronto leads the majors with 69 home runs, 14 from 1B Edwin Encarnacion, second in the AL. RF Jose Bautista is second in the AL with 42 walks and is near the top in runs (37), on-base percentage (.429) and homers (12). SS Jose Reyes stole three bases Sunday, a feat he hadn’t accomplished since 2008.
  • The Jays are 25-3 when leading after seven innings and 0-18 when trailing through seven.
  • …And since we’re a mere four days away from our watch party this Friday, I’m compelled to mention something about it every day this week. We sincerely hope that each and every one of you can make it out!

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