Jake Odorizzi posted another quality start on Tuesday; a three-run, six inning, seven strikeout affair. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)
Jake Odorizzi posted another quality start on Tuesday; a three-run, six inning, seven strikeout affair. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Luke Maile plated the game-tying run on a seventh inning homer, while Evan Longoria hit a go-ahead blast in the eighth, as the Tampa Bay Rays came from behind to beat Boston 4-3 at Fenway Park. Tampa Bay has now split the first two games of a three-game set.

It would be disingenuous to lie, I’ve been recording guitar tracks all night at the studio. Because of it I’m tired, and I have an insatiable craving for sleep. With that in mind, I’ll let the words of the incomparable Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) do the talking for this game recap.

The Rays started their game-tying rally when Tim Beckham began the seventh with a single to center off starter Drew Pomeranz.   The lefty retired the next two batters and got ahead of Maile 1-2 before he homered to left on a hanging curveball.  It was Maile’s second homer of the season.

After Matt Barnes got the final out in the seventh, Clay Buchholz, pitching for a second straight day, worked the eighth.  With one out, Longoria blasted a homer to left on a 1-2 pitch as well, giving the Rays third baseman 31 homers this season.

That put Enny Romero on the right side of the ledger. Romero struck out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh, and remains unscored upon since he came off the DL. Erasmo Ramirez faced the top of the order in the eighth and had a perfect inning with a strikeout. Alex Colome entered for the ninth and gave up a one-out single to Hanley Ramirez, who then moved to second on a Maile passed ball with two out. Chris Young then walked, bringing up Sandy Leon as a pinch-hitter.   Colome struck out Leon on three pitches to finish up save number 29 for the Rays righty.  It was Colome’s first save chance since taking a loss in Houston on Friday.

The rally took Jake Odorizzi off the hook, although he pitched very well. Odorizzi allowed just one hit and worked to the minimum over the first four innings. In the fifth, Hanley Ramirez tucked a ball inside the Pesky pole for a solo homer to tie the game at one.

In the sixth, Dustin Pedroia walked with one out, and went to third on a Xander Bogaerts double off the Green Monster.  David Ortiz followed with a line drive sac fly to right, making it 2-1 Boston. Mookie Betts was walked intentionally and Ramirez then hit a pop up to right. The ball fell between first baseman Brad Miller and right fielder Steven Souza Jr. for an RBI single to put the lead to 3-1.

Tampa Bay had jumped ahead in the first inning. Kevin Kiermaier doubled to left off the Monster, and Miller came up with an RBI single. Both Miller and Longoria now have 25 RBI in the month of August.

The New What Next

Drew Smyly (6-11, 4.80 ERA) will get the start in the series finale Wednesday afternoon, opposite of Steven Wright (13-6, 3.18 ERA).

Smyly gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks over six innings on Friday, notching eight strikeouts along the way. The southpaw continued his recent stretch of strong pitching, posting at least six innings for the seventh consecutive start while giving up two earned runs or fewer for the sixth time over that span. Smyly’s eight punch outs was also his second-highest total in that category since July 1.

Wright, the knuckleballer (not the comedian), was rusty in the first inning of his first start back from the DL on Friday, giving up a five-spot to Kansas City. He, however, wasn’t scored on over his final five innings. Wright relies primarily on his 74 mph knuckleball that flutters and floats unpredictably toward home, while also mixing in an 83 mph sinker with little arm side run. He also rarely throws an 86 mph four-seam fastball, a slow 69 mph 12-6 curveball, and a 76 mph changeup with a lot of backspin.

You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 8/31/16 Starting Lineup

Forsythe 2B
Kiermaier CF
Longoria 3B
Miller DH
Franklin RF
Morrison 1B
Beckham SS
Dickerson LF
Wilson C
Smyly LHP

Noteworthiness

— A win Wednesday afternoon would give Tampa Bay its first winning (plus .500 month) of the season.

— Prior to Tuesday’s ballgame, Kevin Cash said the Rays would likely add 1-2 pitchers on September 2 (off-day 9/1), then several others players after the Durham Bulls season ends.

— Though the Rays technically optioned RHP Steve Geltz to Triple-A Durham on Sunday, he actually was designated for assignment and passed through optional waivers, allowing him to remain on the 40-man roster. The team made a similar move earlier this season with RHP Danny Farquhar, which is required for certain players at certain times of the season based on when they were first called up, noted Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times). There is an unofficial agreement among teams to not claim them.

— After starting games at 1B, 2B, LF, RF and DH, UTL Nick Franklin is expected to get a couple of starts at shortstop in September and may spend some time in CF.

— RHP Alex Cobb reportedly felt good after throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday, ahead of his season debut Friday night.

 

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