I won’t indulge you in all of the gory details of last night’s game, I think we’re all familiar with what happened and how. Today is another day. However, there are a few good things and a few not so good things that need to be focused on before we move on to today’s double-header.
The Good
-Jeff Keppinger going five-for-five, scoring a run and driving in three certainly didn’t suck. Kepp was practically responsible for half of last night’s offense. What a way to make a mark following his stint on the DL. Can you imagine how helpful his bat could have been hadn’t he been hit by that errant, yet fateful, foul ball?
-Jose “The Wolf” Lobaton had another good day at the plate, reaching base safely three times and scoring a run. I’m really starting to like Lobaton, especially with how he’s performed at the plate of late. Just look how well he’s done at the plate in May (though he only had six official at bats), June, and the last seven days. More on him later.
-I don’t care that Ben Zobrist has a .234 batting average, that will improve. I’m a big fan of his OBP, as well as his ever improving slugging percentage. I’m also a big fan of BenZo going two-for-five at the plate last night, scoring two of the six runs.
-Chris Archer, can do no wrong this week. Not only did he have a solid start Wednesday, but Maddon put him in as a pinch runner for Lobaton, and he eventually scored the tying run in the ninth.
-Papelbon blew a save!
The Not So Good
-Carlos Pena (1-5, 2 K), Desmond Jennings (0-4, 2 K), BJ Upton (1-4, 2 K)
-The Rays were horrendous wRISP, going 5-15 while stranding 12 on the base.
-Bases loaded with no outs in the eighth, and…the Rays drive in only one run.
-Three runs given up with two outs.
-Yet another error…sigh.
The New What Next
Today should be particularly interesting with a double header featuring the Phillies two best starters, Cole Hamels (10-3, 3.25 ERA) and Cliff Lee (0-3, 3.48 ERA). Tampa Bay is 9-14 against left-handed starters, and oh yeah…Both Hamels and Lee are lefties. D’oh! The Rays will counter with David Price (9-4, 3.08 ERA) and a starter to be named. It seems as though they’ll rely on the pen to start the second game, with LHP Cesar Ramos getting the call. The Rays brought up Alex Torres who can go deeply into games if needed.
Tampa Bay is hitting all of .245 against Cliff Lee, including six homers. They’ve also had relative success against Hamels, hitting .291. Both pitchers have been post-season thorns in the sides of the Rays, but that isn’t to say that they’re infallible. Both Molina and Pena have had success against Lee, and Zobrist and Upton have had success against Hamels.
Game One: Tampa Bay won game numero uno of this double header against the Phillies by a score of 3-2. David Price had a solid seven inning outing, giving up only one run on four hits, while walking three and striking out eight. Ten Rays reached base safely on four hits and six walks, ultimately winning the game thanks to a three run, Carlos Pena, blast to right field in the eighth. It’s a bit frustrating to see the Rays leave four on base, yet it was nice to see them work good at bats against Hamels. Fernando Rodney shut the Phillies down in the ninth for his 21st save of the year. Cesar Ramos (1-0, 2.08 ERA) will butt heads against Cliff Lee in game two. We’re just now waiting on the starting lineup. We’ll post that when it’s available.
Game Numero Dos Starting Lineup:
Jennings LF
Pena 1B
Upton CF
Keppinger 3B
Zobrist RF
Rodriguez SS
Conrad 2B
Lobaton C
Ramos P