Another day, another demoralizing Tampa Bay Rays loss at the hands of the Kansas City Royals, 10-5. This time the reigning World series champs tagged LHP Drew Smyly with a less than stellar 4.0 IP/12 H/8 ER/1 BB/3 K/3.25 WHIP line. That’s, as the kids say, no bueno.
Adding insult to injury, Brad Boxberger returned to the active roster Tuesday night, only to be met with a left oblique injury resulting in another stint on the disabled list.
The #Rays have recalled INF Tim Beckham.
RHP Brad Boxberger was placed on the 15-day DL with a left oblique injury. pic.twitter.com/Kx5cHjMuRH
— #VoteRays (@RaysBaseball) June 1, 2016
Boxberger started stretching his side on the mound, then felt something grab as he hit Paulo Orlando with a 1-2 pitch. The righty followed by throwing three consecutive balls to Jarrod Dyson before manager Kevin Cash and athletic trainer Joe Benge headed to the mound.
Everything up until this point felt great, Boxberger said.I felt great in the pen, I felt great the first couple batters. Then something just happened, I don’t even know what. …It just got worse and I knew it wasn’t anything that was going to get better.
Boxberger was frustrated by the setback, and rightly so.
It (stinks) to have this setback now. It is frustrating battling back from the surgery, and then first time out.
What’s more, the Tendonitis laden Steve Pearce was pulled from the game in the fifth inning, although it’s unlikely that he will join Boxberger on the DL. Cash said the move was precautionary with the Royals up by six runs. The team recalled Tim Beckham from Triple-A Durham to give depth given Pearce’s elbow issue.
The New What Next
RHP Chris Archer will take the mound in the series finale, opposite of LHP Danny Duffy. Archer is 0-2 with a 6.27 ERA in three career starts against the Royals. Duffy has a 4.86 ERA this season in Kansas City, and a 1.29 ERA on the road. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 6/1/16 Starting Lineup
Guyer DH
Miller SS
Longoria 3B
Souza RF
Morrison 1B
Jennings CF
Motter 2B
Mahtook LF
Casali C
Archer RHP
Noteworthiness
— Cobb and Chase Whitley, who both underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2015, each threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Tuesday afternoon at the Trop.
— Logan Forsythe, who is on the DL with a hairline fracture in his left scapula, hit off the tee and fielded ground balls.