Matt Andriese became the first Rays starter since Chris Archer (8/20/15 at HOU) to toss a complete game shutout.
Matt Andriese became the first Rays starter since Chris Archer (8/20/15 at HOU) to toss a complete game shutout. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Not only did starter Matt Andriese lead the Tampa Bay Rays to victory on Saturday, he notched the team’s first complete game of 2016 in dominant form, blanking the Athletics while allowing just two hits.

Friends, I may have celebrated the victory a little too hard last night, and because of it I’m more inclined to lay down than type. What follows is a smattering of moments that mattered in the second game of this three-game set between the Rays and A’s.

― Early scoring opportunities for not. The Rays mounted an early threat in the second inning after Corey Dickerson led off the frame with a triple off the wall in right. Steven Souza Jr. and Logan Morrison followed by working a pair of walks, loading the bases for Steve Pearce. And while Pearce hit a rocket to the left side of the infield, it was right at the Athletics third baseman Danny Valencia for out number one. The inning quickly came to a close when Steven Souza Jr. was caught off second base after center fielder Kevin Kiermaier flied out with the bases loaded. It was another bone-headed running gaffe by Souza, who’s collected at least four other base running mistakes this season in my estimation.

― Tampa Bay took a 2-0 lead in the third inning against Kendall Graven, after Brandon Guyer hit a one-out double down the left field line. Four pitches later, Brad Miller drilled a two-run homer to right-center, his fifth of the year. Miller reached down for an 87 mph cutter as it trailed toward the outside of the plate, and impressively pulled it 412 feet to deep to right-center field.

― The Rays tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth inning after Evan Longoria singled left, then moved to third on a one-out double by Souza that deflected off of Valencia’s glove. Logan Morrison ― who’s slashed .125 BA/.231 OBP/.150 SLG/.381 OPS/.183 wOBA and isn’t truly an RBI threat at the moment ― was walked intentionally after getting ahead in the count 2-0. Athletics manager Bob Melvin was likely trying to setup a double play, however, that strategy failed when Pearce hit a sac-fly to right, and Kiermaier rolled a single through the middle, scoring Souza for a four run advantage and chasing Graveman.

― They put the game out of reach in the eighth as Andrew Triggs and Marc Rzepczynski walked three batters (Pearce, Morrison and Kiermaier) before Guyer singled to left, scoring a pair.

― Flash the leather, Steve. After Valencia reached on a one out single in the seventh, former Ray Steve Vogt lined out to the diving Pearce, who quickly fired to first to complete the inning ending double play.

― You didn’t think I’d forget about Matt Andriese, did you? The right-hander delivered a complete game, two hit shutout ― becoming the first Rays starter since Chris Archer (8/20/15 at HOU) to toss a complete game shutout. Roger Mooney (Tampa Bay Times) put things into perspective, writing,

After two starts, Andriese is tied with Chris Archer for wins among the team’s starters.

I digress.

Andriese breezed through Oakland’s lineup, retiring eight straight to start the game before allowing a pair of base runners in the third on Matt McBride’s two-out single to right and a Billy Burns hit by pitch. But just one pitch later, Andriese got Yonder Alonso to foul out behind the plate to end the threat.

Andriese then went on a stretch where he retired the next 10 batters before he allowed a single in the seventh, which setup the double play a spoke about above.

Rays skipper Kevin Cash attributed Andries’s success to his ability to throw strikes and attack the zone, forcing weak contact:

The overall commitment to throwing strikes, he’s got really good stuff, and his stuff has improved from where it was last year. He’s throwing a tick harder. … The way he attacks, he’s just a little bit of a different pitcher in a positive way.

Andriese approached his last two starts as though he was fighting for a spot in the rotation:

When I got called up, my last start, I kind of told myself I want to be here for good, so I kind of was taking that mentality and kind of built off that each outing.

The New What Next

Matt Moore (1-3, 4.83 ERA) will take the mound opposite of Sonny Gray (3-4, 6.00 ERA) in the series finale. Moore hasn’t been unable to finish five innings in his past two starts. The southpaw has faced the Oakland twice (0-1, 9.00 ERA), but both appearances were four seasons ago at Tropicana Field. Gray has struggled, going 0-3 with a 12.79 ERA in his last three starts after posting a 2.73 ERA in his first four outings of the season. He is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA lifetime against Tampa Bay. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 5/15/16 Starting Lineup

Guyer RF
Miller SS
Longoria 3B
Dickerson LF
Souza DH
Morrison 1B
Pearce 2B
Kiermaier CF
Conger C
Moore LHP

Noteworthiness

― Following Saturday night’s game, Taylor Motter was called from Triple-A Durham. Motter, a utility player, was predominantly playing shortstop with the Bulls, although he has played all over the field, including second base where he’d likely fill in for Logan Forsythe. Motter was hitting just .190 for Durham, however, he’s collected five multi-hit games since May 4th, and has played sparkling defense. Motter was Durham’s MVP a season ago.

The Rays corresponded by designating RHP Danny Farquhar for assignment following the game, for the purpose of optioning him to Triple-A Durham on Monday. He’ll remain on the 40-man roster.

― I’m going to leave this right here.

― Brad Boxberger will be making the first of five or so rehab appearances this afternoon with the Charlotte Stone Crabs, as he comes back from core surgery. He’s expected to throw 20 or so pitches, or one inning, whichever comes first.

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