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LBWMF: Souza Jr. leads Rays to 5-2 win over the Angels with a two-homer night

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Third base coach Charlie Montoyo high fives Steven Souza Jr. as he rounds the bases following his two run home run in the second inning of last night’s ball game. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic/Tampa Bay Times)

The Tampa Bay Rays rallied from a two-run deficit on Wednesday, taking the lead in the third inning, and snapping a three-game skid with a 5–2 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

The Angels took the lead against Erasmo Ramirez in the opening frame after Mike Trout hit a one-out bullet to center for a double, and Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer to left. It gave the Angels a two-run lead in the first inning for a second straight evening.

But the Rays came back to tie the game against Ricky Nolasco in the second inning, when Logan Morrison worked a leadoff walk, and Steven Souza Jr. drilled a two-run homer to center field two batters later — snapping an 8-for-67 skid.

Souza Jr.’s two-homer night

Steven Souza Jr. hits a two-run homer in the 2nd and follows with a solo shot in the 7th in the Rays’ 5-2 win over the Angels

 

As the luck dragons would have it, Tampa Bay took the lead for good in the bottom of next inning. Corey Dickerson and Kevin Kiermaier hit back-to-back one-out doubles (to center and right, respectively) for the go ahead lead. But even though the Rays had a chance to score more — after Evan Longoria walked (making him the franchise leader in that category with 543), then both he and Kiermaier advanced on a sac-fly to left by Morrison — Tim Beckham struck out, ending the threat.

The go-ahead lead made a winner out of King Erasmo, who threw six solid and efficient innings on 82 pitches (52 strikes). The right-hander walked one and scattered four hits, while striking out two.

Jose Alvarado followed Ramirez in the seventh, and posted a perfect frame while also notching his second consecutive strikeout of pinch hitter Danny Espinosa (swinging) on three, well placed pitches.

In spite of the aforementioned missed scoring opportunity, Tampa Bay was able to extend the lead in the seventh, when Rasmus and Souza hit back-to-back solo shots, chasing Nolasco. It was the fifth time this season the Rays hit back-to-back home runs; the most in Major League Baseball. They only did so four times last season (tied for the third-fewest).

The most recent multi-homer game for Rays RF Steven Souza Jr. before Wednesday night was Sept. 8 last season against the Yankees. He had two multi-homer games last year. (Graphic and caption, Courtesy of ESPN)

Ryne Stanek came on in the eighth and fanned Cliff Pennington before getting ahead of, yet ultimately walking, Cameron Maybin. After a brief discussion on the mound with Jim Hickey, Stanek came back to mow down both Trout and Pujols on back-to-back swinging strikeouts to end the frame.

Alex Colome worked a perfect ninth for his 12th save of the season.

The New What Next

The Rays go for a winning home stand on Thursday afternoon when Matt Andriese (4-1, 3.75 ERA, 4.76 FIP) takes the mound, opposite of rookie Alex Meyer (2-2, 5.79 ERA, 4.33 FIP).

Andriese battled through his second consecutive start, going five-plus innings and giving up five runs on six hits against the Yankees. He, however, is 3-0 in his past four outings. He looks to regress back to his previous, efficient form in the series finale on Thursday.

Meyer delivered an uneven performance against New York on Saturday, allowing four runs (three earned) while walking four, and fanning seven over four-plus innings. The 27 year-old rookie has never faced the Rays, and relies primarily on his 97 mph four-seam fastball with natural sinking action, a 97 mph sinker with good tailing action that results in a good number of fly balls, and a hard knuckle curveball.

You can read more about the series in our preview.

Rays 5/25/17 Starting Lineup

Dickerson LF
Kiermaier CF
Longo 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza Jr. RF
Rasmus DH
Robertson SS
Martinez 2B
Sucre C
Andriese RHP

Noteworthiness

— It bears mentioning: after the two hit first, Rays pitching allowed just two hits and two walks over the next eight innings.

— The Rays have activated Tommy Hunter from the DL, while high leverage reliever Jumbo Diaz has been placed on the DL with arm fatigue.

On Wilson Ramos, Brad Miller, Matt Duffy and Tommy Hunter’s DL status

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Wilson Ramos looks on from the dugout during the sixth inning of a game at Tropicana Field. (Photo Credit: Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)

Wilson Ramos (recovery from torn ACL), Brad Miller (left abdomen strain), and Matt Duffy (recovery from Achilles surgery), all participated in baseball activities at Tropicana Field on Tuesday. Additionally, Tommy Hunter made his first, and possibly only, rehab appearance with the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs.

Donning his catching gear, Ramos threw to the bases, caught a bullpen session, and took blocking drills — all significant milestones since undergoing the knife last October. He also took batting practice for the second time this week, reportedly peppering the outfield with line drives.

I’m really happy for all I did today, Ramos told reporters. I’m getting closer. That’s what I need to do. All those little things help me to stay strong and ready to do something else.

Getting closer to his debut with the Rays, Ramos will likely head to Port Charlotte to take part in extended spring training games this weekend, before moving into his rehab assignment around May 28. With rehab limited to 20 days, and barring any setbacks, that should put him on the 25-man active roster by mid-to-late-June — well ahead of schedule.

(That would be) pretty good for me, good for the team, Ramos said. Now, I feel a lot better. I feel confident. I feel strong. That’s what I want; I want to be behind the plate as soon as possible.

It was originally thought that he would return as a designated hitter, however, the plan now is to prepare him to catch, although he won’t initially assume everyday duty.

Miller took grounders and hopes to be activated from the DL by Friday, the first day he’s eligible to return.

Miller is anxious to return, saying:

I don’t want to miss any more time than I have to.

However, standing in his way is the fact that he has yet to run. Because of it, Rays skipper Kevin Cash is less optimistic about Miller’s return:

I don’t see how he could be (ready to return), Cash said.

As for Duffy, the shortstop — who can’t seem to catch a break — took ground balls and and batting practice for the first time since he fouled a ball off his left foot in a previous batting practice session this past weekend. He told reporters that his Achilles felt much better, although his big toe is still irritated:

(The toe) Still bothers some things I’m doing, Duffy said. The fear is I do something, and compensate for the toe hurting. That’s one thing Ron (Porterfield) said he doesn’t mess with: big toe, little toe.

Duffy conceded that his situation is rather frustrating:

To say the least. In Spring Training it was really frustrating, because I was really fighting to get ready for Opening Day. … (Now) I can’t really control where I’m at in terms of wanting it to be quicker. … I don’t like being on the DL at all.

Finally, Hunter took the mound in Port Charlotte on Tuesday evening and threw one inning of two-run ball, allowing three hits while fanning three on 21 pitches. He said says his calf feels good, although there isn’t a definitive plan yet for Hunter to return to the fold.

LBWMF: In spite of early homers, Rays fall to the Angels, 3-2; Duffy and Hunter rehab updates

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It turns out that the hot, sticky dog days of summer start in the middle of May in Florida. (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)

In spite of a pair of Corey Dickerson/Logan Morrison solo homers in the first inning, the Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Angels, 3-2.

Here’s your tentative game recap, while I get my eggs in a row for this afternoon’s pre-game notes piece.

All of the Rays offense came on the first 10 pitches of the game.

On the third pitch of the ball-game, Corey Dickerson led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run to left field, tying the game at one apiece on his birthday.

Seven pitches later, Logan Morrison crushed a solo shot over the right-field wall to give the Rays a 2-1 lead.

Morrison’s solo home run

Logan Morrison crushes a solo home run over the right-field wall to give the Rays a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 1st

Tampa Bay’s bats went silent from that point on, with the Rays not being able to get a runner into scoring position until two outs into the eight inning.

The New What Next

After a second consecutive 3–2 loss, the Rays will try to bounce back tonight against the Angels, and get back to .500. Alex Cobb (4-3, 3.67 ERA, 3.99 FIP) will get the start opposite of Matt Shoemaker (3-2, 4.47 ERA, 5.01 FIP)

Cobb has delivered quality starts in his last four starts, allowing just eight earned runs over his last 27-1/3 innings. His changeup hasn’t returned to pre-surgery form, which has been well documented, but he’s effectively worked the fastball-curve combo.

Shoemaker notched his third win of the season on Wednesday after allowing four runs (three earned) over 6-1/3 innings against the ChiSox. In 2017, he has relied primarily on an 85 mph splitter with a ton of backspin that results in an above average number of fly balls, a 92 mph four-seam fastball, an 83 mph slider, and a 92 mph sinker. Shoemaker is undefeated in three career starts against the Rays, going 3-0 with a 2.60 ERA. Key matchups: Michael Martinez (1-3), Logan Morrison (4-11, 2B, HR, RBI, BB), Derek Norris (3-5, BB), Colby Rasmus (6-19, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB)

You can read more about the series in our series preview.

Rays 5/23/17 Starting Lineup

Dickerson DH
Kiermaier CF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Beckham SS
Rasmus LF
Souza Jr RF
Norris C
Robertson 2B
Cobb RHP

Noteworthiness

— Another hitch in the ongoing Matt Duffy (left heel) rehab process, he will not restart his rehab assignment until Saturday or Sunday. Duffy fouled a ball off his left foot during batting practice Saturday, resulting in uncomfortable swelling and the potential for him to favor his right foot. He was able to take ground balls Monday, but as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) noted, plans to test the heel by running out of the box had to be pushed back, which may delay his return to minor-league game action until the weekend.

— In other rehab news, RHP Tommy Hunter (calf strain) is tentatively scheduled to make a rehab appearance tonight with the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs. Pending his return, the Rays will face tough questions over who to option back to Triple-A or release in order to make room for Hunter on the 25-man roster. At the moment, the likeliest candidates appear to be RHPs Ryne Stanek and Jumbo Diaz.

— How good has Dickerson been?

— Evan Longoria is number 57 on Mark Simon’s latest hard hit leaderboard.

— Wonder why Matt Andriese has had a measured level of success this season? He doesn’t allow hard contact.

LBWMF: tempers flare in Rays 9-5 win against the Yankees

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…Sights from left-field, the best personalized jersey I’ve ever seen. This guy is a walking, talking happy hour! (Photo Credit: Anthony Ateek/X-Rays Spex)

Corey Dickerson continued to be a force on Saturday afternoon, belting a pair of homers en route to a 9–5 win over the Yankees. The fourth straight win for the Rays pushed Tampa Bay ahead of Boston for third place in the AL East.

Early in the contest, Dickerson hit a towering backspin homer to left-center, giving Tampa Bay a first inning, one-run lead.

Dickerson’s solo homer

Corey Dickerson opens the scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning with an opposite-field solo home run to left field

Now down by one, Aaron Judge sought to put his own stamp on the game by answering Dickerson’s homer with a 384 foot game tying solo-shot to right. Yet the tie was short lived.

In the bottom of the second, Colby Rasmus hit a base hit to center, and Daniel Robertson worked a free pass. Jesus Sucre — who always seems to come up big in wRISP situations — hit an RBI double up the middle, scoring the Rays left-fielder.

The Rays were far from done, and Evan Longoria continued to pile on the runs in the third, belting a 380 foot solo homer to put the Rays up by two.

Unfortunately starter Matt Andriese never could put together that all important shutdown inning, and the Yankees came from behind to tie the game in the fourth inning. The rally started when Starlin Castro hit a one out base-hit, and Judge followed by lacing a double to left, putting a pair of runners in scoring position. Andriese beautifully sequenced and fanned Ellsbury (swinging), but gave up a first pitch RBI double to Chase Headley which knotted the game at three.

Yet as the baseball gods would have it, the never say die Rays took the lead for good with the mighty Corey Dickerson at the plate.

Robertson doubled to the right-center gap before Jesus Sucre reached on a strike three wild pitch. With two on, Dickerson hit a 2-1 slider off the scoreboard some 442 feet to right, putting the Rays ahead for good.

Dickerson’s three-run homer

Corey Dickerson mashes a massive three-run homer to right field for his second home run of the game

It was Corey’s second homer of the game, and 11th of the season. Beleaguered starter Masahiro Tanaka has now allowed five homers in two starts against Tampa Bay, as well as 13 runs. The right-hander was lifted after he allowed two more singles.

Even though Tampa Bay didn’t plate any more runs in the fourth, the Rays rallied for three more in the fifth against Tommy Layne and Giovanny Gallegos.

Up 6–4, after Gary Sanchez homered in the top of the frame, Robertson led off the bottom half of the inning with a single to center off Layne. Then with one out, Dickerson was hit in the back with a first pitch 89 mph fastball, intentionally or otherwise.

I wasn’t expecting it, Dickerson said. Only thing I didn’t like about it was where it was located. If it was on purpose and he hit me, that’s okay, I just took my base and went on about it. (But) toward my head — anywhere else it wouldn’t have mattered at all.

Whatever the case, Kevin Kiermaier followed with an RBI single to left-center, putting the Rays up by three.

Gallegos entered and promptly walked Longoria, loading the bases for Logan Morrison. On the tenth pitch of the at-bat, Morrison hit a two-RBI single to center, making it a five-run contest.

Following the hit, pitching coach Larry Rothschild and Manager Joe Girardi were ejected from the ball game, feeling that Morrison should have been called out on strikes earlier in the at-bat. To his credit, Girardi’s animated display of disenfranchisement — mounding dirt on top of home pate — was rather entertaining.

However, if the raison d’être of his tirade was to fire up his ball club, it failed.

That wasn’t the only ejection; Andriese was tossed for hitting Judge with a 90 mph first-pitch fastball to the ribs to start the sixth inning. The errant pitch was thought to be revenge for Layne’s hit by pitch of Dickerson.

We have a really tight-knit group here, Andriese said. We’re playing with some fire. We’re not the big-name team, but we’ve got to make a name for ourselves somehow, so I feel like we’re kind of doing that right now.

With a proverbial wink and a nudge, Andriese said no, he was “just trying go inside.”

For his part, Girardi noted that if it was an intentional hit by pitch, the Rays right-hander went about things in the right way:

I don’t really understand it. Maybe they thought that we threw at their guy on purpose. … Really, I don’t want runners at first and second. It’s all right. They thought he threw at him on purpose, they hit Judge, did it, in a sense, the right way — it was lower. But, whatever.

From there, former Yankee Chase Whitley entered in relief, and dominated his former team after allowing a double to Ellsbury. Whitley mowed through the next nine hitters over the next three innings. Rays skipper Kevin Cash called upon Jumbo Diaz to work the final frame, and the hefty right-hander struck out a pair while walking one.

All told, Tampa Bay posted 12 hits, with Dickerson, Kiermaier, Longoria and Robertson collecting multi-hit games.

The New What Next

The Rays will attempt to sweep the Yankees and continue their win streak on Sunday with Chris Archer (3-2, 3.70 ERA, 3.16 FIP) on the mound. He’ll be opposed by CC Sabathia (3-2, 4.93 ERA, 4.84 FIP).

Archer relinquished seven runs (six earned) on five hits and six walks over five innings on Monday. He fanned six batters. The right-hander was undone in the first when he allowed three runs on three walks and two hits — including a three-run blast by Lonnie Chisenhall. And though he settled down, Archer still struggled with his control en route to a new season high in walks. He looks to bounce back against Grimmace on Sunday.

Sabathia fired 6-2/3 scoreless innings Tuesday night, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out four. Sabathia has beaten the Rays once this season, in a five-inning start where he allowed just three hits and a big ol’ goose egg. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (3-8, 2B, RBI, BB), Kevin Kiermaier (4-8, 2 HR, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (30-73, 9 2B, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 14 BB), Logan Morrison (2-3), Derek Norris (3-11, 2B, HR5 RBI), Steven Souza Jr. (6-14, HR, RBI, 2 BB)

Rays 5/21/17 Starting Lineup

(Photo Credit: Roger Mooney/Tampa Bay Times)

LBWMF: Rays come from behind late to beat Yankees, 5-4

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Erasmo Ramirez, pictured warming up in the ‘pen before Friday night’s game, was incredibly efficient in his first start since the demotion of Blake Snell. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Evan Longoria had a four-hit game, which included the game-winning RBI single in the eighth inning, as the Tampa Bay Rays won a back-and-forth battle against the New York Yankees, 5–4. Don’t look now, but the Rays have put together a modest three-game win streak (6-4 over their last 10 games) and are back to .500 on the season.


The LI graph for an incredibly fun game. Source: FanGraphs

The Yankees got things started early against Erasmo Ramirez, who is widely known to work quickly and throw strikes. With one out, Jacoby Ellsbury singled to center and went to third on Matt Holliday’s double to center. Surely the threat of Kevin Kiermaier’s arm factored into the decision to hold Ellsbury at third, however, when Starlin Castro grounded out to short, Ellsbury crossed the plate to break the seal. Ramirez was able to limit the damage to just a run by striking out Didi Gregorius (swinging) to end the inning.

Down by a run, the Rays came charging back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at one apiece against starter Luis Severino — who was not particularly sharp over his 25+ pitch first. Corey Dickerson led off the frame with a well struck single to center, yet both Kiermaier and Evan Longoria traded places with the Rays’ DH after they hit into back-to-back fielder’s choices. With two outs, however, Longoria scored from first on Logan Morrison’s double to left-center, putting Tampa Bay on the board.

New York broke the stalemate in the third inning when Gardner reached on a bunt single. Charging and bare-handing the ball, Longoria sailed his throw past Morrison at first, allowing Gardner to advance to second. Ellsbury then slapped a double up the left field line on the very next pitch, putting the Yankees ahead by a 2–1 margin.

…And the Yankees maintained that one-run lead until the seventh, when Tampa Bay took its first lead of the game.

The Rays started the rally against Adam Warren with three straight singles from Dickerson, Kiermaier and Longoria — loading the bases with none out. Morrison followed with a 400 for sac-fly to center, allowing all three runners to advance, tying the game. After Steven Souza Jr. struck out, the Yankees brought in lefty Chasen Shreve for Colby Rasmus. But Kevin Cash, playing chess, put the right-handed Rickie Weeks Jr. into the game to pinch-hit, and he came through by chopping a ground ball that skipped past Ronald Torreyes up the third base line for a two-run double, putting Tampa Bay by a pair. As Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) opined, Weeks is said to have a big impact in the clubhouse, and he finally came through in a big way on the field.

The lead took Ramirez off the hook, in his first start since replacing Blake Snell in the rotation. The smiley one needed just 65 pitches (48 strikes) to work into the sixth, allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits, while walking one and striking out five. He efficiently got 11 of his 16 outs in three pitches or fewer. Welcome back, King Erasmo.

Yet as we’ve seen all season, the bullpen — this time Jose Alvarado and Ryne Stanek — allowed the lead to slip away in the eighth. Alvarado walked Gardner, the first free pass he’s allowed in the big leagues, before he coaxed a popper to short left out of Ellsbury for the first out of the frame. Now with Stanek on the bump, Gardner moved into second on a wild pitch, before Matt Holliday homered to right on a 100 mph, 2–2 fastball. Castro singled, which led to Stanek’s exit, before Danny Farquhar got Aaron Judge to bounce into a 5–4–3 double play to end the frame and preserve the tie.

Something they haven’t often done this season, although they do seem to be improving, the Rays took the lead for the second and final time in the bottom of the inning. Norris walked against Tyler Clippard with one out. After Dickerson went down swinging, Kiermaier worked a four-pitch walk, putting two aboard for Longoria.

Longoria took the first pitch for a strike, then lined a single into left field, scoring Norris from second for a 5–4 lead. It was the seventh four hit game for Longoria, who was part of every Tampa Bay rally. The team now has scored five or more runs in five consecutive games, and six of the past seven contests.

Alex Colome finished things up by working a perfect ninth for his 11th save. Danny Farquhar, kept the game tied in the eighth, earned the win.

The New What Next

Tampa Bay has a chance to get back over .500 this afternoon for the first time in a month. The Rays have won three straight for the first time since sweeping Detroit (April 18–20). Matt Andriese (3-1, 3.18 ERA, 4.45 FIP) will take the mound today, opposite of fellow righty Masahiro Tanaka (5-2, 5.80 ERA, 5.37 FIP).

Andriese battled against the Red Sox in his last start, allowing just two runs on four hits and four walks, while striking out five batters over five innings. The right-hander has been solid, although the outcome of this game likely depends upon which Tanaka shows up to pitch for New York on Saturday.

Tanaka was tagged for eight runs on seven hits and one walk over just 1-2/3 innings on Sunday by the Astros. He has shown some promise this season, winning each of his previous five starts, and allowing a total of 11 earned runs in that span. Yet at other times it looks like he’s throwing batting practice. Tanaka allowed seven runs on eight hits in just 2-2/3 innings of work against Tampa Bay on Opening Day. Key matchups: Tim Beckham (1-3, 2B), Corey Dickerson (6-16, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (6-12, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BB)

You can read about the pitching matchup, and so much more, in our series preview.

Rays 5/20/17 Starting Lineup

Dickerson DH
Kiermaier CF
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza Jr RF
Rasmus LF
Beckham SS
Robertson 2B
Sucre C
Andriese RHP

Noteworthiness

— Disabled list update:

SS Matt Duffy (heel), who stopped his minor-league rehab because of soreness, participated in pregame batting practice and took ground balls Friday afternoon. Duffy is expected to do it again today, and should resume his rehab shortly.

Meanwhile RHP Tommy Hunter (right calf strain) is slated to throw live batting practice this afternoon, while C Wilson Ramos (offseason knee surgery) hit on the field Friday for the first time.