X-Rays Spex

A Below Average Rays Fan Blog

LBWMF: Rays look for the sweep after they beat up on the Orioles, 10-5

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Make that 10 wins in a row at home, and 12 of their last 15 overall. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays scratched across five early runs in the first two innings of Saturday’s contest against the Orioles, then continued to add to the lead as the game progressed. For the second straight day, the Rays scored double-digit runs as they won a 10th consecutive home game, beating Baltimore 10–5. Tampa Bay starts the day 13 games over .500 for the first time this season, eight games back of the Athletics in the Wildcard race, and just 1/2 game behind the Mariners who stand between the Rays and Oakland.

The Rays started their scoring in the opening frame after Mallex Smith reached on a two-base throwing error by third baseman Renato Nunez. Smith advanced to third on Joey Wendle’s fly-ball out to right before David Hess uncorked a Carly Rae Jepsen like wild pitch that bounded toward first base.

Next up was Tommy Pham, who tripled to right. Ji-Man Choi sacrificed Pham home on a fly-ball to center — putting the Rays up by two — before Kevin Kiermaier, Willy Adames and Jake Bauers hit back-to-back-to-back singles, plating the third run. With runners at the corners, Bauers broke for second with Brandon Lowe at the plate. Bauers pumped the brakes and stayed hung-up between first and second long enough for Adames to cross the plate, capping the scoring.

The weirdness continued in the second inning when Brandon Lowe hit a double off the B-Ring catwalk that fell back into fair play. Nick Ciuffo reached after being hit in the foot by a wayward slider. Then, with Lowe breaking from third on the pitch, Joey Wendle laid down a perfectly placed suicide bunt for the fifth run of the game.

Baltimore attempted a comeback effort, however, getting to within a pair of runs in the third inning. Ryan Yarbrough allowed a one-out walk to Cedric Mullins, and a bloop double to right to Joey Rickard. Jonathan Villar reached on an infield hit, as Mullins scored to make it a four-run game. Then in the fourth, Tim Beckham reached on a one-out infield hit, and Renato Nunez hit a two-run two-out homer to left, making it 5-3.

In the top of the fifth, Ciuffo both bailed out Adames and showed off his rocket of an arm. Rickard slapped a slow roller into the hole between third and short. Adames was able to make a backhanded stop, yet his throw was well wide of first. Ciuffo hustled down the line to back up the throw, corralled the ball in front of the dugout and nailed Rickard with a perfect throw as he attempted to move up to second.

All told, Yarbrough allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks across 3-2/3 innings of work, although he was able to pick up his 14th win of the season — the most in the Majors for a rookie.

Just really trying to find some rhythm out there, and falling behind some guys, so obviously not a recipe for success, said Yarbrough on his pitching performance. Obviously, you’ve got to focus on it a little bit and work on the bullpen and get after it. But yeah, I was just falling behind guys and trying to get some rhythm and it just kind of didn’t get there.

Nevertheless, Tampa Bay was able to push the lead back to four runs in the sixth inning. Adames doubled to left, chasing Hess, and Bauers sacrificed him to third against southpaw Tanner Scott. Adames scored when Scott uncorked the second wild pitch of the ballgame. After Duffy, Ciuffo, and Smith hit another triplet of singles, Wendle came up with a bases-loaded sacrifice-fly giving the Rays a four-run cushion.

Yet knowing that all teeters must totter, Baltimore made it 7-5 in the seventh inning on a two-run single by Villar. Be that as it may, Tampa Bay came right back with three more runs. Matt Duffy delivered a bases-loaded single to make it 9-5, while Smith capped the scoring with an RBI single of his own.

We’ve kind of got to the point where we really believe in ourselves, Duffy said. We feel like we are flying under the radar with some of those other teams in the American League, but we think we can beat anyone. We truly believe that and we carry that confidence with us every day.

At the end of the day, Tampa Bay collected double-digit hits and runs for the second consecutive day, although this time without the benefit of a homer. Eight Tampa Bay hurlers combined for the victory.

The New What Next

Ryne Stanek (2-3, 2.65 ERA) will open the series finale on Sunday, likely ahead of Yonny Chirinos (3-5, 3.76 ERA). They’ll be opposed by southpaw Josh Rogers (1-1, 4.35 ERA) who will take the mound in place of Alex Cobb, the former Ray that is dealing with a blister.

Stanek came out of the bullpen on Saturday to get one out. The right-hander has given up six of the 18 runs he’s allowed against Baltimore, while five of the six homers he’s given up came against the Orioles.

Chirinos put together another one of those spotty nights where he looked both terrible and terrific. His first inning was so bad, laboring through 25 pitches including back to back walks — and forcing Rays skipper Kevin Cash to get the bullpen warmed up early — then, with a refocused verve, zipped through the next six innings on just 47 pitches. When all was said and done, Chirinos threw seven innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits, but three walks, on 72 efficient pitches (42 strikes, 58% strikes, 10.3 pitches per inning). The right-hander coaxed 12 ground balls, including three double plays.

Rogers was traded from New York in the Zach Britton deal. The left-hander gave up two runs across 5-1/3 innings at Seattle in a 2–1 defeat on September 3rd.

Rays 9/9/18 Starting Lineup

Smith LF
Pham DH
Duffy 3B
Cron 1B
Kiermaier CF
Adames SS
Lowe 2B
Gomez RF
Sucre C
Stanek RHP

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Orioles — one last series preview

LBWMF: Rays trounce Orioles, 14-2, look to win series on Saturday

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The Rays scored 14 runs Friday night, thanks in part to four home runs, including a Ji-Man Choi grand slam. (Photo Credit: X-Rays Spex)

Nick Ciuffo, Kevin Kiermaier, Tommy Pham and Ji-Man Choi teamed up to hit four home runs on Friday as the Tampa Bay Rays cruised to a 14-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles, who lost for the 100th time this season. 14 runs were more than enough for Blake Snell, who picked up his 18th win of the season. and the Rays.

The Rays have now won nine consecutive home games (42-24 at home overall), and are 30-8 in their last 38 games at Tropicana Field. The nine straight home wins are three shy of a franchise record.

Snell threw five innings of scoreless ball on 90 pitches but was chased in the sixth after giving up a one-out infield hit to Cedric Mullins, then a two-run homer to Joey Rickard. It was Rickard’s fourth homer against Tampa Bay this season, giving him 17 of his 23 total runs batted in against the Rays. All told, Snell struck fanned nine and allowed five hits across 5-1/3 innings and 104 pitches (72 strikes, 69% strike rate, 15/20 first-pitch strikes).

I felt like I was around the zone, for the most part, Snell said. The offense did very well. Gave me a quick lead. All credit goes to them.

Meanwhile, the Rays took the lead for good in the second inning against the right-hander Dylan Bundy. With two outs, Willy Adames lined a single to left-field before Jake Bauers walked. Ciuffo, batting for the first time at the Trop, homered to right, putting Tampa Bay up by three with one swing of the bat.

An inning later, Ji-Man Choi and Tommy Pham walked with one out. Yet Joey Wendle ground into an almost double play which would have ended the threat. He, however, beat out the throw to first, keeping the frame alive. Kiermaier, who reached in the first inning on a bunt single, homered off the fair pole in right, his seventh, pushing the lead to 6-0.

Tampa Bay also scored in the fifth inning on a solo homer to dead center by Pham off relief pitcher Sean Gilmartin.

Then in the sixth inning, Bauers walked before Ciuffo singled to center to put two on with one out. After Mallex Smith grounded into a fielder’s choice at third, and Matt Duffy walked, Choi crushed a 438-foot grand slam to right-field off Ryan Meisinger. Tampa Bay scored their first 11 runs via the longball.

The Rays tacked on three more runs in the seventh inning on a bases-loaded wild pitch, a Ciuffo sacrifice-fly, and an infield hit off the bat of Smith.

After Snell departed one out in the sixth inning, Jaime Schultz pitched 1-2/3 scoreless innings, while Andrew Kittredge and Hunter Wood threw an inning apiece. The hurlers combined for 15 strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter.

The New What Next

The Rays have an opportunity to win both the current and season series against the Orioles on Saturday night. Diego Castillo (3-2, 3.48 ERA) will open for the Rays, with Ryan Yarbrough (13-5, 3.68 ERA) expected to work the bulk of the innings. They’ll be opposed by David Hess (3-9, 5.27 ERA).

Castillo has opened four times previously and has allowed runs in only one of those appearances. The flame-throwing right-hander has not walked a batter in those outings, covering 9-1/3 innings.

Yarbrough tossed five innings of relief on Sunday, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while striking out three against Cleveland. The southpaw took the mound in the second inning after opener Diego Castillo tossed a scoreless first, and held Cleveland scoreless until the seventh when he allowed an RBI single to Jose Ramirez, knocking him out of the game. Yarbrough has lowered his ERA to 3.68, with a 2.67 K/BB, thanks to a 21-1/3 inning stretch where he has allowed just two earned runs total.

Hess allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits across four innings on Sunday against the Royals. He struck out three and threw just 10/21 first-pitch strikes. Hess was scored upon in three different innings and had an unearned run that originated from his own wild pitch. Hess was coming off three consecutive quality starts — perhaps his best stretch of the season. The right-hander held Tampa Bay scoreless across six innings in his first meeting of the season (May 25), but allowed three runs on four hits in 5-2/3 innings on August 9. Hess was cleared to start after he was hit in the eye with a football while playing catch before Friday’s contest. Key Matchups: Ji-Man Choi (1-2, HR, RBI, BB), Matt Duffy (4-9, 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Joey Wendle (4-5, BB) 

Rays 9/8/18 Starting Lineup

Smith RF
Wendle 3B
Pham LF
Choi DH
Kiermaier CF
Adames SS
Bauers 1B
Lowe 2B
Ciuffo C
Castillo RHP

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Orioles — one last series preview

Noteworthiness

— Tampa Bay starts the day eight games back in the AL Wildcard race, but just 1-1/2 games behind the Seattle Mariners, who stand between Tampa Bay and Oakland.

— The Rays will wear their Devil Rays throwback uniforms tonight for the last scheduled time this season.

— Michael Perez is back with the team. The backstop was in Cleveland for the birth of his son, Liam, on Wednesday. He said his hamstring is improving and is confident he’ll return to action this season.

— Former Ray Alex Cobb has been scratched from Sunday’s start due to a blister. Southpaw Josh Rogers will instead start for Baltimore.

— Since his average dipped to .175 on August 14, Kevin Kiermaier has hit .348 with five doubles, three triples, and three home runs.

The New What Next: Rays vs Orioles — one last series preview

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Despite dropping the series finale in Toronto, snapping a four-game win streak, Kevin Kiermaier clubbed a pair of homers, accounting for two of the Rays three runs. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays return home from a successful eight-game road trip, where they will begin a nine-game homestand on Friday. The first to come into Tropicana Field are the Baltimore Orioles, who the Rays will face for the last time of the 2018 season.

The AL East foes are knotted up at 8-8 on the season, and Tampa Bay enters the series eight games back in the AL Wildcard race.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

Despite dropping the series finale against Toronto, 10-3, Tampa Bay returned from its eight-game road trip having won five games — three of which came against top ceded teams. The Rays have re-asserted themselves into the postseason chase (well, in the eyes of the mainstream sporting world … some of us have been banging the drum for the Rays all season) with a hot 19-8 stretch of play, thanks to a productive offense and solid pitching.

Meanwhile, Baltimore — which is trying to stave off the inevitable 100 loss season — is coming off a series loss against the Seattle Mariners, having lost 15 of the last 20 games overall.

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Suffice it to say, the Rays, somehow, have met a formidable opponent in the Orioles this season. Yet six of their eight wins have come under the big top, where they outscored the Birds 26-18. They say you must beat the teams beneath you, and well … the Orioles are the worst team in baseball. Tampa Bay needs to use this series as a springboard before the two important series that follow, against Cleveland and Oakland.

Pitching Probables

Based on when they last pitched, Kevin Cash will likely lean primarily on Blake Snell (17-5, 2.02 ERA), Ryan Yarbrough (13-5, 3.68 ERA), and Yonny Chirinos (3-5, 3.76 ERA) this weekend. Buck Showalter will counter with Dylan Bundy (7-13, 5.36 ERA), David Hess (3-9, 5.24 ERA), and Alex Cobb (5-15, 4.97 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Blake Snell allowed three hits (a single and two doubles), a walk, and three stolen bases in the first two innings of his last start. A throwing error by Matt Duffy in the second inning — when Cleveland took a two-run lead — certainly didn’t help. From there, however, the southpaw didn’t allow a runner beyond first base. He retired 10 consecutive batters before giving up a two-out single to Erik Gonzalez in the seventh inning and struck out four in a row during one stretch.

All told, Snell gave up two runs (one earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking out nine on 101 pitches (62 strikes, 61% strike rate, 14/27 first-pitch strikes) across 6-2/3 innings. At 17 wins on the season, the left-hander is tied with Luis Severino and Corey Kluber — two other top candidates for the Cy Young Award — for the most wins in the majors. Snell is 5-0 in his last six starts while his 2.02 ERA is second in the AL behind Chris Sale (1.97 ERA).

Dylan Bundy allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk across 5-1/3 innings on Saturday. He struck out eight. The right-hander threw 71 of 101 pitches for strikes (70% strike rate) in his best start in almost a month — Bundy had otherwise been hammered for 25 runs in 19-1/3 innings over his previous four outings. After dishing up eight runs (seven earned) in his first start of the season against Tampa Bay (April 26), Bundy has allowed just three runs in his two subsequent two. Key Matchups: Jake Bauers (1-3, HR, RBI), CJ Cron (4-13, 2B, 3 HR, 4 RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (2-7, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Mallex Smith (4-12, HR, 2 RBI), Joey Wendle (2-8, 2B, RBI)

Ryan Yarbrough tossed five innings of relief on Sunday, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while striking out three against Cleveland. The southpaw took the mound in the second inning after opener Diego Castillo tossed a scoreless first, and held Cleveland scoreless until the seventh when he allowed an RBI single to Jose Ramirez, knocking him out of the game. Yarbrough has lowered his ERA to 3.68, with a 2.67 K/BB, thanks to a 21-1/3 inning stretch where he has allowed just two earned runs total.

David Hess allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits across four innings on Sunday against the Royals. He struck out three and threw just 10/21 first-pitch strikes. Hess was scored upon in three different innings and had an unearned run that originated from his own wild pitch. Hess was coming off three consecutive quality starts — perhaps his best stretch of the season. The right-hander held Tampa Bay scoreless across six innings in his first meeting of the season (May 25), but allowed three runs on four hits in 5-2/3 innings on August 9. Key Matchups: Ji-Man Choi (1-2, HR, RBI, BB), Matt Duffy (4-9, 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Joey Wendle (4-5, BB) 

Yonny Chirinos put together another one of those spotty nights where he looked both terrible and terrific. His first inning was so bad, laboring through 25 pitches including back to back walks — and forcing Rays skipper Kevin Cash to get the bullpen warmed up early — then, with a refocused verve, zipped through the next six innings on just 47 pitches. When all was said and done, Chirinos threw seven innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits, but three walks, on 72 efficient pitches (42 strikes, 58% strikes, 10.3 pitches per inning). The right-hander coaxed 12 ground balls, including three double plays.

Alex Cobb allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out two over six innings against the Mariners on Tuesday. Cobb allowed a solo home run to Robinson Cano in the first inning, then settled down the rest of the way to notch his seventh quality start in eight tries. The former Ray has worked to an impressive 2.73 ERA over 52-2/3 innings in that span, although the damage on his season-long peripherals (4.97 ERA, 1.42 WHIP) has already been done thanks to a dreadful start to his 2018 campaign. Cobb is 0-3 with a 4.63 ERA in four starts against his former team, although his last start was very good, as the right-hander limited the Rays to one run on five hits and two walks across seven innings. Key Matchups: Willy Adames (1-3), Jake Bauers (2-6, 2 RBI), Ji-Man Choi (2-3, 2B, RBI), Matt Duffy (2-6), Mallex Smith (4-8, 2B), Joey Wendle (4-11, 2 RBI)

The New What Next: Rays vs Orioles — a series preview

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The offense woke up in the series finale against the White Sox. Unfortunately, the pitching staff couldn’t contain Chicago’s “potent” offense. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles will begin a three-game series Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. The Rays are holding onto postseason aspirations by a thread after a disappointing series loss to the White Sox, while the Orioles are still a lot of games under .500. Still, Baltimore won the last three meetings against Tampa Bay a week-and-a-half ago.

(Stats Credit: ESPN)

Tampa Bay bounced back from a series loss against the Orioles by sweeping the Los Angeles Angels. Yet whatever momentum the team generated from the series win was for not, as the White Sox silenced the Rays over a dismal, three-game weekend series. The Orioles didn’t fare much better this weekend past, dropping three of four against the Rangers. They enter the Trop with a 14-43 road record.

(Stats Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Chicago’s success against Tampa Bay was due, in part, to the pitching staff leaning heavily on secondary offerings. And while the Rays put a lot of runners on the base paths, they couldn’t bring them in, going 6-29 with runners in scoring position — good for a .207 wRISP batting average. In contrast, Baltimore maintained its productive hitting against Texas, yet the hurlers couldn’t slow down the Rangers. The Rays hope for a similar outcome from the Orioles pitching staff, lest they continue their backslide toward irrelevancy.

Pitching Probables

Kevin Cash will lean on Tyler Glasnow (0-0, 3.00 ERA), likely Jalen Beeks (1-0, 10.80 ERA), and a pitcher to be named before the series finale on Thursday. Buck Showalter will counter with Alex Cobb (3-14, 5.84 ERA), Andrew Cashner (3-10, 5.05 ERA), and David Hess (2-6, 6.44 ERA).

(Stats Credit: FanGraphs)

Tyler Glasnow was impressive in his debut with the Rays, throwing three innings of one-run ball on 48 pitches (34 strikes, 71% strike rate, 21% SwStr rate). Glasnow allowed two hits (including a solo home run), one walk, and struck out five.

Fastball, curveball, slider today, I had a good feel for things, Glasnow said following the Rays’ win. I felt relaxed out there. Overall, the feel in this clubhouse is really good. It’s relaxed, it’s friendly.

Rays manager Kevin Cash had nothing but superlatives for the right-hander, saying,

Probably not going to (throw 70 percent strikes) all of the time. But a great start. If he’s featuring that kind of stuff at a 70 percent clip in the zone, he’s going to have a special career.

On Glasnow’s repertoire … The right-hander threw 24 of 35 four-seam fastballs for strikes (five whiffs), averaging 97.6 mph (and topping out at 99.5 mph); 3 of 5 sliders for strikes (1 whiff); and 7 of 8 curveballs for strikes (1 whiff). He was able to move his fastball all over the zone at will and played his off-speed stuff off of his heater.

The only real criticism for Glasnow, is that he left a fair number of hanging breaking pitches in hittable locations. One of those very hittable offerings was a 0-2 curveball that flattened out over the heart of the plate and was consequently hit into the Rays tank — thanks a lot, Kole Calhoun. Otherwise, it was an excellent introduction to the flame-throwing right-hander, who should have a longer leash his next time out.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said the goal is to get Glasnow through four innings as he continues to stretch out his arm.

Alex Cobb allowed one run on seven hits while fanning six across six innings as he secured his third victory of the season on Wednesday. The former Ray has turned it around on the hill of late, this despite a 5.83 ERA and 1.54 WHIP through 109-2/3 frames this season. Cobb has now surrendered seven runs over 23-1/3 innings (four starts) while recording 15 punch outs. Tampa Bay was able to get to the right-hander again on July 26, tagging him for four runs (three earned) on eight hits over six innings of work. Key Matchups: Jake Bauers (1-3, RBI), Ji-Man Choi (2-3, 2B, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (1-3, 2B), Michael Perez (1-2, 2B), Mallex Smith (3-5, 2B, BB), Joey Wendle (4-8, 2 RBI)

Jalen Beeks allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk over five innings on Thursday. He struck out four. Beeks didn’t exactly set a high bar in his debut against the Orioles on July 28th, allowing eight earned runs on 10 hits and three walks over 3-1/3 innings. Yet the southpaw looked considerably more composed over an efficient 71 pitches (47 strikes, 66% strike rate, 13/18 first-pitch strikes) Thursday, limiting the damage after Hunter Wood had been stellar over the first two innings as the opener. The key to Beeks’ bounce back success was two-fold: he got ahead of batters, and remained calm when things appeared like they might spiral out of control. He figures to be utilized in similar fashion Wednesday, with his ability to pitch multiple innings makes him a natural for the second-man-in role on “bullpen days.”

Andrew Cashner allowed 10 earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out one across just 1-2/3 innings in a loss on Thursday against the Rangers. Cashner only allowed one home run, yet five consecutive Rangers reached base in the second inning before he was chased from the game. Cashner had pitched well over a 52-inning stretch prior to Thursday’s game, performing to a 3.46 ERA and 1.29 WHIP — although he only managed 31 strikeouts. In that stretch, the right-hander limited the Rays to two runs on five hits and three walks over six innings of work back on the 27th. Key Matchups: Jake Bauers (1-3), CJ Cron (3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Matt Duffy (4-16, 3B, RBI, 2 BB), Kevin Kiermaier (2-3), Michael Perez (1-2), Joey Wendle (2-5, 3B, RBI, BB) 

I will update things when a starter in Thursday’s game is announced.

David Hess coughed up seven runs (five earned) on five hits and a walk over 3-1/3 innings while striking out four Rangers. While some shitty defense helped deflect the blow to Hess’s ratios, most of it was by the pitcher himself, as he committed two of the Orioles three errors on the night. Hess has split his time out of the ‘pen and the rotation this season, although a lack of arms necessitated the starter status. In three games against Tampa Bay, Hess is 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA … but, that over just 13-2/3 innings of work. Key Matchups: Matt Duffy (2-6, HR, 3 RBI), Joey Wendle (4-5, BB)

Noteworthiness

Medical Matters…

— Right-handed relief pitcher Chaz Roe threw live batting practice on Monday in Port Charlotte and hopes to begin a rehab assignment Thursday.

— UTL Daniel Robertson underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb Monday morning and is expected to be out 6-8 weeks, likely ending his season.

— OF Tommy Pham is feeling better after suffering a hairline fracture in his right foot last week, although he is still on the same 2-4 week timetable for his return.

LBWMF: Rays hold on to defeat the Orioles, 4-3

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The Rays took down the birds, as expected, in Baltimore Thursday night, 4-3. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays scored two crucial runs in the seventh inning on Thursday, allowing them to cobble together a 4-3 road win over the Baltimore Orioles. The Rays enter the day within a game of their high-water mark after taking the first of four contests against Baltimore, earning 1/2 game on the Seattle Mariners in the AL Wildcard race with 58 left to play.

Hunter Wood opened the game for Tampa Bay and got the first five outs, collecting three punch outs (Tim Beckham swinging, Adam Jones swinging, Chris Davis looking) along the way. Ryan Yarbrough, who was credited with the win, came on in relief of Wood with runners at first and second and two outs in the second inning … and promptly walked Jace Peterson to load the bases. But after he got ahead of Caleb Joseph 1-2, Yarbrough got Baltimore’s catcher to fly out to left to end the inning.

Meanwhile, Alex Cobb held his former team hitless over the first three frames, but the Rays changed all that when they got on the board in the fourth inning. Kevin Kiermaier led off the frame by lining a double to centerfield before Jake Bauers drove him home on a one out single through the right side. After CJ Cron moved Bauers up to second on a grounder to third, Ji-Man Choi grounded a two-out single to left, plating a run. Choi started his tenure in Tampa Bay on a 2-for-15 cold streak, although he has collected 15 hits (including two Thursday night) since.

The dreaded leadoff walk would come back to bite Yarbrough in the fifth inning, after Tim Beckham drew a free pass, the first of two mistakes by the left-hander, and Jonathan Schoop followed with a two-run homer that landed just inside the left field foul pole — his second mistake.

However, Yarbrough settled down to retire six of the next eight batters, working 4-1/3 innings overall — his longest outing since June 28 against Houston. Yarbs earned his ninth win of the season, the second-most on the Rays pitching staff behind Blake Snell (12).

Tampa Bay struck back in the top of the seventh, and it all began with Choi, who nearly gave the team a leadoff homer that bounced high off the left-field wall which the umpires ruled a double. After a lengthy review of the play, the call on the field somehow stood. Watch the video (below) and decide for yourself.

Nevertheless, Joey Wendle moved Choi up to third on a single to center before Adeiny Hechavarria drove him in for the go ahead run two batters later, chasing Cobb.

Hechavarria’s go-ahead single | 07/26/2018

Adeiny Hechavarria singles into left field, scoring Ji-Man Choi to help the Rays regain the lead at 3-2 in the 7th

Paul Fry entered in relief, and even though he was able to coax a double play out of Daniel Robertson, he hit Mallex Smith with a pitch and walked Kiermaier to load the bases. Enter former Ray, Jhan Marinez. The right-hander threw a comebacker to Matt Duffy, but a throwing error by Marinez allowed Wendle to score an important insurance run.

Sergio Romo entered against the top of the order in the bottom of the seventh and put down Schoop, Jones and Mark Trumbo in order despite allowing a one out single. Thanks kindly, ground ball double play! But in the bottom of the eighth Romo gave up a solo homer to Chris Davis, cutting the Rays lead to a run. Romo bounced back and collected two fly-ball outs to set up closer Austin Pruitt.

Pruitt struck out Peterson to end the eighth, and retired the Orioles in order in the ninth to record his third career save — his first of less than three innings in length. All three of Pruitt’s saves have come against Baltimore.

The New What Next

Chris Archer (3-4, 4.30 ERA) will take the mound for the Rays amid trade speculation, pitching opposite of Andrew Cashner (2-9, 4.40 ERA).

Chris Archer allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out 13 over six innings against the Marlins on Sunday. Archer collected a season-high 13 strikeouts in his 16th outing of the season and now sits with a 3.41 K/BB over 90 innings of work. Archer looks to improve his 4.30 ERA ahead of the trade deadline.

Andrew Cashner allowed one run on six hits and one walk across 5-2/3 innings on Sunday. He struck out two. Cashner surrendered his lone run in the fourth inning, and he was lifted from the game in the sixth inning after throwing 79 pitches (51 strikes, 65% strike rate). While Cashner improved on his previous outing (five runs over 6-1/3 innings vs. the Yankees), he couldn’t collect the victory. The 31-year-old is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA against the Rays this season after allowing five runs on 11 hits and four walks over five innings on May 26. Key Matchups: CJ Cron (3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Matt Duffy (4-16, 3B, RBI, 2 BB), Daniel Robertson (3-3, 2B), Joey Wendle (1-3, 3B, RBI)

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Orioles part four — a series preview

Rays 7/27/18 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Wendle 2B
Bauers 1B
Choi DH
Robertson 3B
Smith LF
Gomez RF
Perez C
Adames SS
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— The Rays made their third July trade Thursday night, dealing Jonny Venters back to the Braves in exchange for an international signing slot.

The Rays have recalled RHP Andrew Kittredge to add to the bullpen for now. In 30-1/3 innings for Durham, Kittredge is 4–0 with a 2.62 ERA. The Rays have two open 40-man roster spots, although one will be used when Jacob Faria comes off the 60-day DL. It’s possible the Rays may wait to add current players in the system to the 40-man roster until after the trade deadline on Tuesday.

Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) wrote about the trade, saying:

The 33-year-old Venters went 1–1 with a 3.86 ERA (14-IP, 6-ER) in 22 appearances (one start) this season with the Rays. As a reliever, he pitched to a 0.66 ERA (13.2-IP, 1-ER) in his 21 apps, giving up five runs in his one outing as an opener.

Venters joinned the Rays on April 25th, and made his Tampa Bay debut that night. It was his first appearance in the majors in 2,028 days — since the National League Wild Card Game on October 5, 2012 (with Atlanta). Incidentally, it was the last major league game of former teammate Chipper Jones, who will be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame this weekend. He became the second pitcher to ever return to the majors after three Tommy John surgeries, following Jason Isringhausen, according to FanGraphs.

The deal gave the Rays more flexibility with signing players internationally, where Tampa Bay has been quite successful lately.

Maybe more important in the near term, the move creates roster space for several Durham pitchers who have excelled in Triple-A. It also allows Venters’ great story to continue back with Atlanta.

Venters underwent Tommy John surgery in 2005, 2013 and 2014. He originally signed with the Rays as a minor league free agent on March 11, 2015, and returned from his third Tommy John surgery to make five appearances for Class-A Charlotte in 2016 before the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow was torn for a fourth time. He underwent an additional “half-Tommy John,” performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, to reattach the ligament, and made 24 apps in the minors in 2017.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Venters was the first former All-Star to return to the majors after missing at least five years since Justin Thompson, who was an All-Star in 1997 and pitched for the Texas Rangers on August 18, 2005 in his first game since August 15, 1999.

Venters was selected by the Braves in the 30th round of the 2003 June Draft out of Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, FL. He spent parts of three seasons (2010–12) with the Braves, going 15–10 with a 2.23 ERA (229.2-IP, 57-ER) while forming a dangerous back end of the Braves bullpen with Craig Kimbrel and Eric O’Flaherty. During that span, he ranked among major league relief leaders in apps (230, tied for second), strikeouts (258, fourth), wins (15, tied for fourth) and ERA (eighth).

— Tampa Bay has the opportunity to make up some ground in the Wildcard race tonight, as Seattle is set to start a three-game series against the fringe contending Angles, while Oakland will take on the 54-47 Rockies in the first of three.