X-Rays Spex

A Below Average Rays Fan Blog

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays blow four-run lead, fall 8-6

By Leave a Comment

Brad Miller went 3-5 with two runs and an RBI in the second game of the double header yesterday, and the Rays still lost. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Brad Miller went 3-5 with two runs and an RBI in the second game of the doubleheader yesterday, and the Rays still lost. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Another blown lead, another loss. The Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Baltimore Orioles in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday, 8-6.

The Rays scored four unanswered runs in the front three innings, and two more in the fifth. The Orioles, however, consistently put up runs from the third through eighth innings against Jake Odorizzi, Erasmo Ramirez and Danny Farquhar, and edged out Tampa Bay by a pair of runs.

Odorizzi summed the game up perfectly, saying,

I did a bad job. Plain and simple, I didn’t pitch very good.

Following the game, the Rays reinstated RHP Ryan Webb from the 15-day disabled list. In doing so, the team optioned RHP Tyler Sturdevant back to Triple-A Durham. They also sent RHP Danny Farquhar back to Durham after his one-day stint as the 26th man.

The New What Next

Tampa Bay looks to salvage one game on this woeful road trip this afternoon when Drew Smyly takes on Tyler Wilson. Smyly gave up the lead in his most recent start against Cleveland, working seven innings with no decision. The southpaw is winless in his past six starts, with an 0-3 and a 6.69 ERA. Smyly, however, is 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA in eight games against the Orioles, and 11-3 with a 1.87 ERA versus AL East teams. Wilson is coming off six-inning no-decision against the Padres. He is 3-5 with a 4.57 ERA in 11 starts since moving into rotation late April. He lost his last start against the Rays in 2015, allowing six runs in 4-1/3 innings. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 6/26/16 Starting Lineup

Forsythe 2B
Miller SS
Longoria DH
Morrison 1B
Jennings CF
Arcia RF
Beckham 3B
Conger C
Decker LF
LHP Smyly

Noteworthiness

— At least the bats woke up, with the Rays scoring six runs on 14 hits and five walks, going 4-11 wRISP (.364) and scoring three two-out runs. When was the last time you read a line like that?

— The Rays have now signed 25 of 41 2016 draft picks:

1. 3B Josh Lowe
2. OF Ryan Boldt; 2-b. OF Jake Fraley
3. RHP Austin Franklin
5. RHP Mikey York
6. RHP Zack Trageton
7. RHP J.D. Busfield
8. LHP Kenny Rosenberg
9. RHP Peter Bayer
10. RHP Spencer Jones
12. RHP Brandon Lawson
13. 1B Nathanial Lowe
15. LHP Dalton Moats
19. 3B James Haley
23. OF Isaac Benard
24. RHP Joe Serrapica
27. 2B Robbie Tenerowicz
28. C Jean Ramirez
29. 2B Trek Stemp
31. C Joey Roach
32. SS Deion Tansel
34. 1B Bobby Melley
35. LHP Alex Estrella
36. RHP Anthony Parente
38. RHP Brian McAfee

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays beat Orioles 3-1; news on Cobb and Boxberger

By Leave a Comment

The new bash brothers? (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The new bash brothers? (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-1, thanks to a key sixth inning two-run homer by Kevin Kiermaier. With the win, the Rays are again at .500 on the season, as they’ll go for the series sweep on Wednesday.

Starter Jake Odorizzi allowed one run and seven hits in five innings of work on 93 pitches (60 strikes). Credit where it’s due, despite getting into six full counts, Odorizzi walked just one batter and wiggled his way out of two big wRISP situations.

The Rays initially took the lead when Desmond Jennings drove in Logan Forsythe on a sacrifice-fly with the bases loaded in the third inning. Even though Baltimore tied the game in the top of the following inning, Kevin Kiermaier put the good guys on top  again (and for good) in the sixth, sending an 0-2 fastball on the inner third of the plate into the right field seats.

At 0-10 wRISP in the game, it’s safe to say the Rays left a lot of chicken on the bone. Rays manager Kevin Cash spoke to that point, saying,

We put a clinic on offensively of not what to do with runners in scoring position early on.

In any case, the Rays have now won three in a row, with 11 of their 13 runs over the stretch coming with two outs.

The New What Next

Matt Moore will take the mound in Wednesday night’s series finale, opposite of Chris Tillman. Moore is 4-4 with a 3.83 ERA in 10 career starts against Baltimore. When the lefty is up 0-2 in the count, he’s allowed just one hit in 10 official at-bats and fanned five. This marks the eighth consecutive series between the two teams that Tillman will have a start. Tillman is 2-for-3 and didn’t factor in the decision in the other two games, both won by Tampa Bay. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 4/27/16 Starting Lineup

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

Noteworthiness

— On Alex Cobb and Brad Boxberger…

Cobb continued the program to build up his arm strength on Tuesday, throwing 25 fastballs off the mound in a bullpen session. He is expected to continue throwing bullpen sessions until he begins to face hitters in June. The righty told Bill Chastain (Rays beat writer, MLB.com) that he’s beginning to feel more familiar with throwing a baseball.

Even in Spring Training, when he’s not returning from an injury,

It takes a good eight to 10 bullpens before I’m feeling like I know how to pitch again, Cobb said. I’m very happy with how quickly I’ve gotten to the point I’m at already.

Cobb has focused solely on his mechanics and nothing else.

I’m not worried about my elbow, I’m not worried about the way the ball is coming out. I’m worried about how my mechanics line up to make the pitches do what I want them to do. That’s a great sign. It’s a good sign for me mentally to just be focusing on that instead of the other stuff that goes along with the surgery.

Cobb should return by late July or early August.

Boxberger was cleared by Dr. William Meyers — the Philadelphia doctor who performed his core muscle surgery in March — to resume full baseball activity. Like Cobb, Boxberger is on a similar program of throwing bullpen sessions and should be just about ready to face live hitters. He throw will his second bullpen session Wednesday.

He said everything is good, ready to go, Boxberger said. I can start working more on the baseball stuff, agilities and all that. Getting back with the boys.

The reliever still expects a mid-May return to the bullpen.

Cash was pleased with the news, saying,

We had a really good report, from what I heard from (head athletic trainer) Ron (Porterfield). And talking to Box, he seemed excited. … He’s eager to get back out there, which is great. We expect a lot of big things when he gets back. From talking to him, he’s eager to get back out there, which is great,” said Cash, who added, Porterfield said he’s been tremendous in the weight room and in the rehab. We expect a lot of big things when he is back.

— Corey Dickerson and Steven Souza both reached homers in 58 plate appearances (tied for the ninth quickest in team history to start a season).

— According to Elias Sports Beureau, the Rays have scored 15 of their 18 runs in the last five games with two outs (83.3%). For the season, 42 of 70 of their runs have been scored with two outs (60%), highest in the majors.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: welcome back King Chris; Rays blank Orioles, 2-0

By Leave a Comment

The Tampa Bay Rays handed the Orioles their first shutout of the season. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The Tampa Bay Rays handed the Orioles their first shutout of the season. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

Welcome back, Chris Archer! The Tampa Bay Rays ace returned to form on Monday with his best, and longest, outing of the season. Meanwhile Archer’s battery mate, Curt Casali, drove in both runs. That was enough for Tampa Bay, who handed the Baltimore Orioles their first shutout of the season, 2-0.

It all started with an impressive start by Archer, who, prior to Monday night, was winless in his first four starts. Archer set the tone by throwing first pitch strikes to 11-of-the-first-12 batters he faced. He also mixed his pitches well, baffling the Orioles batters by mixing in a dangerous, yet unfamiliar weapon: a filthy changeup that had split finger action.

Archer established his changeup (20 thrown, 16 strikes, 6 whiffs) early, using it to collect four of his first five strikeouts. It also made his slider (18 thrown, 15 strikes, 5 whiffs) ― which while not in top form ― that much better. In the end, however, it all began with fastball command, which the righty had in spades. Of the 47 fastballs thrown, 31 went for strikes.

The Orioles had their best chance against Archer in the third after Pedro Alvarez doubled to left to start the inning. Unfazed, Archer got Jonathan Schoop to line to second, Joey Rickard to strike out swinging and Manny Machado to bounce to third, ending the inning.

location.php-pitchSel=502042&game=gid_2016_04_25_balmlb_tbamlb_1&batterX=&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=2&league=mlb&pnf=&zlpo=&cache=1

The Orioles only got a pair of runners as far as second base against Archer (both coming on Alvarez doubles). All told, he scattered five hits over 6-2/3 innings, and didn’t walk a batter while striking out 10. In nine starts with Casali behind the plate, Archer now owns a 2.30 ERA.

By the by, if there is still a concern over a presumed drop in fastball velocity, Archer averaged 95.4 mph Monday night and maxed out at 98.2 mph.

Tampa Bay broke the 0-0 deadlock in the fifth. Steven Souza Jr. walked (yes, you read that right) on a borderline 3-2 pitch with one out. After Kevin Kiermaier flew-out to center, Casali ran the count full before lashing a double to left. Off with the pitch, Souza scored all the way from first.

It looked like a breakout inning was in the making after Kevin Gausman hit Logan Forsythe and walked Steve Pearce. Yet an offensive outburst was not to be ― Evan Longoria flew out to right, ending the threat. Gausman needed 32 pitches to get through the inning.

Baltimore’s starter was pulled, in favor of Brian Matusz, in the sixth after throwing 92 pitches. The left-handed Matusz began the sixth by walking Corey Dickerson. After the southpaw retired the next two batters, Souza singled to left and Kiermaier walked to load the bases.

Vance Worley, replaced Matusz, and hit Casali with an 89 mph 1-1 fastball, forcing home Dickerson from third and giving Tampa Bay a two-run advantage. Forsythe grounded out one pitch later, but not before the damage was done.

Alvarez stepped to the plate as the tying run with two outs in the seventh, although Enny Romero ― who entered the game in relief ― got Baltimore’s DH to pop out to first.

After Romero got the last out in the seventh, Everyday Erasmo Ramirez took over in the eighth and put together a perfect 1-1/3 innings of work, coaxing a trifecta of groundouts and a strikeout (swinging) on an 81 mph, thigh-high changeup.

Xavier Cedeno took over for Ramirez and made up for his shotty outing on Saturday by inducing a ground ball out of Chris Davis for the second out of the inning. Finally Alex Colome took over and got the final out of the game, completing the shutout. For Colome, it was his fourth save of the season.

The New What Next

Chasing .500. Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi (0-1) will go against Orioles RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1) on Tuesday night. Odorizzi has a 2.56 ERA in home games since the start of the 2014 season and allowed one earned run or fewer in 19-of-32 starts over the stretch. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 4/26/16 Starting Lineup

Forsythe 2B
Miller SS
Longoria 3B
Dickerson DH
Jennings LF
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Kiermaier CF
Casali C
Odorizzi RHP

Noteworthiness

― Why that particular mix of pitches for Archer?

― The Process Report broke down Archer’s start. Check out what the writers had to say.

― From the pregame notes: since 2015, Archer is 10-1 when allowing 1 run or fewer and 3-16 when allowing 2 runs or more.

― Also from the pregame notes, Monday was Archer’s fifth career scoreless start with 10 or more strikeouts, surpassing Scott Kazmir for the club record.

― Casali became the third No. 9 hitter to drive in all of the runs in a win since 2008. The others are Nathan Karns on July 21, 2015 at PHI (solo HR, won 1-0) and SS Ben Zobrist on July 18, 2008 vs. TOR (2-run HR, won 2-1).

The New What Next: Rays 4/25/16 starting lineup, etc

By Leave a Comment

Chris Archer looks to pitch through the sixth inning for the first time this season tonight against the Orioles. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Times)

Chris Archer looks to pitch through the sixth inning for the first time this season tonight against the Orioles. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Times)

Rays 4/25/16 Starting Lineup

Forsythe 2B
Pearce 1B
Longoria 3B
Dickerson DH
Jennings LF
Miller SS
Souza RF
Kiermaier CF
Casali C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

― Good luck charm? Curt Casali will catch Chris Archer for the first time this season.

― As it was written elsewhere (via Marc Topkin), this validates some of confidence the Rays have maintained in the offense:

― You can read about tonight’s pitching matchup, and so much more, in our series preview.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays fall again, 5-3

By Leave a Comment

Baltimore Orioles' Pedro Alvarez, left, slides home to score against Tampa Bay Rays catcher Curt Casali on a double by Jonathan Schoop during the second inning of an baseball game, Sunday, April 10, 2016, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles’ Pedro Alvarez, left, slides home to score against Tampa Bay Rays catcher Curt Casali on a double by Jonathan Schoop during the second inning of an baseball game, Sunday, April 10, 2016, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

A four run second inning helped Baltimore beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 at Camden Yards on Sunday afternoon. The Orioles, who won both games in the weather-shortened series, improved to 5-0 on the season while the Rays fell to 2-4. 

Odorizzi put the Rays in an early hole during the 22-pitch second inning, although the shotty defensive work certainly didn’t help.

Pedro Alvarez led off the frame with a base hit to Logan Forsythe in shallow right-field. But a hurried throw by the typically dependable second baseman was too wide for the stretched-out Steve Pearce to field cleanly. Alvarez scored on a one-out double by Jonathan Schoop into the left-field corner. Corey Dickerson misplayed the ball when he slid to stop it from reaching the corner, which allowed Alvarez to cross the plate.

Hyun Soo Kim then followed with an infield hit to the third base side of the mound. Odorizzi tried to backhand the slow roller, but ultimately failed. Joey Rickard, the Rule-Five pick from Tampa Bay, plated Kim on a sac-fly to center. Finally, Manny Machado capped the uprising by lashing a two-run homer to left ― his second in as many games against Tampa Bay.

Odorizzi did settle in and got through the next four innings without allowing another. He also gave the Rays a chance to fight back, which they did.

Dickerson put the Rays on the board with a solo homer to center-field in the fourth inning.

They have now hit home runs in 20 consecutive games (extending back to 9/20/15). The Rays have also homered in the last nine games at Camden Yards (extending back to 8/28/14).

The Rays chased the O’s starter (Vance Worley) with two more runs in the fifth inning.

With Forsythe in scoring position, Evan Longoria singled home a run.

Then, after Dickerson reached on catcher’s interference, former Oriole Steve Pearce singled in his first RBI of the season. Though Brad Miller came close to hitting his first homer of the season, which would have given the Rays the go-ahead lead, he flew out at the wall against reliever Brad Brach.

After the fifth, Tampa Bay got just two runners into scoring position in the final four innings.

Miller finally collected his first hit of the season on a hard hit, two out double off the wall in right in the eighth. Setup man Darren O’Day made things really interesting by walking Steven Souza Jr. and Kevin Kiermaier, subsequently loading the bases. Even though he was given a prime opportunity to make an huge impact on the outcome, pinch hitter Hank Conger went down swinging on a pitch that was well off the plate and down, ending both the threat and the inning.

location.php-pitchSel=503285&game=gid_2016_04_10_tbamlb_balmlb_1&batterX=64&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=3&league=mlb&pnf=&zlpo=&cache=1

Machado, who went 4-for-4 on the afternoon, doubled off Erasmo Ramirez to start the home half of the eighth, then moved to third on a Chris Davis groundout. He eventually came home on a two-out wild pitch, giving Baltimore a two-run lead.

In the end Tampa Bay dropped another game by a 5-3 margin, and was swept by the Orioles in the weather shortened two-game  series. After an off-day Monday, the Rays will begin a three-game home series against Cleveland on Tuesday.

The New What Next

— Erasmo’s eighth inning wild pitch appeared to be blockable. Conger not only allowed the pitch to bound away, he also flubbed the throw toward Ramirez as he covered home.

— Something I noticed after the first week of play, Kevin Cash loves to put on the hit and run with Logan Forsythe at first and Logan Morrison at the plate. Perhaps the plan is to try to make the pitcher throw a fastball, or maybe Cash is trying to open a hole through the right side.

Whatever the case, there is one problem: Morrison has collected just one hit thus far. He is now 0-for-16 with eight strikeouts against right handed pitching, and 1-for-18 overall.