After facing RA Dickey 10 times over the last three seasons, while averaging just 2.4 runs per game in each of those starts, one thing has become certain: if you’re lucky enough to take a lead against the knuckleballer, then you’d better try your damnedest to hold it. The Rays did both Saturday. They were able to take a lead against Dickey, yet they gave it up in one fateful — error filled — inning. Despite a game tying sixth inning solo shot to left off the bat of Evan Longoria (his 21st homer of the year), the typically dependable Brad Boxberger gave up three runs an inning later, giving Toronto a 6-3 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. We in the blogosphere have deemed this the stereotypical (and clichéd) Rays loss.
Tag Archives: Chris Archer
The New What Next: Rays vs. Blue Jays — Part Six
While the Rays are officially out of AL East postseason contention, they’re raison d’être over the next three days is two-fold; play strongly and play the role of spoilers — ahem…despite what the outcome of the previous series might suggest. Toronto is coming off four consecutive wins, including a three-game sweep against the Chicago Cubs. The Blue Jays outscored the Cubs 28-3, for a run differential of 25 runs. Yeesh.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Spoiler Alert — Loney, Rays Beat Yankees 4-3
I previously alluded to the idea that the Rays had two reasons to go out Tuesday night and play like they still have a chance in September:
1. To play the role of spoilers.
2. To end the season on a strong, high note.
If Tuesday night’s 4-3 win against the Yankees was indicative of anything, it would be the former.
The New What Next: Rays Head to the Bronx For Three — A Series Preview of Sorts
The end is nigh. The Tampa Bay Rays will follow their recent 4-6 home stand with their penultimate road trip of the season. First stop New York, where the Rays are set to start a three game series against the Bronx Bummers.
Tampa Bay has been relegated to two roles for the remainder of the 2014 season:
1. Spoilers
2. A team that can finish the final month of play strongly
As it relates to task number one, the Rays took two-of-three from the Orioles this weekend past. However, at 3-4 with a -10 run differential, the Rays haven’t really played that well in September. To be fair, at 3-3 over their last six games, neither have the Yankees — a team who is struggling to stay relevant down the final stretch.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Drop Second Straight, 7-4
I must confess; between celebrating my brother’s birthday and writing a piece on the Rays infield moving forward, I didn’t get a chance to write about the 7-4 loss at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays. Let’s be honest, Chris Archer yielding six runs and a power outage — both literal and proverbial — don’t really make for a compelling game of baseball. The short and narrow, Tampa Bay dropped its first home series to Toronto for the first time since April 2007 — a span lasting 21 series. Ouch.