The Tampa Bay Rays took the second game of their series with the Cleveland Indians Saturday night in convincing fashion, pounding Francona’s boys by a score of 7-1. Erik Bedard put together his second consecutive quality start, an excellent 6 IP/1 H outing — giving Tampa Bay the opportunity to win the series Sunday, in the series finale. Of honesty and hangovers… My attention was divided between watching the game and playing a show in Melbourne. Our staff contributor, Michael Nazarro, wasn’t able to watch any of the game either. What follows is a very rudimentary game recap.
Tag Archives: Cleveland Indians
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Continue to Skid, Fall 6-3
Jake Odorizzi is an enigma. He clearly has some good stuff and the ability to fool batters. Maybe he loves his pitches so much, he wants to throw a lot of them as quickly as possible. Why drag 101 pitches out over seven or eight innings when you could do it in five? Maybe I’m being hard on him. He did strikeout 11 and only walked two, but he threw a lot of pitches. If you’re Odorizzi, you’ve got to be thinking, “Man, I pitched so well, I wish I could have gone deeper into the game.” Especially after Boxberger came in to start the sixth and promptly gave up home run to Asdrubal Cabarera and back to back singles, which we followed by a sac bunt, putting your possible second win on the line — McGee came in and cleaned up the mess, which Joel Peralta later forfeited.
The New What Next: Enter the Indians — A Series Preview of Sorts
The Tampa Bay Rays resumes their six game home stand Friday, with a three-game weekend series against the Cleveland Indians. Oh…the similarities between the Rays and the Indians. Both teams are under .500, toward (or at) the bottom of their respective divisions. Yet the Indians are on a hot streak, having gone 5-5 in their last 10 games, while the Rays have whimpered — posting a 4-6 record in the same span, and fresh off a sigh-inducing three-game sweep at the hands of the Orioles. Cleveland just completed a 5-2 home stand, capped off by a sweep of Minnesota.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: The Rays Are Division Series Bound!
It’s crazy when you consider that though the Rays are in the postseason for the fourth time in six years, they hadn’t made it past the first round of the playoffs since 2008… That is, until last night. Alex Cobb, Joel Peralta, Jake McGee and Fernando Rodney did what they are wont to do, shutting down the Indians in their first postseason appearance since 2007. On the other end of things, the offense did just enough, tagging Salazar and Co for four runs in last night’s 4-0 victory. How sweet it is! I live blogged the game, and you can read all of my annoying witticisms at out Tumblr site.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Thump the Indians, Take Series
And just when you petulant little whiners wanted to send Fernando Rodney packing, he put together a six pitch outing, peacefully putting the final three batters out of their misery. Look I get it it, Rodney still hasn’t fully regained my trust either. However before you find a new closer on your fantasy roster, there’s a little saying that the Rays abide by: Respect the process. They are being mindful of the process, and guess what? Rodney seems to be coming around. Rodney’s now strung together 5-1/3 consecutive innings of no hit baseball, while walking only one batter along the way. Will he be the Rodney of 2012? That’s highly improbable. Besides, it’d be foolish to assume that he could be that at this point. However that doesn’t negate his effectiveness from this point forward.