X-Rays Spex

A Below Average Rays Fan Blog

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: An Open Letter to the ‘Pen

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Fernando Rodney walks off the fielder after giving up four runs in the ninth inning to lose the game. The Dodgers won 7-6. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Fernando Rodney walks off the fielder after giving up four runs in the ninth inning to lose the game. The Dodgers won 7-6. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Dear Jake McGee, Fernando Rodney, et al,

To put it bluntly, you blew it last night. David Price put you in a good position — ahead by five runs in the waning innings of the game, to no avail. We watched as three of the four back end relievers gave up six runs on five hits and three walks, converting a comfortable lead into a demoralizing one run loss. We watched as the closer incurred the brunt of the damage on three consecutive RBI extra base hits in a third of an inning of work. We watched as you allowed a ground gaining opportunity to slip by the wayside. If I may, it felt like the beginning of the season when no lead felt safe…when the offense put crooked numbers on the board, yet the result was an embarrassing tally in the loss column.

To put it in context, y’all have given up 16 runs over the span of a three game game stretch, directly contributing to a three game losing streak — the Rays first since mid-June. Furthermore, Fernando, you’ve now given up seven runs (five earned) on 11 hits and six walks in your last eight outings — a span of 6-1/3 innings.

Jake, you certainly have no room to gloat. You’ve given up four runs on seven hits and four walks in your last 6-1/3 innings of work. And Josh, buddy, you got another opportunity to shine in the bigs, after putting up insanely good numbers in Triple-A. How do you show your appreciation? By getting tagged with a two out RBI double off the bat of Yasiel Puig. Bud, cough…ahem, you only needed to get one out. Outings like this will find you right back in Durham when Brandon Gomes is reactivated from the DL.

Trust me, I get it, these things are going to happen from time to time. However, it’s just the slightest bit disconcerting when things like this happen with consistency as we move ever closer to the post-season. To that end, this kind of thing should not come from the hands of the A relievers.

Please take these thoughts into consideration,
Schmitty/X-Rays Spex

Before I move on to The New What Next, I just wanted to comment on one last thing concerning last night’s debacle. Marc Topkin reported,

Rodney allowed a leadoff single to Skip Schumaker — the only pitch of the inning he said he regretted — then a one-out triple to Mark Ellis as Ben Zobrist got too aggressive and tried and missed a diving catch on a ball down the leftfield line, allowing the run to score. Nick Punto followed with a double to left that made it 6-5, and then Adrian Gonzalez delivered another double to right that tied it 6-6.

“The other pitches were down, good location. They hit the ball very well.” Rodney said. “There’s not a lot of frustration because I knew I made good pitches to try to get out of the inning.”

Hey Fernando, you must have selective memory if the leadoff single is the only pitch you regret. After all, I’d hardly call the misplaced change-up that resulted in an RBI triple a “good pitch to try to get out of the inning.”

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According to Fernando Rodney, that meatball in the heart of the zone was a good pitch. He also contends that his game ending throwing error was “right to the base.” (Courtesy of Brooks Baseball)

The New What Next

That they have been able to beat up on Zach Greinke bodes well for the Rays. However, the erratic Roberto Hernandez will take the mound against Greinke and the Dodgers today, and he certainly isn’t the best candidate to be credited with the needed outcome. You can read about the pitching match-up here.

Rays 8/10/13 Starting Lineup

Zobrist 2B
Joyce RF
Longoria 3B
Myers CF
Loney 1B
Escobar SS
Johnson LF
Molina C
Hernandez RHP

Noteworthiness

  • Friday was 14th time the Rays blew a lead in the seventh inning or later this season, and 11th time they lost.
  • Josh Lueke on last night’s loss, “Sucked. Plain and simple. Nothing else you can really say about it. Horse shit effort.”
  • …And let the tug of war for the Rays commence. Noah Pransky asserts that we’re in the midst of a “who can spend more money on a stadium” like competition.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Myers, Rays Finish Off Giants in Extra Innings

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An impressive crowd of 31,969 showed up to the Trop Saturday, to watch the Rays take the second game of a three-game set against the Giants by a score of 2-1.

An impressive crowd of 31,969 showed up to the Trop Saturday, to watch the Rays take the second game of a three-game set against the Giants by a score of 2-1.

The Rays were able to take the second game of a three-game set against the Giants by a score of 2-1 in dramatic walk-off fashion, in front of an impressive crowd of 31,969 fans at the Trop, Saturday night. Wil Myers drove in the game winning RBI with the bases loaded in the the bottom of the tenth, his first career walk-off. And though I wish the Rays could have tagged The Freak for more than a run, it was pretty damn cool to see a classic pitching duel between two former Cy Young Award winners.

The Rays ace pitched nine innings of 5 H/1 ER/o BB/5 K ball, however Price wasn’t in line for the win at the end of his outing thanks to a 1-1 tie. Don’t let that detract from his performance, Price was excellent. Leaning heavily on his fastball and sinker (46 thrown, 33 for strikes, 1 swings and misses), an impressive change-up (24 thrown, 18 for strikes, 4 swings and misses), and a cutter (26 thrown, 20 for strikes, four swings and misses) that had a lot of movement, Price pitched to contact — once again — inducing 15 weakly hit pop-outs, and largely shutting down any Giants threats that may have come his way. The only real thorns in the side of David Price and the Rays were Jeff Francoeur , Hunter Pence, and Joaquin Arias. The three of which went a combined 6-for-12 with a run, an RBI, and a three doubles.

This isn’t to say that Price was perfect, he wasn’t. Price got in trouble in the third inning (inevitably giving up the Giants lone run on a Brandon Crawford RBI single to center, easily plating Francoeur from second), the fifth when San Francisco threatened with a pair of runners in scoring position, and the eighth when Francoeur found his way to third with one out. However, Price made the big pitch in each of those innings, inducing a number of ground-ball outs including an inning ending double play in the third.

Incidentally, the Price of late isn’t the dominant pitcher of previous years. Before you get all hot and bothered, I’m referring to Price’s overall K/9 being down. However, the results have spoken for themselves. Price has never been as efficient as he is now, nor has he posted four complete games in a one month, seven start, stretch. Averaging eight innings per start in his last seven outings, I’ll gladly take this Price.

On the other side of the coin, Lincecum was also very good. Though The Freak gave up six hits, they were all singles which forced the Rays into a position to play small ball. Only three Rays — Jose Molina, Kelly Johnson, and Yunel Escobar — were able to get into scoring position, limiting the number of Tampa Bay scoring threats, while only one runner crossed the plate (Jose Molina on a one out fielders choice at second in the third). Tampa Bay mounted two major threats against Lincecum, however he, like his counterpart, was able to limit the damage to only one run.

The Rays mounted threats in the eighth and ninth innings against Santiago Casilla, Sandy Rosario, and Javier López. But Tampa Bay came away empty handed, forcing the game to into extra innings. The good guys were finally able to put together a real scoring threat in the tenth inning against reliever Jean Machi.

Machi walked Desmond Jennings to start the tenth. The speedy center fielder took advantage of the situation by stealing second with Ben Zobrist at the plate. With Jennings already in scoring position, Bruce Bochy called for an intentional walk of Zobrist to bring an 0-for-3 Evan Longoria to the plate. That plan backfired though. Machi walked Longo on four poorly located pitches setting up their ultimate downfall. With the bases juiced, Wil Myers saw one pitch before he sent an 0-1 meatball over the plate to deep center, driving in Jennings for the win. The Rays won in dramatic walk-off fashion.

Do the bounce! The Rays mobbed Wil Myers after he hit the game winning single to center.

Do the bounce! The Rays mobbed Wil Myers after he hit the game winning single to center — his first career walk-off.

The New What Next

The Rays will look to close out the series against the Giants with Roberto Hernandez on the bump. Robo will butt heads with the 4-8 Barry Zito, as he attempts to follow up his excellent complete game start Tuesday with another quality start. You can read about the pitching match-up here.

Rays 8/4/13 Starting Lineup

Zobrist 2B
Scott DH
Longoria 3B
Myers RF
Loney 1B
Escobar SS
Joyce LF
Molina C
Fuld CF
Hernandez RHP

Noteworthiness

  • Maddon has Fuld in center field today, hitting ninth. Desmond Jennings was pulled from the lineup with a sprained finger, and Ben Zobrist will take his spot in the order. Per Marc Topkin, Jennings isn’t sure if he hit his finger on a base or a defender. Jennings’ finger is thankfully not broken, and will see the doctor. The Rays don’t anticipate Jennings being out long.
  • Fernando Rodney is now 4-2 on the year after putting together another scary outing Friday night. Rodney gave up a double to Hunter Pence to start the inning. In turn, Pence ended up at third while the Giants threatened with runners in scoring position with two outs.
  • Moore played catch from 60 feet this morning, saying, that “It went well.” He is expected to go on the road trip, and is eyeing a mid-August return.
  • Did I mention that there were 31,969 fans at the Trop last night? I can’t recall. This was the fifth largest non-opening day crowd in the last three years for the Rays. Make sure you tweet  good old Dick Vitale at @DickieV acknowledging as much.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: From Last to First

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CC Sabathia tosses the ball after surrendering a run in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

CC Sabathia tosses the ball after surrendering a run in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Think back to the middle of June. The Rays were a part of an ultra-competitive AL East which found the Red Sox, Orioles, and Yankees in first, second, and third. Sitting in last place, most knew that Tampa Bay would eventually move up in the standings. Fast forward to last night, the Rays were finally able to claim sole possession of first place following a 10-6 win over CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees.

It all started in the top of the second inning. Ben Zobrist crushed a line drive double into the alley off of a CC Sabathia fastball that stayed up in the zone. Sean Rodriguez moved Zo to third on a well struck fly-ball out to left-field, bringing Yunel Escobar to the plate. Escobar sent a hanging slider to deep center field, plating the first run of the game on the second double of the inning. Following James Loney’s pop-out (for the second out of the inning), Jose Lobaton worked a seven pitch at bat, ultimately drawing a walk to put two on with two-outs. Sam Fuld was next, coming up big with a two-RBI single to center.

Desmond Jennings wanted a piece of the action. The speedy center-fielder surprised the Yankees with a two out bunt base-hit, and Fuld and Jennings were able to advance to second and third (respectively) when Austin Romine over threw first base in his errant attempt to gun Jennings down. Prior to the game, Evan Longoria was hitting .383 off CC Sabathia. In his next at-bat, Longo was able to tack on hit number 19 against Sabathia, sending a hanging slider into center field for an RBI double and giving the Rays a 5-0 lead. Tampa Bay was able to tag CC for one more run in the second on a Wil Myers single to left.

James Loney would add four more runs in the fifth and seventh innings (respectively), on an RBI single to center, and a three-run homer to right. Those would prove to be important runs — the Yankees whittled the lead to four in the eighth and ninth innings.

Warts and all, Jeremy Hellickson was able to post a quality outing after giving up only one run in six innings of work.

Helly got himself into a world of trouble in the third inning, loading the bases on three singles, a fielder’s choice, and a walk. But he impressively put together a good sequence against Alfonso Soriano, culminating in a weakly hit fly-out to right field. He shakily started the fourth inning as well, giving up a base hit to Lyle Overbay, and promptly walking Eduardo Nunez on five pitches. Jim Hickey noticed something, and he came to the mound to give Hellickson a breather. Whatever he said worked. Hellickson struck out Travis Hafner on a change-up, then retired the next eight hitters he faced in order.

31 of Hellickson’s  total 102 pitches were change-ups. What’s more, eight of his twelve swinging strikes were on that pitch. Hellickson ultimately threw his change-up for a strike 77% of the time, while very other pitch he threw went for a strike 46% of the time. In the end, I’d say that Helly did a good job of making the proper adjustment to keep the wolves at bay.

Kyle Farnsworth put together an efficient 1-2-3 seventh in relief of Hellickson. However, as Ian Malinowski of DRaysBay put it, “The other pitchers at the bottom of the Rays bullpen totem pole did not make compelling cases for retaining their spots when the bullpen is reinforced. Cesar Ramos gave up two runs in the eighth, and Jamey Wright was pulled with two runs in already and the bases loaded after only getting one out.”

Joe Maddon brought in Jake McGee and Fernando Rodney to face Alfonso Soriano and Chris Stewart to get the last two outs of the ninth. McGee induced a fielder’s choice, and Rodney got Stewart to ground to third to end the game.

To be fair, Jamey Wright seemed to have the BABIP luck dragons nipping at his heels last night. Two of his three hits squeaked by the infielders, including a Brent Lillibridge single into center just beneath the glove of a diving Ben Zobrist. Gardner also hit a weak infield single that neither Longo, Wright, or Lobaton could field cleanly. I’d also like to point out that Wright was robbed of three of called strikes (see numbers one, one, and five at the top, bottom, and bottom right on the pitch f/x chart below).

Jamey Wright pitch f/x chart. (Courtesy of Brooks Baseball)

Jamey Wright pitch f/x chart. (Courtesy of Brooks Baseball)

For the outcome oriented, all that mattered was the 10-6 win.

The New What Next

Chris Archer will butt heads with Ivan Nova in the second game of this three-game series. You can read about the pitching match-up here. Let’s Go Rays and Orioles!

Rays 7/27/13 Starting Lineup

Jennings CF
Longoria 3B
Myers RF
Loney 1B
Zobrist 2B
Joyce DH
Johnson LF
Molina C
Escobar SS
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

  • Wil Myers is again hitting third today. Speaking of Myers, his seven-game multi-hit streak finds him tied with Marco Scutaro for longest in MLB this year, and the longest by an AL rookie since Ichiro in ’01.
  • The best tweet of the day award goes to Marc Topkin, “Girardi just said Jeter will play in a simulated game today at an undisclosed location. Seriously.”

The New What Next: Rays Vs Red Sox Pt. Five, A Series Preview of Sorts

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Chris Archer tosses seven innings, allowing one run on five hits and four walks while striking out one against the Blue Jays. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

Chris Archer tosses seven innings, allowing one run on five hits and four walks while striking out one against the Blue Jays. (Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Rays)

Chris Archer put together his third consecutive quality start Sunday, holding the Blue Jays to only one run on five hits and four walks. Plagued by another unclean outing, Fernando Rodney was credited with his 24th save of the year after giving up a pair of runs — cutting a three-run lead to a run — after walking two and giving up a base hit. All of the Rays runs came thanks to home runs by Evan Longoria, Luke Scott, and Kelly Johnson.

A little house cleaning before I move on, with six ground outs and seven fly outs on the day, Archer didn’t conform to his 47.6%/33.3% GB/FB ratio once more — the last time he did this was in his start against the Twins on the 11th. I’d argue that the placement of the outfielders spoke volumes. True, he gave up a free pass five too many hitters. However, he also induced weak contact on more than a few potential hits — many of which were robbed by the outfielders in shallow left and right field. Also noteworthy, the number of bats he exploded. It would be safe to say that the Blue Jays are a very aggressive team in the batters box. I’d imagine pitch to contact was in the game plan all along, to which Archer did an outstanding job.

The Rays will start a four game set against the Red Sox Monday. It goes without saying, this is a big series, and the Rays stand to gain a lot of ground on the AL East leading Red Sox. However, this isn’t a season defining series. That is to say, no harm or foul if the Rays leave Boston Thursday with an even split on the series — hope for three-out-of-four or a sweep, be content with an even split. If anything, Tampa Bay is looking for a bit of payback for being kicked around by the Red Sox over their first 12 games against them.

Tampa Bay has won 21 games since the last time it faced Boston — 22 if you count the game they took from the Red Sox in that series — losing only six in that 27 game stretch. Meanwhile, the Sox have gone 6-6 in their last 12, taking two of their last four series. I’m certainly not implying that the Rays won’t face any challenges with the Red Sox this time through — Pedroia and Ellsbury are still dangerous, as are Ortiz and Napoli. However, Tampa Bay has charged back from the depths of the AL East, and that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Rays and Red Sox series starters.

Rays and Red Sox series starters.

Rays and Red Sox offensive production at home, away, and over the last 14 days.

Rays and Red Sox offensive production at home, away, and over the last 14 days.

Rays and Red Sox by the numbers.

Rays and Red Sox by the numbers.

Brandon Workman: Per Rotowire, “Workman had his start pushed up from Tuesday to Monday, the Boston Herald reports.” The scouting report on Workman, “Big-framed righty with well filled-out lower half. Not much projection left in his body. Raised arm slot from ¾ to closer to over the top. Fastball can sit 93-94 mph early in-game, but loses velocity as the game goes on. Tops out at 95 mph as a starter, but he may be able to reach back and add 1-2 mph out of the bullpen. Shows late finish when staying on top of the ball. Average fastball command. Has trouble consistently throwing to both sides of the plate. 87-90 mph cutter breaks late to glove side. Strong deception between fastball. Grades as a plus pitch. Good feel and command of offering to miss bats. Future out-pitch at big-league level. Fringe-average 75-77 mph curveball. Pitch is inconsistent due to wrist wrapping at times during release. Can show tight two-plane break and depth, but tends to roll and is loose with it. Average-to-solid-average potential with refined release and work staying on top of ball. Sprinkles in 83-85 mph change-up. Work in progress. Shows arm-side fade, but arm tends to slow down. Not an overly loose thrower. Effort in delivery wears him down multiple times through a lineup. Jerky nature of mechanics affects ability to repeat arm slot and overall command of arsenal as a starter. Projects as an 8th inning reliever or back-end starter.”

Jon Lester: Per Rotowire, “Lester (general soreness) is set to start Tuesday against the Rays after completing a 35-pitch bullpen session Sunday, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports.” The Rays demoralized Lester the last time they faced him, tagging him for seven runs (all earned) on eight hits (including three homers) in 4-2/3 innings. Otherwise, Lester has given up all of three runs in his previous two outings against Tampa Bay. Whatever, that he’s given up four or more runs in nine of his starts gives me hope that the Rays will face an erratic Lester. Key match-ups: Yunel Escobar (9-30, 2B, 2 RBI, 5 BB), Desmond Jennings (8-22, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 2 RBI, BB), Matt Joyce (4-8, 2 HR, 6 RBI, BB), Jose Molina (8-23, RBI, 3 BB).

Felix Doubront: Per Rotowire, “Doubront allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits, walking three and striking out five over 6.1 innings of a 4-2 win against the Yankees on Friday night.” The Rays weren’t able to do anything against Doubront the last time they faced him, accumulating a paltry three base runners on three hits in eight innings of work. Key match-ups: Yunel Escobar (4-15, 2 BB), Kelly Johnson (4-13, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Matt Joyce (1-3, BB), Evan Longoria (3-11, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 4 BB), Wil Myers (1-3), Luke Scott (3-11, 2 HR, 2 RBI, BB).

John Lackey: Per Rotowire, “Lackey gave up four runs on 10 hits and zero walks, with seven strikeouts over 6.1 innings, in a loss to the Yankees on Saturday.” Lackey’s been pitching like a rejuvenated non mouth-breather of late, though the Rays have been able to tag him for nine runs in 10 innings of work this season. You know what they say about Lackey pitching with his mouth open… Key match-ups: Yunel Escobar (8-15, 2 2B, RBI, 3 BB), Matt Joyce (6-18, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB), Jose Lobaton (1-3), James Loney (4-16, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Evan Longoria (10-31, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI), Sean Rodriguez (2-5), Luke Scott (7-21, 4 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB), Ben Zobrist (11-27, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 5 BB).

Noteworthiness

  • Rays rookie RF Wil Myers (wrist) sat out Sunday’s game, though he’s expected back Monday. He is 14-for-28 with six multiple-hit games in his last seven.
  • Rays DH Luke Scott has gone 18-for-47 (.383) with four homers and 10 RBI during a career-best 13-game hitting streak.
  • The Rays have outscored opponents 94-44 in going a major league-best 17-2 since June 29, climbing to within 1-1/2 games of the Red Sox. Tampa Bay leads the American League in batting average (.283) while the pitching staff has the lowest ERA (2.16) and the lowest WHIP (0.96). The Rays pitching staff has allowed only 40 runs this month.
  • As Full Count from WEEI points out, “Kelly Johnson is coming off a big day on Sunday in which he hit his 15th home run of the season as well as a double in a 3-for-4 showing against the Blue Jays. Johnson has been on fire recently, going 8-for-12 in his last three games and batting .385/.429/.641 with four home runs over his last 11 games. Johnson’s average dipped as low as .233 in the beginning of the month, but the good stretch has bumped his line up to .256/.328/.474 in 79 games.”
  • Red Sox DH Mike Napoli had two homers Sunday, including the decisive blast in Boston’s major league-best ninth walk-off victory. Boston improved to 27-8 when Napoli drives in at least one run, and has hit .311 while winning 20-of-26 at home since May 24th.
  • Workman’s first career start was a memorable one – he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Oakland on July 14 but gave up a tying two-run homer and did not factor in the decision in a 6 1/3-inning stint.

 

 

 

 

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: It Wasn’t Pretty, But A Win Is A Win (Updated)

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Fernando Rodney celebrates their victory with Jose Molina during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Fernando Rodney celebrates their victory with Jose Molina during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays Saturday. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

It wasn’t particularly the prettiest of victories, especially late in the game, however we can walk away knowing that the Rays achieved the preferred outcome Saturday, in a 4-3 victory against the Blue Jays. The hottest team in baseball (Fox said so, so it must be true) did just enough to keep the wolves at bay, taking the second game of their three game set as they prepare for a sweep against a somewhat erratic RA Dickey, Sunday. Jeremy Hellickson walked away with his fifth consecutive win, while Fernando Rodney racked up his 23rd save of the year — a save that almost wasn’t.

All of the Rays scoring came in the first and third innings. Desmond Jennings led off the game with a walk and was subsequently moved to second on a Ben Zobrist bunt single to third. Jennings was then able to move to third on an Evan Longoria pop-out to right-field. With runners on the corners, Wil Myers hit a sac-fly to shallow right, plating Jennings just ahead of the throw to the plate from Bautista. Ryan Roberts ended the inning by grounding into a fielder’s choice to third, forcing Zobrist at second.

Sam Fuld led off the third inning with a single to center. Desmond Jennings laid down the second successful bunt base-hit of the game, quickly applying the pressure to a flustered Mark Buerhle — who ultimately loaded the bases with no outs, on a Zobrist walk. Evan Longoria joined in on the fun by driving in his 54th RBI of the year on a fielder’s choice to short. Though Zobrist was forced at second on the fielder’s choice, he did a great job of breaking up the potential double play to put runners on the corners with only one out. Wil Myers was next. The Rays rookie drove in his second run of the day on a single to left, moving Longo to second. Ryan Roberts capped the scoring on a fielder’s choice to short, forcing Myers out at second. Longo moved to third, and scored on a throwing error Brett Lawrie.

The Rays would threaten wRISP in the fifth, seventh, and ninth innings, however Buehrle and Casey Janssen did an outstanding job of making the big pitches when they needed to, keeping the Jays in the game until the end. Tampa Bay ultimately went 1-8 wRISP, stranding 10 men on the bags.

In an act of total journalistic laziness, here are some by the inning observations of Jeremy Hellickson, Alex Torres, Joel Peralta, and Fernando Rodney. Yes, I did just cut, paste, and modify posts from our Tumblr account.

Sixth Inning

-Helly gave up two runs on five hits and three walks, putting together a respectable five inning outing. It’s not technically a quality start, though he is still in line for a win — assuming the Rays take second game of this series.

Alex Torres quickly retired the Jays in order, on a Colby Rasmus strikeout (looking at a 95 MPH fastball), and a pair of ground-ball outs.

-Rays are up 4-2 going, into the seventh.

Seventh Inning

-Holy drop on that change-up, Torres! Wow! Watching the Rays LHP reliever wring up Lawrie (looking at a well placed change-up) was a thing of beauty.

Torres ultimately retired the side in order once again, this time needing only seven pitches to do so.

Eighth Inning

-As the graphic designer of the blog so eloquently put it, “I really don’t want to like Luke Scott, but he’s making it hard on me.” Luke extended his hitting streak on a base hit, however he was deleted on a failed bunt attempt by the Rays fastest (editors note: the first “s” in fastest could have easily been replaced with a “t”) runner, Jośe Molina.

Could someone please inform Molina that he, under no circumstances, should square up to bunt. Never ever.

-Maddon begrudgingly pulled Alex Torres in favor of Joel Peralta, after Torres walked two consecutive batters to start the bottom of the eighth.

Torres’ final line: 2+ IP/0 H/0 R/2 BB/2 K.

-After Peralta walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, he sat down the following three Jays in order. The final out of the inning was particularly filthy, a full count JP Arencibia strikeout (swinging) on a filthy splitter in the dirt, preserving the Rays two run lead.

Ninth Inning

-A walk and a base hit; runners on the corners with two outs. Rodney’s fraying a few nerves…

-Rodney incurs an error on come-backer by Encarnacion, plating a run and cutting the Rays lead to one.

-Rodney gets a pop-fly out to end the game.

The New What Next

Tampa Bay will send Chris Archer to the mound to face RA Dickey, in the final game of this three game set. A win against Dickey would give the Rays an enormous wave of momentum going into Boston, Monday. You can read about the pitching match-up here, and we’ll post the starting lineup when it becomes available.

Rays 7/21/13 Starting Lineup

Jennings CF
Zobrist SS
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Scott DH
Johnson 2B
Joyce RF
Lobaton C
Fuld LF
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

  • Per the Tampa Bay Rays, “Fernando Rodney tied Danys Baez (71) for second place on the Rays career saves list, in just his second year as closer. Roberto Hernandez leads with 101.”
  • A question of what the Blue Jays “fans” were chanting during the game was posed. The picture below should clear that up:
Montreal Expos fans fill an outfield section during a baseball game between the Tampa Bays Rays and Toronto Blue Jays Toronto on Saturday July 20, 2013. The Montreal fans hope to lure a major league team back to their city. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn).Now it all makes sense. Cough...I certainly hope they’re not implying the Rays would be the team lured back to Montreal.

Montreal Expos fans fill an outfield section during a baseball game between the Tampa Bays Rays and Toronto Blue Jays Toronto on Saturday July 20, 2013. The Montreal fans hope to lure a major league team back to their city. Now it all makes sense. Cough…I certainly hope they’re not implying the Rays would be the team lured back to Montreal. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn).

  • Wil Myers is not in the lineup because of a sore left wrist. Per Roger Mooney of the Tribune, “Myers said (his) wrist is sore. Hurt it sliding yesterday. Expects to play Monday in Boston.” Maddon said Myers could pinch-hit today if needed.
Yunel Escobar testing out an ailing hamstring. (Photo courtesy of Marc Topkin/Tampa Bay Times)

Yunel Escobar testing out an ailing hamstring. (Photo courtesy of Marc Topkin/Tampa Bay Times)

  • The prognosis on Yunel Escobar: He’s fine. Escobar’s thorough workout is over, and Joe Maddon said he expected to play in Boston, though Maddon doesn’t know if he’ll start Monday. Ryan Roberts has been sent back to Durham.