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Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall 5-3 Amidst Scoring Opportunities Aplenty; Jennings to the DL

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I'd easily call this a microcosm of Wednesday night's game. Trevor Plouffe catches Kevin Kiermaier attempting to advance after tagging up on a pop out by Rene Rivera. (Photo Credit: Brian Blanco/Getty Images)

I’d easily call this a microcosm of Wednesday night’s game. Trevor Plouffe catches Kevin Kiermaier attempting to advance after tagging up on a pop out by Rene Rivera. (Photo Credit: Brian Blanco/Getty Images)

The Tampa Bay Rays squandered not one or two bases loaded opportunities on Wednesday night, but three, as the Minnesota Twins went on to win 5-3. Minnesota has won the first two games of the three-game series, while Tampa Bay has fallen two games under .500, and three games back in the AL Wildcard race.

Chris Archer came out throwing bullets to start the game, fanning eight batters in the front four innings ― seven via a sharp slider with a ton of depth and run. And while he allowed four base runners on two singles and two doubles (going into the fifth), there really wasn’t an indication that he would allow any runners to cross the plate, much less two while he was on the mound.

Kevin Kiermair was the only baserunner for Tampa Bay in the first three frames, but the Rays found themselves plenty of scoring opportunities in the next three innings against starter Tyler Duffey and reliever Brian Duensing.

Daniel Nava homered to start the fourth, giving the team a one run lead.

Evan Longoria followed the homer with a double, and John Jaso and Asdrubal Cabrera worked a pair of walks, but the Rays could do nothing with the first of three consecutive bases loaded opportunities, as James Loney grounded out to end the fourth.

Minnesota answered in an awkward fifth. Chris Herrmann started the rally by lining a single to right, but Shane Robinson hit into a 6-4 fielder’s choice. With one out, Robinson stole second and advanced to third on a Byron Buxton single to left. Archer was able to coax what looked to be the perfect 5-4-3 double play ball off the bat of Brian Dozier, however, Logan Forsythe came off second early on Longoria’s throw, and could not make the relay to first. Robinson scored to tie the game at one. With runners on first and second, the Rays ace culled a pair of strikeouts of Joe Mauer (looking) and Miguel Sano (swinging) to limit the damage.

The Rays regained the lead in the bottom of the inning, when Kiermaier came up with a leadoff triple — his league-leading 12th. Daniel Nava worked a four pitch walk (and Rene Rivera was caught looking) before Grady Sizemore plated an RBI on an opposite field single. They were able to load the bases again on a Longoria fielder’s choice and a John Jaso walk, nevertheless Forsythe lined to second to end the inning. Minnesota struck again on an Eduardo Escobar solo shot with two outs in the sixth, tying the game at two.

Still the team threatened again to blow the game open in the bottom of the frame. Cabrera, Loney and Kiermaier singled to load the bases with none out. Rene Rivera found himself in a prime run-scoring opportunity, yet he popped out to first. In that at-bat, Rivera took a 91 mph middle-middle fastball for strike one. Center cut, right in his wheelhouse, strike one. You’re fucking kidding me, right?! I digress.

Brian Duensing took the mound in relief and got Nava to pop out to second and pinch-hitter Brandon Guyer to fly to left. They are now hitting .217 this season with the bases-loaded, tied for 28th in MLB with Seattle.

The inability to push across runs set the stage for the Twins to take the lead against the Archer, who fanned 12 in six plus innings, and the bullpen. Minnesota led off the seventh inning uprising against Archer with a Robinson walk. They then misplayed two straight bunts by Buxton and Dozier, consequently loading the bases with no outs.

 

Archer departed, and Joe Mauer followed with a broken bat bloop to right-center off Xavier Cedeno for a single, and a one-run advantage. Alex Colome, the third pitcher of the inning, got Miguel Sano to pop out, but Trevor Plouffe hit a sac fly to left-center, extending the lead to two. Tampa Bay got within one in the seventh when Longoria belted a leadoff homer to left — his 14th of the season.

However, Minnesota again responded. Escobar homered off Brandon Gomes to start the eighth. It also ended a string of 26 straight hitters retired by Gomes.

The New What Next

Drew Smyly (1-2, 3.42) will make his third start since returning from the disabled list on Wednesday, opposite of left-hander Tommy Milone. Smyly picked up his first win in 358 days on Friday, looking sharper than his first start back. In an ideal world, as Smyly gains command of his off-speed pitches, the scoreless innings should mount. Milone is coming off his first career save, as he was needed in extra innings on Sunday against the Orioles. But he also started Friday, lasting 5-1/3 innings, and allowing three runs on five hits. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 8/27/15 Starting Lineup

Guyer RF
Nava 1B
Longoria 3B
Forsythe 2B
Cabrera SS
Butler LF
Beckham DH
Kiermaier CF
Arencibia C
Smyly RHP

Noteworthiness

— Kevin Cash on Rivera’s sixth inning foul out: it was a “non-competitive” at-bat.

— As if he hasn’t missed enough of the season already, OF Desmond Jennings has been placed on the 15-day DL with a bruised left knee. OF/DH Joey Butler has been recalled. Jennings left Tuesday night’s game with a bruise on the same left knee that sidelined him for 3-1/2 months and required surgery, sitting out Wednesday.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Pitching Staff Failed in 11-7 Loss; Casali Headed to the DL

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Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano score on a single by Torii Hunter off Nathan Karns during the third inning on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano score on a single by Torii Hunter off Nathan Karns during the third inning on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. (Photo Credit: AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

3:45 pm update: Curt Casali’s status on the active roster has been updated below in “Noteworthiness.”

Normally when the Tampa Bay Rays collect 13 hits, score in three different innings, and put a crooked number the board, you expect to see a tally in the win column. Yet in spite of the fact that they were able to battle back from a pair of three-run deficits against the Twins, the pitching staff let the team down in an 11-7 loss. Starter Nathan Karns and long reliever Matt Andriese combined for 10 runs on nine hits and five walks, and the loss in the series opener found Tampa Bay back under .500…once again.

After falling behind in the first inning, thanks to Miguel Sano’s three-run home run, Tampa Bay charged back with two runs in the second. Asdrubal Cabrera followed Logan Forsythe’s leadoff single to center with an RBI triple (also to center). James Loney responded with an RBI base hit of his own, allowing the Rays to knot the game at two apiece.

As it stands, Nathan Karns has allowed 24-of-57 runs and 5-of-18 homers this year in the first inning.

Karns was shaky, and he walked Joe Mauer and Sano with none out in the third. And while he was able to coax a liner to third out of Trevor Plouffe, and fan Eddie Rosario (swinging), the righty wild pitched both runners into scoring position before allowing the veteran outfielder Torii Hunter to do what productive veterans do ― drive in a pair of runs on a base hit to center.

Down 5-2, the Rays were able to make the game interesting in the third. John Jaso hit a two-out double to center before Cabrera worked a two-out walk. James Loney came up big with a two-RBI double, and Kevin Kiermaier singled up the middle to tie the game and knock Twins hurler Ervin Santana out of the game.

Karns also departed early, as manager Kevin Cash called upon the services of RHP Matt Andriese. The righty started his shaky outing off well, striking out Eduardo Escobar swinging. But Andriese allowed a one-out walk to Byron Buxton, and Brian Dozier followed with a two-run homer to left-center ― his 26th of the season ― for a two-run advantage. It was the second of three homers for Minnesota on the night, allowing the Twins to take the lead for good.

Nevertheless, Tampa Bay battled back to score again in the fourth after Grady Sizemore walked, Daniel Nava was hit by a pitch, and John Jaso followed Evan Longoria’s groundout with an RBI single to center, making it a one-run game. Twins skipper Paul Molitor called upon Neal Cotts, who got Logan Forsythe to line to center, and Adrubal Cabrera to strike out. The strikeout came just after Cabrera missed a potential extra-base hit, pulling a ball foul down the left field line.

As if the seesaw game wasn’t nerve racking enough, Minnesota came right back ― scoring three two-out runs in the fifth inning on a two-run double by Escobar, and an RBI ground rule double by Buxton that was out of the reach of a diving Sizemore. Casali called for the 3-2 pitch to Escobar to be off the plate, yet Andriese yanked it right into his swing path.

That blue square on the outer third represents the meatball Andriese left over the plate for Escobar.

That blue square on the outer third of the plate represents the meatball Andriese handed Escobar.

If I may, this is who Cash called upon for a long relief appearance? someone who gave up five runs over two innings? Someone who just needed to make just one quality pitch? Perhaps it would have made more sense to call on Enny Romero, who ultimately worked two scoreless innings at the end of the game, instead.

Tampa Bay answered with a run in the fifth on a two-out homer to left by Curt Casali ― home run number 10 of the season for the Rays’ catcher. He’s the first Rays catcher to reach double digits in homers since Kelly Shoppach in 2011.

Yet all that glitters isn’t gold, and Casali strained his left hamstring rounding first. Following the game, Cash said Casali will receive an MRI Wednesday morning and be reevaluated from there. The potential for a stint on the disabled list is all too real.

The Rays catcher spoke about the injury following the game:

It was weird. I was really weird. It’s never happened to me. I’ve never seen it. It just stinks right now. On top of the loss, it’s not a good day. As soon as I hit the bag it didn’t feel very good rounding the bases. I was trying to take it as slow as I could. I knew I had to get around the bases somehow. It was just unfortunate timing.

Casali wasn’t the only hobbled Ray; OF Desmond Jennings hurt is left knee sliding into second in Oakland, yet it swelled up Tuesday. He isn’t expected to play on Wednesday, when he too will be reevaluated.

That was as close as the Rays would get as the Twins bullpen worked scoreless baseball over the final four frames. On the contrary, the Twins weren’t done scoring. Rosario homered off Xavier Cedeno in the seventh to cap Minnesota’s scoring. It was the first run allowed by Cedeno in 16 appearances.

Don’t blame the offense, for Tuesday night’s loss, after all they collected 13 hits, including three from Loney, who drove in three runs. Kiermaier also reached base on three hits. No, my friends, let’s call the pitching staff’s participation in this loss what it was: a dumpster fire of epic proportions.

The New What Next

Chris Archer (11-9, 2.77) will start Wednesday’s game for Tampa Bay, opposite of right-hander Tyler Duffey. Archer pitched a Maddux against the Astros on Thursday, when he allowed just one hit and a walk while striking out 11 on just 98 pitches. He has made nine starts this year in which he allowed no earned runs. Duffey is set to make his fourth career start in the big leagues. The righty struggled in his season debut against Toronto, but has been solid since, posting a 1.32 ERA over his last two outings. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.

Rays 8/26/15 Starting Lineup

Nava RF
Sizemore LF
Longoria 3B
Jaso DH
Forsythe 2B
Cabrera SS
Loney 1B
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Archer RHP

Noteworthiness

— As expected, the Rays have placed Curt Casali on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring. The team corresponded by purchasing The contract of JP Arencibia from AAA Durham. To make room on The 40-man roster for Arencibia, Tampa Bay placed P Garvin on The 60-day DL with a torn lat muscle. JP hit .227 with 22 HR and 65 RBI in 384 at-bats this season for the Bulls.

Rays skipper Kevin Cash said Rene Rivera will get the bulk of playing time until Arencibia gets up to speed with the pitching staff.

Rays 8/24/15 Starting Lineup, Loney Suspended, Etc

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Tampa_Bay_Devil_Rays_Scout_team1

Rays 8/24/15 Starting Lineup

Sizemore RF
Jennings LF
Longoria 3B
Jaso DH
Forsythe 2B
Cabrera SS
Loney 1B
Kiermaier CF
Casali C
Karns RHP

Noteworthiness

― Major League Baseball handed Rays 1B James Loney a one game suspension, and fined an undisclosed amount for making contact with umpire Paul Nauert following an ejection from Saturday’s game. The suspension was expected to start tonight, however, he has opted to appeal so it won’t be served until after a hearing.

― The Rays begin the game at .500 for the 19th time this season, which, not surprisingly, is a team record.

― Jake McGee (knee) told Roger Mooney (Tampa Tribune) that he will begin throwing next week and, if rehab goes well, could return for the final homestand.

― Need a Rays/Twins series primer? Check out our series preview here and now!

The New What Next: Rays vs. Twins, Part Two ― A Series Preview

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Jake Odorizzi winds up during the second inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach)

Jake Odorizzi winds up during the second inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach)

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Minnesota Twins are both still fringe contenders in the American League Wildcard race, and neither can afford to lose a series. The Rays will try to push their four-game home win streak to five* at the expense of the Twins when they open a three-game series against Minnesota, beginning Tuesday.

In spite of a 62-62 record, Tampa Bay remains within shouting distance of the second Wildcard spot, thanks in part to wins in three of their last four games. The Rays have put up an average of 2.3 runs over the last six games, however, the pitching staff has kept the team in the thick of things with a 3-3 mark in that span.

Both clubs are among four that are within 2-1/2 games of the Rangers for the final playoff spot:

I know that they’re neck-and-neck with us and there’s a lot of teams involved in all of this but we’ve gotta play good baseball regardless of who we’re playing against, Rays manager Kevin Cash told Fox Sports on the importance of facing the Twins.

Minnesota is a game up on Tampa Bay in the overall standings, as they started to slow some of their woes on the road with a four-game sweep in Baltimore over the weekend ― including three straight one-run victories. That pushed Minnesota to 25-37 away from Target Field.

The Rays will throw Nathan Karns (7-5, 3.44), Chris Archer (11-9, 2.77 ERA), and Drew Smyly (1-2, 3.42 ERA) over the next three days.

Karns did not factor in the decision at Houston on Wednesday despite allowing one run and striking out eight in six innings. The righty allowed only one walk in that outing after walking five in 4-2/3 frames at Texas in his previous turn. He is 3-0, with a 2.81 ERA in six starts since All-Star break, and has made an AL-most 18 starts while allowing two runs or fewer, and an MLB-most 10 with three hits or fewer.

Archer was outstanding last Thursday, allowing just one hit and a walk while fanning 11 in a complete game shutout over the Astros. The Rays ace was sharp and efficient as he drew 19 swinging strikes and needed only 98 pitches to complete his start. He previously allowed 12 earned runs over his previous three starts, so it was nice to see him pitch well once again.

Smyly posted 5-2/3 scoreless innings Saturday in a win over Oakland, scattering seven hits and no walks while striking out two. It wasn’t his sharpest outing, but it’s hard to complain about a shutout. This was his second start after returning from the DL, and he looked far better here than he had in his previous outing against Texas.

Minnesota won two of three at home over Tampa Bay from May 15-17, yet the Rays captured seven of the last nine home meetings.

*Six and seven as well, in an ideal world.

Rays and Twins series starters over the last 14 days.

Rays and Twins series starters over the last 14 days.

Rays and Twins offensive numbers over the last 14 days.

Rays and Twins offensive numbers over the last 14 days.

Rays and Twins by the numbers.

Rays and Twins by the numbers.

Ervin Santana (2-4, 5.53 ERA): Santana will make his 10th start since returning from an 80-game steroids suspension. He fell to 0-4 in his last five starts after being touched for four runs in 7-2/3 innings against the Yankees on Wednesday. The righty surrendered a pair of home runs in that outing and has yielded seven blasts in his last five starts. Santana is 6-6 with a 4.98 ERA in 14 career starts against Tampa Bay, with his last one coming in June 2013. Key matchups: John Jaso (8-21, 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB), James Loney (5-16, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB), Evan Longoria (6-15, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB), Rene Rivera (1-4, BB), Grady Sizemore (9-28, 2 2B, 2 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 5 BB).

Tyler Duffey (2-1, 4.60 ERA): Tampa Bay has never faced Duffey, who was promoted to the bigs at the beginning of August. The 24 year-old righty relies primarily on his 92 mph four seam fastball and 80 mph curve, which he uses to coax an extreme number of fly balls. He also mixes in a 91 mph sinker and an 85 mph whiffy change-up.

Tommy Milone (6-3, 3.69 ERA): Milone was pressed into action in an extra-inning ballgame on Sunday with the Twins already short of rested relievers. He threw a scoreless 12th inning to earn his first career save. The 28 year-old righty has not fared well against the Rays over the last few seasons, posting a 2-2 record and a 6.17 ERA over his last four starts (23-1/3 innings). Key matchup: James Loney (1-3, RBI).

Noteworthiness

― Evan Longoria is 0-12 with five strikeouts in the last three games.

― James Loney is 5-16 off Santana, though the Rays are unsure of whether or not he will be suspended after bumping umpire Paul Nauert during Saturday’s 5-4 victory against the Athletics in which he was ejected. Loney went 0-2 in Sunday’s loss and is in the throes of a 3-24 slump.

― Twins rookie Miguel Sano is hitting .321 with four homers and nine RBI in his last seven games.

 

This Week in Rays Baseball: August 16th – 23rd

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(Photo Credit: Cary Edmondson/USA Today Sports)

(Photo Credit: Cary Edmondson/USA Today Sports)

Let me just say what everyone is thinking, thank god that 10-game road trip is over! To be fair, the Tampa Bay Rays performed fairly well against the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics…well, better than they had against Texas. They were able to win some games against some pretty good pitchers, and the good guys four of their last seven. That being said, their showing Sunday looked more like the softball team I play on, and less like a team vying for a playoff berth. In the end Tampa Bay couldn’t win its first-ever road sweep of Oakland, although the team was able to take two-of-three from the A’s. After a well needed off-day Monday, the Rays will welcome another fringe contender into the Trop, the Minnesota Twins.

Let’s take look at some of the peaks and valleys from the week past.

The Rays entered the only other citrus themed facility in the bigs on Monday to start a four game set against the Houston Astros. Erasmo Ramirez earned his 10th win of the year, holding Houston’s powerful bats to just two single tallies on six scattered hits, including an opposite field homer to Evan Gattis on a pitch that was well out of the zone. For the life of me, I still cannot understand how Gattis poked that fastball to right-field!

Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 11.48.34 PM

The offense supported Erasmo — and the pitchers that followed — with nine runs of support, while going 6-17 wRISP (.353 BA) and scoring six two-out runs.

However, fortune did not favor the Rays on Tuesday and Wednesday, after they dropped a pair of extra inning contests by a 3-2 margin. The bullpen failed the team in both games, although they walked away from Tuesday’s fiasco with a far worse predicament — Jake McGee became the injury bug’s next victim when the lefty tore the meniscus in his left knee on the second to last pitch of his outing.

McGee, who is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after going under the knife, will likely miss the rest of the regular season. Kevin Cash said they will use several pitchers to take McGee’s late-inning role, including lefty Xavier Cedenno and righties Steve Geltz, Brandon Gomes and Alex Colome. He also said this less than operative situation doesn’t automatically mean Brad Boxberger will become the full-time closer. Rather there could still be situations where Boxberger pitches in the eighth, and one of the others closes out the game.

In dire need of a pick me up, the team closed out the stint in Houston with a big 1-0 shutout of the Astros, culminating in a one-hit/11 strikeout complete game gem by Chris Archer. When all was said and done, the starting rotation held the Astros to just four runs (1.33 ERA), while the offense was able to collect 42 total hits. However, they also went 9-for-40 wRISP (.225 BA), so…

The westward trek continued in Oakland on Friday, when Drew Smyly and Desmond Jennings led Tampa Bay to a 2-1 win. Smyly bounced back from a disappointing start against Texas by scattering seven singles and fanning two. And while his start wasn’t spectacular, he was good enough to keep Oakland at bay. The lefty focused more on pitching to contact, and — playing off the Athletics aggressiveness at the plate — forced a good number of weak poppers and fly balls. More importantly though, his command was much better and he was able to locate all of his pitches.

“It just helps when you can locate all your pitches, Smyly said. In Texas I was pretty much throwing two pitches: fastball, slider. Today I threw some changeups, I threw a lot of curveballs, my slider was good. All in all it felt good out there.”

Up by two runs in the ninth, Boxberger took over and almost allowed another walkoff loss. Instead he eventually settled down to earn his 30th save.

On Saturday, for the first time in 50 previous attempts, Tampa Bay notched its first ninth-inning comeback of the season as the team rallied for two runs late to win 5-4. Logan Forsythe, John Jaso, and Asdrubal Cabrera combined to tag Sonny Gray for three home runs, and the Rays became the first team to do as much off the excellent righty. Previous to that, Gray had given up only two homers in one game. Equally as impressive though, Alex Colome, who was the only reliever used by Cash, entered the game in the eighth inning and retired all six batters he faced (over a two inning spread) on an incredibly efficient 20 pitches. In 11 relief appearances and 17-1/3 innings since the All-Star break, Colome has allowed just one earned run. Only time will tell, but the former starter could be an apt replacement for McGee while he recoups from surgery.

It might be best if we just skip over the series finale.


Source: FanGraphs

Better yet, read FanGraphs’ game recap whilst listening to the Benny Hill theme song.

When all was said and done, it was the fourth game on the trip in which Tampa Bay blew a lead from seventh inning on. In retrospect, perhaps the quote at the bottom of Sunday’s lineup card was prophetic: