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Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Drop Third Straight, 6-5

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Yunel Escobar holds a throw to first base in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels. Outfielder Mike Trout singled on the play. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Yunel Escobar holds a throw to first base in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels. Outfielder Mike Trout singled on the play. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

To put it bluntly, after the 11-1 debacle against the Royals Monday, and the subsequent demotion of Jeremy Hellickson Tuesday, Tampa Bay really needed a big performance out of Roberto Hernandez. And with the exceptions of a Mike Trout blast in the fourth, and an unlucky break in the seventh, a solid performance they got.

Sadly, Hernandez’s best outing in some time went to waste after Jake McGee and Fernando Rodney let another save slip away, in the 6-5 loss to The The Angels Angels of Anaheim. The Rays start the day two-and-a-half games behind the Red Sox after Boston crushed the Orioles by a score of 13-2. Bulleted game peripherals are below:

  • I’d imagine the only consolation for Roberto Hernandez might be that he wasn’t charged with the loss. Hernandez looked good Tuesday night, however his 6 IP/8 H/3 ER/3 BB/6 K/2 GDP slash line on 94 pitches (60 for strikes) was for naught. Seriously, dude can’t catch a break — he is still 0-4 against the Angels. Even though the opposing batters reached safely in all but one inning, Hernandez was effective in making that big pitch to get a strikeout or ground out; Roberto struck out three batters to end the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, while inducing eight ground ball outs — including a pair of big double plays. The key to his success: He was able to command his sinker, fastball, and change-up — largely keeping it down and on the periphery of the strike zone.  The only pitch he had a hard time with was, surprise surprise, his slider — of the 15 he threw, only six went for strikes (one whiff). To Roberto’s credit, the blast Mike Trout hit in the fourth was on a good pitch down in the zone and on the outside corner. And to be fair, color Hernandez unlucky in the seventh — Roberto gave up a lead-off single to Nelson, who was moved to second on a Grant Green bunt base hit that never rolled foul. With two on and no outs, Jake McGee came on in relief and quickly gave up a walk, RBI fielder’s choice, and an RBI single — cutting the Rays lead to an uncomfortable one run.
Roberto Hernandez at-bat results. (Courtesy of Brooks Baseball)

Roberto Hernandez at-bat results. (Courtesy of Brooks Baseball)

  • Like Hernandez, CJ Wilson was able to make the big pitch to get out of innings relatively unscathed. Unlike the Rays righty however, Wilson pitched out of the stretch for the majority of his 5 IP/8 H/3 ER/5 BB outing. Say what you will about McGee and Rodney blowing the game, I’d argue that going 3-13 wRISP while stranding 12 men on the bags (including eight in scoring position) had an equally negative impact on the outcome of the game. Wil Myers, Desmond Jennings, and Evan Longoria all came up short in big situations, going 0-10 overall and combining for four strikeouts. Granted they collectively walked five times, the Rays could only convert one of those walks into a run.
  • Jose Molina had a huge night, going 3-4 with two doubles and three RBI. What’s more, he gunned down Nelson at second to end the top of the second inning. Yet as with Hernandez, his big night was for naught. A bummer indeed — lord knows when he may put together another career night at the plate.
  • Fernando Rodney blew his eighth save of the year after giving up two runs in the ninth (one earned) on a walk, error, stolen base, and an RBI double. To be frank, Rodney looked like crap. Is Jesse Crain ready yet?
  • Desmond Jennings’ ninth inning error proved costly. Instead of a runner on second with one out, the Angels were primed with two on and no outs, and the winning run at first. That was a play that Jennings has made time and again, and simply misplayed the ball this time around. That error could prove important at  this point in the season with 30 some games left.
  • Let’s be honest, five runs should have been enough to beat a sub .500 team.

The New What Next

Chris Archer will get the start Wednesday, tasked with putting an end to the current three-game losing streak. Archer will take on Jerome Williams. You can read about the pitching match-up here.

Rays 8/28/13 Starting Lineup

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

Noteworthiness

  • Over last 13 games, Rays catchers Lobaton & Molina have combined to hit .340 BA/.392 OBP/.596 SLG with 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 2B, 1 3B.
  • Since Desmond Jennings has slumped it up, he’ll be hitting seventh, while David DeJesus hits in the leadoff spot.

The New What Next: Rays vs. Angels, A Series Preview of Sorts

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Jeremy Hellickson throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals. (Photo courtesy of Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

Jeremy Hellickson throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals. (Photo courtesy of Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

Oof… Just oof. The Rays return home on the heels of another big loss to the Royals. This time Tampa Bay got slammed 11-1, after Jeremy Hellickson put together a 2-2/3 inning, five run, outing. Cesar Ramos wasn’t much better in relief, relinquishing five runs in one inning. If someone can explain how a team, that was 20 games over .500, loses to a team that’s coming off a five game losing streak (a game removed, that is), I’m all ears. Moving forward, enter the Angels.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim haven’t fared to well in 2013. Marred by injuries, the 58-71 Angels are 6-9 in their last 15, having been outscored 73-62 in that span. It doesn’t help that Josh Hamilton is hitting .235 and the team has a 4.40 ERA — though they’ve posted a 1.27 ERA in the last five games. The Rays are mildly better in the same span of time, having gone 8-7. However when you stretch things back 18 games, the Rays were in the throes of their worst losing streak of the season. That they bounced back from that and haven’t lost their relevance is a positive.

Tampa Bay has averaged 5.2 runs in taking 12-of-13 in the series against the Angels, including the last six by a 42-14 margin. However, the Rays have some offensive holes that need to be filled — namely Wil Myers and Desmond Jennings. Myers is 5-for-his-last-37 (all singles) with only two RBI, while Jennings is 5-for-his-last-54 with five runs. On the other hand, David DeJesus is 5-for-12 with two runs since joining the Rays, and Evan Longoria has heated up once more — cough, even though he went 0-4 Monday, striking out in a pivotal wRISP situation.

Rays and Angels series starters.

Rays and Angels series starters.

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

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

Rays and Angels, by the numbers.

Rays and Angels, by the numbers.

CJ Wilson: Per Rotowire, “Wilson gave up one run on four hits through 7.1 innings Tuesday, picking up a no-decision against the Indians.” A tough lefty by all accounts, Wilson has not fared well against the Rays in his recent outings, going 0-3 with a 6.56 ERA in his last four starts against Tampa Bay — including a loss in the 2011 ALDS while with Texas. Ben Zobrist had a good amount of success against Wilson last season, hitting two homers and a double in eight at-bats in their match-ups. Key match-ups: Yunel Escobar (2-6, 2 BB), Sam Fuld (1-2, RBI), James Loney (1-4), Sean Rodriguez (5-15, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB), Ben Zobrist (6-23, 2 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB).

Jerome Williams: Per Rotowire, “Williams will have his next turn in the rotation skipped, the Orange County Register reports.” Williams has appeared in five games against the Rays in the last three years, accumulating 14-1/3 innings of work. The journeyman pitcher has reinvented himself, becoming a ground ball specialist of sorts. He won’t blow you away with incredible velocity, however Williams can hurt you if he keeps the ball down. He is apt to leave the ball in hittable locations, so hopefully the Rays can force a mistake. Key match-ups: Kelly Johnson (8-19, RBI, 2 BB), Matt Joyce (2-5, 2B, HR, RBI, BB).

Garrett Richards: Fangraphs notes, “Richards has not been able to actually, you know, strike guys out. This despite a good swinging strike rate (10%). Maybe it’s the fact that he’s primarily a fastball/slider guy — lefties had a .389 wOBA against Richards last season.”

Noteworthiness

  • Last year, the Angels lost nine of 10 games against the Rays, including all three at Tropicana Field.
  • Just make contact — the Angels have 89 errors, third most in the AL.
  • Longoria is hitting .307 with eight homers, 22 RBI and 22 runs in 29 career games against the Rays. Ben Zobrist is batting .345 with four homers and nine RBIs over the last eight in the series.
  • Hernandez has gone 0-4 despite a 2.44 ERA in eight starts versus Los Angeles while with Cleveland. Josh Hamilton is 1 for his last 12 against Hernandez, though that hit left the yard.
  • Matt Moore remains on track for a Minor League rehab start on Thursday, but the site is still to be determined. Moore would be on track to join the rotation Sept. 3 in Anaheim if there are no setbacks. The left-hander, who is 14-3 with a 3.41 ERA this season, has not pitched in a game since July 28 against the Yankees in New York.

 

 

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Chris Archer, Rays Handcuff Yankees In 7-2 Win

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The outcome of Friday night’s meeting under the big top couldn’t have been better…well, that is unless you’re a Yankees fan. With Chris Archer at the helm, Tampa Bay handcuffed the Bronx Bummers by a score of 7-2, effectively deflating the big-headed behemoth that is the Yankees — a team that entered the Trop in the midst of a five game winning streak, also having won eight of their last 10. The icing on the cake: Tampa Bay starts the day percentage points in first place in the AL East, following a late night Red Sox loss to the Dodgers.

Rookie of the year candidate Chris Archer was outstanding, holding the Evil Empire to two runs on four hits (one a triple), allowing only six base runners to reach in seven innings of work. Archer kept the ball down and induced 10 groundouts, impressively getting the Yankees hitters to expand their zone and getting swings and misses in the borderline regions of the zone. Incidentally, Archer fed a fastball hungry Yankees 69 fastballs (39 for strikes, seven whiffs) to great effect, also leaning on a deadly slider which he threw 39 times (29 for strikes, five whiffs). The rookie RHP was the beneficiary of a few line drives hit to fielders — a credit to the spreadsheeters upstairs and in the dugout who had the fielders placed perfectly, ultimately robbing the Yankees of more than a few hits. Case in point, the seventh inning.

Archer found himself in an awkward position two outs in the inning. Though he’d pitched well, Archer was over 100 pitches and seemed to be tiring, missing the plate with his fastball and allowing back-to-back base runners on a walk and a single. With two men on and two outs, Chris Stewart hit a hard liner to deep left-field that looked like a double for sure. But the newly acquired David DeJesus ranged far back, and to his left, and snagged the ball just before crashing into the wall.

In fact, the night was full of excellent defensive plays. In the second inning, Yunel Escobar made an excellent play on an Eduardo Nunez chopper to short. He barehanded and threw, all in one motion, and got Nunez at first by half a step. A ridiculous play by all accounts, yet one that he’s been making all season. He made a similar play in the ninth to get the much less speedy Alex Rodriguez.

Then in the third, Archer allowed Brett Gardner to reach on a HBP. An eager Gardner took off for second and Curtis Granderson hit a liner to right that looked like it would drop. A charging Matt Joyce made a shoestring grab for the first out, and easily doubled Gardner off first. It should be mentioned, Jamey Wright picked off the eager Gardner in the eighth with a beautiful move to first before he came set.

Offensively speaking, Matt Joyce got things started in the second inning, reaching on a soft liner over A-Rod’s head. Kelly Johnson followed that up with a liner up the middle, setting the table for Jose Lobaton. With a hunger that can only be satiated by ice cream, Lobi jumped all over a hanging slider and bounced it off the right field foul pole, giving the Rays a 3-1 lead. Then in the bottom of the fourth, Evan Longoria and Matt Joyce went yard, hitting back-to-back homers to give Tampa Bay a 5-1 lead. As if three home runs weren’t enough, Ben Zobrist led off the fifth with a solo shot to left, giving the Rays a commanding six run lead — one they would not relinquish.

The New What Next

David Price will go for the series win against Grimmace in game two of the Rays current three-game set. Sabathia is the recipient of a +8 ERA and 24 earned runs against the Rays this season. You can read about the pitching match-up here.

Rays 8/24/13 Starting Lineup

Noteworthiness

  • Roberto Hernandez looked good in relief last night, putting together a 1-2-3 ninth inning on eight pitches. Ian Malinowski of DRaysBay summed up his outing well, “Some of you will doubtless be happy to know that the “Roberto Hernandez Experiment” (man do I hate that term) has come to an end. After providing over 130 innings of 3.50 xFIP starting pitching, Hernandez has now official joined the bullpen. He worked a one-two-three ninth inning, producing three groundouts. He didn’t gain anything on his velocity (it was in the low 90s) in this outing, but if he can adapt to the rhythms of being a reliever, he will be successful working his sinker/changeup combo to hitters on both sides of the plate. With Matt Moore apt to return soon, the bullpen just got stronger.”
  • Archer’s stripes are greater than the Yankees pinstripes: He is 3-0 with 1.23 ERA — the first rookie since Kevin Brown in ’89 with three wins in one season against the Yankees.
  • Ben Zobrist last night tied the Rays team record, held by Akinora Iwamura, of 75 straight errorless games at second base.
  • Tonight is the ninth meeting between Price and Sabathia. Price is 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA, and Rays have won 7-of-8 so far.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Walk-off For the Second Time This Week

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Rays players converge on catcher Jose Lobaton, second from left, after his ninth-inning triple delivers another walkoff victory. (Photo courtesy of Will Vragovic/Times)

Rays players converge on catcher Jose Lobaton, second from left, after his ninth-inning triple delivers another walkoff victory. (Photo courtesy of Will Vragovic/Times)

For the ninth time this season, the Rays won in dramatic fashion, with catcher Jose Lobaton hitting the game winning one out RBI triple up the right field line. The icing on the cake: New York crushed Boston, allowing Tampa Bay to gain a game on the Red Sox, and reasserting themselves just a game out of first place in the AL East. The Rays 5-4 walk-off win was the second of the week.

There was a lot to like about last night’s gritty win. First off, Jeremy Hellickson put together a solid, if unspectacular, start against the Blue Jays ace RA Dickey. Hear me out. It was a solid outing, in that he put together a quality start, relinquishing only three runs while keeping the Rays in the game for the duration of his time on the mound — an important fact when considering who opposed the Rays RHP. Helly used 106 pitches to get through six innings, and gave up nine hits while striking out three and walking only one. After lasting fewer than five innings in each of previous three starts, a six inning outing where he allowed only one extra base hit stands as a marked improvement.

If I may, a victory seemed improbable from the get go, considering that RA Dickey owned a career 2.31 ERA at the Trop prior to last night — including a dear in the headlights like complete game two hitter earlier this summer. I would have given you a baffled look going into the game, had you told me he’d post a 7 IP/6 H/4 ER/2 BB/6 K slash line, including a sixth inning solo shot off the bat of Matt Joyce — snapping his 43-game homerless drought. Furthermore, the bottom of the order was mightily productive Friday night with Yunel Escobar, Sam Fuld, and Jose Lobaton taking the reins. The bottom three went 5-10 with two triples, two runs, and four runs batted in.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge Lobaton’s contribution behind the plate. The hero of last night’s game blocked a Fernando Rodney changeup in the dirt with the go-ahead run at third base. Rays skipper Joe Maddon called that one of the biggest plays of the game.

“I was telling (Escobar) after the inning, I didn’t know how I caught that ball,” said Lobaton after the game. “I said, ‘I think I can do something better in hitting.’ “

Maddon tweeted after the game,

“First Lobaton got an RBO in the top of the 9th & then when was the last time a catcher hit a walk-off triple? I don’t know. Incredible.”

Do the bounce!

Do the bounce!

That isn’t to say there weren’t any less than stellar moments. Joel Peralta allowed the lead to slip away in the eighth inning after giving up a single, walk, and sacrifice ahead of a poorly played game tying fielder’s choice. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Gose hit a ground ball to Yunel Escobar. The Rays shortstop attempted to gun Brett Lawrie down at the plate instead of going for the sure out at first. The calculated play could have proven costly. Then in the ninth, a less than efficient Fernando Rodney gave up a pair of base hits and a fielders choice, culminating in a runners on the corners scenario.

Nevertheless, the Rays walked away with their third consecutive win, reasserting themselves at the top of the AL East, while driving a larger wedge between Tampa Bay and the rest of the wildcard pack.

The New What Next

Roberto Hernandez will try to continue the Rays three-game winning streak against JA Happ and the Blue Jays Saturday night. You can read more about the pitching match-up here.

Rays 8/17/13 Starting Lineup

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

Noteworthiness

  • Surprise surprise, the Rays have placed designated out, urm…hitter Luke Scott on 15-day DL with back spasms. They’ve also activated Brandon Gomes off 60-day DL, and moved Jesse Crain to the 60-day DL. Crain is eligible to return August 29th.

    • Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Drop Fourth Consecutive

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    Yunel Escobar flings his equipment after getting called out on strikes by umpire Paul Nauert to end the sixth inning. Third-base coach Tom Foley then had words with Nauert and got ejected. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

    Yunel Escobar flings his equipment after getting called out on strikes by umpire Paul Nauert to end the sixth inning. Third-base coach Tom Foley then had words with Nauert and got ejected. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

    Ouch. Yesterday’s game against Zach Greinke and the Dodgers certainly didn’t play out the way we hoped it would. Tampa Bay has now dropped its fourth consecutive game, and second consecutive series, after being blanked 5-0 by Los Angeles Saturday. If the Rays are going to salvage a game on their current road trip, they’re going to have to do so against a very tough pitcher tonight. It won’t be easy. It’s time for another edition of The Good, The Bad, and The Argyle: A Bulleted Game Summary.

    The Good

    • The bullpen looked much better Saturday. Jamey Wright, Cesar Ramos, and Josh Leuke kept the Rays in the game, combining for four innings of shutout ball. They were able to hold the Dodgers to four hits and three walks (two intentional) while striking out four. Wright did an excellent job to get out of a pair of RISP situations in the fifth and sixth innings, inducing a pair of groundouts to strand Punto and Uribe (respectively) on the bags. Josh Lueke needed all of nine pitches (seven for strikes) to strike out Ellis and Withrow in the bottom of the eighth inning.
    • Ben Zobrist continued his toasty ways, going 2-for-4 Saturday, with a pair of base hits.
    • The good old hidden ball trick. In the fourth inning, Longoria took a non­chalant toss from Yunel Escobar and sidled up behind Juan Uribe, waiting for the moment the Dodgers third baseman came off the bag. When his foot came off third, Longo quickly placed the tag.
    Click the screen-shot to be redirected to a video of the hidden ball trick.

    Click the screen-shot, to be redirected to video of the hidden ball trick.

    The Bad

    • It can’t be said the Tampa Bay didn’t have an opportunity to tag Greinke and the Dodgers for runs. Still, they couldn’t seem to move runners from station to station. Seven Rays safely reached base, while Tampa Bay threatened with runners in scoring position in the first, fourth, and fifth innings. Though Greinke wasn’t nearly as sharp as he’s been in the past, he did a good job of making the big pitches when he needed to, effectively holding the wolves at bay. He had the Rays swinging at pitches outside of the zone all day, and their willingness to pull the trigger proved costly — Greinke struck out nine. The Rays ultimately went 0-7 wRISP, while only one Ray (Evan Longoria in the fourth) made it past second.
    • Roberto Hernandez struggled again, allowing a two-run homer in the first then walking opposing starter Zack Greinke to set up a two-run third. Robo lasted only four innings, the fifth time in eight games the Rays starter hasn’t gotten through five. To be fair, both Gonzalez and Crawford were able to turn a pair of low and inside pitches into a homer and a double. Both pitches were good by all accounts. However, Hernandez didn’t have the sink he needed to be successful overall. Hernandez mentioned as much, “After the first inning everything was flat and up too much.”
    • Let it be said and known, Luke Scott’s four pitch, pinch hit, swinging strikeout in the seventh was one of the most atrocious at-bats I’ve seen in a while. Scott, after rolling through most of July, has three hits in his last 34 plate appearances.

    The Argyle

    • Hernandez’s spot in the rotation again appears in jeopardy. Alex Cobb is slated to come off the DL Thursday, while Matt Moore is expected to return only a few days later. Compound that with a potential choice looming between him and rookie Chris Archer. The Rays skipper hasn’t indulged too much, saying,

    “We haven’t decided anything with that yet… Roberto had that really good game against Arizona, he pitched a complete game … so that was just a couple of starts ago, and then all of a sudden it’s been a little more difficult.”

    • I’d reckon home plate umpire Paul Nauret had a fairly liberal strike zone yesterday:
    (Courtesy of Brooks Baseball)

    (Courtesy of Brooks Baseball)

    The New What Next

    Enter the stopper, Jeremy Hellickson. Yeah, uh…somewhat similar. Hellickson will look to put a halt to his, and the Rays, losing streak tonight against Clayton Kershaw. Helly has lost his last two starts, while the Dodgers are 0-2 in Kershaw’s last two outings. It should be mentioned: Kershaw relinquished a combined two runs in his last two starts. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions as to why he’s 0-1 in his last two starts. You can read about the pitching match-up here.

    Rays 8/11/13 Starting Lineup

    Rodriguez 1B
    Myers CF
    Longoria 3B
    Zobrist RF
    Escobar SS
    Roberts 2B
    Lobaton C
    Hellickson RHP
    Bourgeois LF