Well that certainly wasn’t what we’d hoped for out of an opening series. The Orioles took two out of three from the Rays following a 6-3 victory over Tampa Bay at the Trop, Thursday. Chris Davis was again on fire, driving in four on a two-run homer and a two-run double.
On the upside, the Rays starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez pitched into the seventh Thursday, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out seven.
He, however, couldn’t contain the red-hot Chris Davis, who seemed to mash everything over the course of the three game set. Take a look at the three pitch f/x charts below. Over the course of the entire series, Davis took quality pitches — not mistakes — for extra base hit, after extra base hit. He ended the series having gone 5-7 with a walk, a HBP, and eleven runs batted in. Suffice to say, I’m happy that he and the Orioles are getting out of Dodge.
Offensively speaking, the Rays didn’t show up. Tampa Bay was held hitless into the fifth inning when Evan Longoria hit the first of four singles that led to two runs.
The Rays got two on to open the ninth when Longoria hit a double high off the left-centerfield wall. He was subsequently called out for apparently passing Ben Zobrist, who held up to see if the ball was caught.
The Indians come to town Friday for a three-game set at Tropicana Field. Matt Moore will look to build on his final Spring Training start — a strong outing where he posted a 4 IP/1 H/0 R/0 ER/1 BB/5 K slash line on 54 pitches (37 for strikes) against the Detroit Tigers. Alex Cobb and David Price will also see their first and second starts (respectively) of this very young season. You can see our preview of sorts, and statistics, below.
By the numbers (Rays and Indians over the first three games):
Rays wRISP: 7-15 (47%)
Total runs scored: 15
Runs scored on two-outs: 8
Runs averaged per game: 5
Runs given up with two-outs: 14
Indians wRISP: 11-39 (28%)
Total runs scored: 15
Runs scored on two-outs: 9
Runs averaged per game: 5
Runs given up with two-outs: 7
Match-ups:
- Zach McAllister: The Rays as a team have posted a paltry .150 BA/.261 OBP/.250 SLG/.511 OPS against McAllister in 20 at-bats. Key match-up(s): Desmond Jennings (1-4, 2B, 2RBI)
- Trevor Bauer: Trevor Bauer is filling in for Scott Kazmir while he is on the DL. This will be the first time he has faced the Rays.
- Justin Masterson: The Rays have had a lot of success against Masterson in the past, posting a combined .336 BA/.437 OBP/.477 SLG/.913 OPS slash line against in 107 at-bats, tagging him for 24 RBI on 36 hits including six doubles and three home runs. Key match-ups: Yunel Escobar (3-11, RBI), Sam Fuld (2-6, 3 RBI), Desmond Jennings (4-6, RBI), Matt Joyce (4-12, 2B, 3 BB), Jose Lobaton (2-3, 2 RBI, 3 BB), Evan Longoria (7-21, 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 2BB)
Noteworthiness:
- Scott Kazmir will not pitch against the Rays Saturday, as previously scheduled, because he was placed on the 15-day disabled list, backdated to Tuesday.
- The Rays and Indians split their eight meetings last season, with Tampa Bay outscoring Cleveland 39-34. The Indians are 73-46 against the Rays, and 31-28 at Trop. However, Tampa Bay is 15-8 in the past three seasons.
- David Price had seven scoreless innings, striking out seven, walking three and allowing two hits against the Tribe in 2012. Price is 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA in six career starts against the Indians.
- Current Indian Nick Swisher has a career .271 average, with 19 homers and an .871 OPS in 98 games against the Rays.
- McAllister pitched six innings, allowing one run and getting the win, in his only career appearance in Tampa Bay. He’s been prone to the long ball, giving up 17 homers in his last 17 starts.
- Mark Reynolds struck out 24 times in 53 ABs against the Rays last year.
- Justin Masterson is 0-4 with an 8.44 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) at Tropicana Field.