Tampa Bay collected 44 hits, including 20 for extra bases ― both franchise records for a three-game series ― and scored 31 times to set a team mark for a three-game road set, in the sweep of the scuffling Blue Jays.
We’re in a good place right now, and we’re looking to keep it rolling in Detroit, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters Wednesday after the 6-3 series finale.
OF Kevin Kiermaier added,
We’re all clicking on all cylinders. It’s a fun time to be a Ray right now and I love it.
Kiermaier, who hit a two-run shot on Wednesday, extended his hit streak to seven games. Logan Morrison went 6-10 in the series with his first homer and first three runs batted in of the season for Tampa Bay.
In spite of their 19-21 record, the Tigers have been hot of late. Totaling 29 runs on 50 hits, Detroit has won four consecutive games ― this after scoring 35 runs while dropping 11 of 12. Leadoff hitter Ian Kinsler homered for a career-high fourth consecutive game on Wednesday and went 3-4 as Detroit completed their own three-game sweep.
Kinsler, who is 13-28 during a seven-game hitting streak, isn’t the only Tiger swinging a hot bat. J.D. Martinez is 9-16 with three homers over his last four contests, while Miguel Cabrera is 8-19 with two homers in last five games.
The Rays impressively mashed eight homers between Monday and Wednesday, allowing the team to take over the major league lead in homers with 58. However, they have shown something over the last 14 days that they hadn’t all season: their luck appears to be changing. Consider this, the team’s BABIP ― the metric largely associated with luck ― jumped from .252 at the onset of the series against Toronto to .283 ― a 31 point increase. Tampa Bay has made hard contact all season, largely to no avail, yet now it appears those balls are falling into play. In short, the home runs are nice, however, dependence upon the long ball is unsustainable. The team looks to be on the cusp of not only mashing, but being able to string hits, and innings, together.
Kevin Cash will throw Matt Andriese (2-0, 0.56 ERA), Drew Smyly (2-4, 3.44 ERA) and Chris Archer (3-4, 4.38 ERA) over the next three days. Brad Ausmus will counter with Anibal Sanchez (3-4, 5.91 ERA), Michael Fulmer (2-1, 6.52 ERA) and Jordan Zimmerman (6-2, 2.45 ERA).
Andriese fanned five and walked none in his second start of the season Saturday against Oakland, after limiting the Angels to one run on four hits over seven innings on May 8. The 26 year-old righty allowed one run in two outings (one inning) against the Tigers last season. Smyly did not have his best stuff on Monday, but he competed and picked up his second win of the season. He has faced his former team just once, allowing four runs in a five-inning no-decision. Archer put together a gritty six inning performance against the Blue Jays en route to his third win of the season on Tuesday. Falling behind batters has been his biggest enemy this season, so look for him to attack the zone on Sunday. He is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four career starts against the Tigers.
Sanchez is winless in his last three outings, relinquishing four runs in each appearance and three homers combined to suffer two losses and a no-decision. The 32-year-old hurler has struggled with control while walking 24 in 42-2/3 innings overall with 39 strikeouts and eight homers allowed. Sanchez is 2-3 (0-1 in 2015) with a 5.08 ERA in seven career starts versus Tampa Bay. He has relied primarily on his 92 mph four seam fastball with good rising action this season, while also mixing in a 92 mph sinker, an 84 mph ground ball coaxing slider, an 84 mph worm burner of a changeup, 89 mph cutter and 78 mph curveball with little depth. Key matchups: Curt Casali (1-2, HR, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (2-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI), Evan Longoria (4-13, 2B, 3B, 2BB), Steven Souza Jr. (1-3, 2B)
Fulmer will make his fifth start filling in for the injured Shane Greene, although this will be his first start at Comerica Park after four road outings. He has yet to pitch into the sixth inning. His repertoire is composed of four pitches: a hard 96 mph sinker that generates grounders, an 89 mph slider, a 96 mph four seam fastball with good rising action and a hard 87 mph fly-ball inducing changeup.
Zimmermann allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits with nine strikeouts over seven innings in a win over the Twinson Monday. He was bailed out by eight runs of support in the first inning and pounded the zone from there on out. Of his 109 total pitches thrown, 84 went for strikes (27 first-pitch strikes) and didn’t allow a walk. Still the Twins managed four extra-base hits, including two home runs. Zimmerman boasts a 93 mph four seam fastball, an 88 mph slider and an 81 mph curveball. He also rarely throws an 86 mph circle changeup and a 93 mph sinker. The 29 year-old righty went 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA against the Rays last season. Key matchups: Curt Casali (2-2, HR, RBI, BB), Corey Dickerson (2-3, 2B, HR, RBI), Kevin Kiermaier (1-4), Steve Pearce (4-9, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB), Steven Souza Jr. (2-3, HR, RBI)
Noteworthiness
― Desmond Jennings’ bat has woken up over the last two games, going 4-9 with two homers and four RBI, raising his average to .188.
― Evan Longoria, batting .379 in his last seven games, has three hits in his last seven at-bats against Sanchez and a .410 average in his past 11 games in Detroit.
― Cameron Maybin is 5-9 with three runs scored, three swiped bags, one RBI and two walks in his first three games of the season with the Tigers since returning from a wrist injury.
― Victor Martinez is 0-12 in his last three games, falling to a .331 average. However, he is batting .357 in 76 career games against the Rays.
― Kinsler is batting .186 with no homers in his last 10 games against Tampa Bay. Martinez is hitting .148 with one homer in his past seven matchups.
― The Rays and Tigers split their six games last season, with Detroit taking two of three at home.