The Rays certainly aren’t up to snuff yet, offensively speaking that is. But if last night’s 4-2 win against Verlander and Co. is an indication of things to come, the clouds may be parting. It wasn’t only the showing at the plate that had me feeling encouraged, it was the overall performance. Don’t get me wrong, besting Justin Verlander for the second time of the season is rad. Yet there was more to this win than just bashing the ball. The Rays had a Joie de vivre about them last night…some extra pep in their step.
First, David Price looked great. Price gave up two runs (both earned) on five hits while walking one. He, sadly, exited the game in the seventh with lower back tightness, after throwing 78 pitches, 55 of which for strikes (71% strike to ball ratio). Jake McGee came on in the eighth and Fernando Rodney in the ninth in relief of Price. They both preserved his win in dominant fashion, with neither allowing a hit or a walk, while striking out three. “Thanks for all the good wishes…I’ll be fine!! I’ll be back on the mound in 5 days!!!” said Price in a tweet following the game.
The Rays defense also looked stellar…god, it feels good to say that! The “D” was able to turn three crisp double plays behind Price, while Desmond Jennings made two incredible catches in foul territory. One of those plays found him flipping over the wall into the Game 162 party deck.
Ben Zobrist continued to be a monster at the plate, reaching base safely three times on two hits and a walk, including a one run blast to right, in the fourth. If hitting is contagious, then Jennings has caught what Zobrist, Elliot Johnson, and Jeff Keppinger has. Jennings went 2-4, smashing two blasts to section 141 in left-field. That infection will hopefully spread to ‘Los and BJ Upton. Though the Rays went 1-5 with men in scoring position, it was encouraging to see Pena beat out an error in the first, then get moved over to third on a Upton single. Pena was finally driven home on a Luke Scott ground out. It would have been nice to see the Rays drive in Elliot Johnson who was on third with no outs, following a lead-off double and a wild pitch in the seventh. Against Verlander and Octavio Dotel, an extra run would have been huge.
Verlander threw a good game. Yet similar to the Tigers with Price, the Rays were able to pounce on three fastballs that he left in the zone. Subtract those three meatballs, and we’re talking about a different story. Verlander pounded to outside corner with his fastball and changeup, while peppering the zone with his Slider and curve. Verlander was able to induce 17 swinging strikes, primarily on his changeup.
The Rays have two more games against the Tigers in their season series, tonight and tomorrow. Tonight’s game marks the return of three Rays pitchers; Jeremy Hellickson and Kyle Farnsworth from the DL, and Joel Peralta following his eight game suspension. Yes kids, the Rays killer pitching staff just got even better. Good god, think how deadly the back end of the pen will be with McGee, Peralta, Farnsworth, and Rodney.
Tonight, Jeremy Hellickson (4-3, 3.45 ERA) will take the mound against Rick Porcello (5-5, 4.71 ERA). Porcello is 1-1 with a 3.15 ERA in three career starts against the Rays. A fairly dependable pitcher, Porcello has given up four or more earned runs in six of his 15 starts this season. Porcello has given up the lot share of runs and RBI when he’s behind, so the Rays are going to have to get ahead of him early in the count. As a fastball/slider/changeup pitcher, I’d imagine that the Rays would be aggressive early in the count. Here’s to hope that his precautionary stint on the DL has done Helly some good. He’s going to need to put up a David Price-like start tonight.
Rays Starting Lineup 6/30/12
Jennings LF
Pena 1B
Upton CF
Scott DH
Zobrist RF
Conrad 3B
Lobaton C
Johnson SS
Rhymes 2B
Hellickson RHP