The Tampa Bay Rays returned home Sunday night following a disastrous three-game series in Seattle. They entered Safeco Field two games over .500, and left one game under in a statistical tie for last place in the AL East with the Blue Jays.
Two quotes succinctly summed up the series:
We’ve been beat from the bottom of the first on Friday until now, Rays skipper Kevin Cash said. I guess the only good thing is that we’re getting out of here. They beat us in every facet — outpitched us, outhit us, outdefensed us, outmanaged us. Everything. We need to get back home.
Probably one of the worst trips I’ve personally been a part of, Rays starter Chris Archer said, and it’s going to take some time to catch up.
‘Nuff said.
In better news, a trio of players — C Wilson Ramos (right knee), RHP Brad Boxberger (flexor), and OF Peter Bourjos (tennis elbow) — will either play in their first rehab games, or continue their rehab stint, for the advanced Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs on Monday.
Ramos, signed in the offseason after undergoing surgery for a torn ACL in his right knee, is inching closer to his Rays debut. The catcher is coming off a career year in which he received the Silver Slugger award for his campaign.
Boxberger, plagued by injuries over the past 18 months, is also nearing his 2017 debut. The right-hander only appeared in 27 games last season, after pitching in 132 games over the previous two seasons. The organization hopes he will help stabilize the Rays bullpen.
Bourjos will continue his rehab stint with the Stone Crabs after hitting the disabled list at the end of May.