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Re: 2015 Tampa Bay Rays season
Well, it has certainly been an interesting season so far. What has been reminiscent of years has been the large amount of injuries, (18 Rays have served 20 stints on the DL) but the glaring difference is that for the most part the Rays have had enough depth to stay at or near the top of the division for the majority of the first half.
When Alex Cobb considered to be the main candidate to take the "ace" torch from the departing David Price went down for the season with elbow surgery the youngster of the staff took up the mantle to lead the team with 9-6 record and 2.74 ERA, 147 strikeouts, .210 opponents' average. The rotation also lost Drew Smyly for most of the season and Jake Odorizzi for a month, who came back strong in his first outing since coming off the DL. Matt Moore just recently got back, he had a better outing his last game, but the verdict is still out on just how well he will bounce back.
Another pitcher that has stepped up after a very rough start is Erasmo Ramirez, he is 8-2, 2.07 in 18 games overall, 8-2, 2.10 in 11 starts, matching Pittsburgh's Gerrit Cole for most wins in that span, yielding one or no runs eight times.
Brad Boxberger has sort of made himself the closer with 21 saves in 23 chances.
Injuries have plagued the position players as well, losing John Jaso, James Loney and Desmond Jennings. A nice surprise has been Logan Forsythe, a good solid glove and providing some offense in a club that has been hurting in that department. Entering play on Saturday he was ranked second on the team in homers (nine) and RBIs (35). While Evan Longoria hasn't shown a lot of home run power this season, he has still been one of the most productive in the line-up and has 10 game-winning RBIs, second in the AL. Two other surprises though their offense seemed to slow down considerably the last few weeks are Joey Butler and Steven Souza Jr.
Probably the most disappointing was Grant Balfour, it is unclear just how much of an impact the death of his father had on his poor performance as he had ended the 2014 season on a high note. Still, it is a business, the team end up paying him $7M to not play, something also reminiscent of years gone by for the Rays. Nick Franklin would be a close second, he was touted to have upside to make everyone feel better about the David Price trade.He has either been injured or non-productive. Offensively, Asdrubal Cabrera and Rene Rivera have been disappointments, but Cabrera has more than made up for his lack of offense with his stability in the field, the same with Rivera, the Rays have never had an offensive juggernaut at the catching position so how much of a let down is really to not have one now?
Since coming back from injury, Loney has provided his usual defense at first base, Jaso has come back hot giving a much needed offensive boost. Tim Beckham was showing signs of why the Rays "wasted" so many seasons on his development, he is back now it remains to be seen if he continues.
For now we enjoy the All-Star break and hope the time off will not curb the sweep enjoyed the last weekend.
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Re: 2015 Tampa Bay Rays season
Incidentals: With the deadline looming on signing draft picks, the Rays came to terms with their second-round draft pick C Chris Betts for $1,485,000, about $325,00 his slot value. Steven Souza Jr. is working out with the Charlotte Stone Crabs, will DH on Saturday and play the field on Sunday with a target date of joining the Rays on Tuesday in Philadelphia. Desmond Jennings will also start working out with the Crabs on Sat, no time table on him yet. Top draft pick OF Garrett Whitley was 0-for-5 in his first two pro games for the Gulf Coast League team and was hit by a pitch in his last at-bat but was not injured.
Nineteen players and all pitchers (except Archer) showed up for a voluntary workout at Rogers Centre on Thursday night. The first game after the All-Star break. Rays are 46-45 , in second place, 3.5 games back of the Yankees in the AL East. Blue Jays are 45-46, in fourth place, 4.5 games back. Just 6.5 games separate the division. The Jays have a losing record this season only one division rival and that is the Tampa Bay Rays with 3-7, but that could change starting tonight. The Rays took three of four in Toronto on April 13-16.
Tonight's line-up:
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| Jaso DH |
| Sizemore RF |
| Longoria 3B |
| Loney 1B |
| Forsythe 2B |
| DeJesus LF |
| Elmore SS |
| Kiermaier CF |
| Rivera C |
| Odorizzi P |
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| Reyes SS |
| Donaldson 3B |
| Bautista RF |
| Encarnacion DH |
| Smoak 1B |
| Martin C |
| Colabello LF |
| Pillar CF |
| Travis 2B |
| Hutchison P |
| |
Jake Odorizzi (5-5, 2.30 ERA) gave up one run and two hits in eight innings April 13 to earn a 2-1 win over the Blue Jays, improving to 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA in four matchups. Jose Bautista is hitless in nine at-bats against him, Edwin Encarnacion is 1 for 8, Jose Reyes 1 for 10 and Josh Donaldson is 0 for 5. He lasted 5.2 innings last Saturday during a 3-0 win during a sweep of the Houston Astros.
Drew Hutchison (8-2, 5.33 ERA) has a 2.12 ERA at home compared to a road ERA of 8.81. Kiermaier is 4 for 7 against Toronto starter Drew Hutchison (8-2, 5.33) while Longoria is 1 for 13.
Toronto's third baseman Josh Donaldson was a starter in the All-Star game, he has batted .302 with five home runs and 23 RBIs in 40 divisional contests, including a .333 (12-for 36) clip against the Rays.
Evan Longoria has had a lot of success against the Jays batting .304 (137-for-451) with 19 home runs and 87 RBIs in 124 career games.
With Asrubal Cabrera out with an injured hammy, the plan is to have Beckham and Jake Elmore plattoon the SS position.
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Hall of Famer
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Re: 2015 Tampa Bay Rays season
There were Guerreros in the house, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., age 16, took BP with the Jays before the game. He signed with the Jays earlier in the month, dad and Uncle Wilton were also on hand.
Things started out alright, Rays got on the board first when Sizemore homered in the third.
In the fourth, Smoak doubled, Martin singled, Colabello hit a sac fly to score Smoak, game tied.
In the fifth, Travis singled, Donaldson homered, to give the Jays a 3-1 lead, Bautista walked, Encarnación doubled, Smoak homered, now 6-1. Colomé relieved Odorizzi to get out of the inning.
In the sixth, Longoria doubled, Loney grounded out, Longo to third, Forsythe single, Longo scored, 6-2.
The bull pens allowed no more runs, Jays take the first game of the series.
Odorizzi went 4.1 innings, giving up all six tuns on six hits, five walks (matching his career high) and struck out just one for the loss.
Hitchison went six, gave up two runs on five hits, two walks and struck out three for the win.
It's the 19th time this season Toronto has scored at least five runs in a single inning. No other major league team has done it more than 12 times.
Josh Donaldson's homer put him in the team lead with 22 and his RBI total of 62, ties him with Yankee Mark Teixeira for the AL lead.
Catch of the day came in the seventh when Kiermaier made a leaping catch to retire Donaldson in the seventh.
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Hall of Famer
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Re: 2015 Tampa Bay Rays season
Rays got things started in the third, Beckham walked, went to second on a balk, Casali ground out moving him to third, Jaso hit a (ground rule) double to give the Rays a 1-0 lead.
In the fifth, Pillar doubled, Carrera ground out, Pillar to third, Travis doubled, Pillar scored for the tie. Reyes fouled out, Geltz relieved Ramírez (infuriating). Donaldson flied out to end the inning.
In the 6th, Bautista led off with a homer to left, Jays take the lead 2-1.
In the seventh, Loup now pitching in relief of Dickey, Guyer homered to left for the tie.
Jepsen retired the side in the 7th.
Tepera pitching for the Jays in the 8th, Casali led off with a homer to left, 3-2 Rays.
Jays had a chance to score off Boxberger in the 8th, but he managed to wiggle out.
Rays had a chance to insure the lead and failed.
McGee retired the side in the 9th to preserve the win.
Erasmo Ramirez went 4.2 innings giving up one run on four hits, no walks and struck out 4 for a no-decision, Jepsen picked up the win.
R.A. Dickey went 6 giving up one run on four hits, one walk and struck out four for a no decision. Tapera took the loss.
The Rays managed to survived Captain Kevin Hook, not sure how that new style will play out through the season. The Rays got rare offense by rare players.
Play of the game was in the fifth inning, Tim Beckham as on second, John Jaso hit a single to center, Kevin Pillar threw a bullet to home, Martin snagged it and was able to tag Beckham saving a run. It was reviewed, but the call stood.
Jose Bautista's homer snapped a streak fo 14.1 scoreless innings streak by Rays relievers.
The win snapped the Rays five-game road losing streak.
Series is tied 1-1.
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Re: 2015 Tampa Bay Rays season
The game started as the expected pitcher's dual, until the fifth inning, Smoak singled, Colabello homered to left, giving the Jays a 2-0 lead.
The game remained there until the bottom of the eighth, Brandon Gomes taking over for Archer walked Donaldson, Bautista homered to extended the Jays lead 4-0.
Roberto Osuna took over in the ninth for Estrada, Kiermaier led off with a double, but the rest of the Rays went down in order.
Jays take the final game and the series.
Chris Archer went seven innings giving up 2 runs on five hits, one walk with six Ks for the loss.
Marco Estrada went 8 scoreless innings, giving up three hits, no walks with 5 Ks for the win. He has not allowed the Rays to have a run in 21 innings.
The Rays best chance to score came in the third, when Beckham reached third but was picked off by former Rays catcher Dioner Navarro to end the inning.
The Rays and Jays are now tied at 47-47 in third place now 4.5 games back. Jays are off Monday.
On Deck:
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Re: 2015 Tampa Bay Rays season
This isn't the first trip back to Philly for the Rays since their bittersweet loss in the World Series, but it always beings the memories to the forefront. Most glaring in the memories for the players of course was the loss, but also the weather and treatment they received. Due to the one suspended game they were without hotel accommodations for the longer stay and had to stay in Delaware .While we all know the rivalries can be nasty and brutal , the tales told by the players, staff and families about the Philly fans seems downright foul. Reportedly, there was a hordes of fans waiting for their bus , banging on the sides and giving them the number one salute. Wives and children were taunted mercilessly and when they complained to uniformed officers present for security they were laughed at or dismissed, making the experience even less enjoyable.
There are only five players between the two teams that played in the 2008 WS, Cole Hamels, Carlos Ruiz, Chase Utley (though he was on the DL) and Ryan Howard for the Phils and just Evan Longoria on the Rays.The Rays have a 15-11 advantage in the all-time series and this will be the first time the two teams have played since June 24, 2012.
Tonight's line-up:
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| Sizemore RF |
| Forsythe 2B |
| Longoria 3B |
| Loney 1B |
| DeJesus LF |
| Beckham SS |
| Kiermaier CF |
| Casali C |
| Moore P |
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| Hernandez 2B |
| Revere LF |
| Franco 3B |
| Francoeur RF |
| Ruf 1B |
| Galvis SS |
| Herrera CF |
| Rupp C |
| Buchanan P |
| |
Matt Moore is 1-0 with a 7.07 ERA in 14 innings, and hasn't gone longer than five innings in a start.
David Buchanan (0-5, 7.58 ERA) in six starts. He has limited lefties to a .243 batting average and a .327 slugging percentage compared to righties batting .306 and slugging .494 against him.
The Phillies are 4-6 vs. American League opponents this year, the Rays 6-3 in Interleague Play this season.
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Re: 2015 Tampa Bay Rays season
The Rays were off to a good start, in the second, Kiermaier led off with a double, Moore bunted him to third, Sizemore walked, Forsythe doubled in both runs, Rays lead 2-0.
In the Phillies half, Francoeur and Ruf walked, Herrera reached on a bunt single to load the bases, Francoeur scored and runners moved up on a wild pitch. Buchanan walked to reload, Hernandez doubled in Ruf and Herrera Phillies take a 3-2 lead.
In the fifth, Hernandez tripled, Colome relieved Moore, Franco singled, Hernandez scored. Francoeur reached on infield single, Franco to third on a an error by Loney, Ruf singled, Franco scored, Francoeur cut down at the plate in a now more rare collision play. Phillies up 5-2.
In the seventh, Kiermaier tripled, Guyer (pinch hitting) singled, KK scored, 5-3.
Rays had a base runner in the 8th left stranded, no more scoring, Phillies take first game.
Matt Moore went 4.2 innings giving up four runs on five hits, three walks with three Ks for the loss.
David Buchanan went 6.1 innings gave up three runs on six hits, three walks with four Ks for the win, snapping a winless stretch of 15 starts and rewarded with a ticket to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Jonathan Papelbon collected his 16th save, but was again booed after his critical comments about Phillies management made during the break.
The Rays have lost 10 of their last 12 road games after having one of the best road records in the league.
Drew Smyly will pitch a simulated game on Tuesday in Charlotte.
To make room for the activation of Steven Souza Jr., Grady Sizemore was optioned to Durham.
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Re: 2015 Tampa Bay Rays season
Not a lot of offense from either team, the one sole run came from the batting practice champ from the other day, Nathan Karns led off the third hitting the first pitch he saw out into the left field stands.
Both teams had a few opportunities with runners on, but it would end 1-0 to tie the series 1-1.
Karns went five scoreless innings, giving up three hits including one to the other hurler, Aaron Nola ( he was erased later on a double play). Karns walked two and struck out 4 for the win. According to pitching coach Jim Hickey and several players say Karns was a bit under the weather. It was just the sixth time in baseball history that an American League pitcher homered in a 1-0 game. Before Tuesday, the last time was April 18, 1962, when Milt Pappas did it for Baltimore in a win over the Yankees. It was also the first by an AL pitcher since Zach Britton in 2011. Karns says he hadn't hit a home run since high school. Brad Boxberger earned his 24th save in 26 opportunities.
Nola went six innings in his debut giving the one run on five hits, walked one and struck out six, but took the loss. He was the seventh overall selection by the Phillies in the 2014 draft, making him the first Philadelphia player since Pat Combs in 1989 to appear in the big leagues a year after being drafted.
Evan Longoria and James Loney both went 0 for 4, Longo is is now 1 for his last 23, Loney is 3 for his last 30.
Kevin Kiermaier has been named the Rays' 2015 Heart and Hustle Award winner. The overall winner of the league will be announced on November 10, 2015.
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Re: 2015 Tampa Bay Rays season
Phillies got off to a quick start, Revere led off the first with a single, Gavis doubled, Hernandez walked to load the bases. Howard grounded into a double play, Revere scored, Hernández out at second, Galvis to third. Blanco reached on infield single, Galvis scored, Phillies up 2-0.
In the fifth, Guyer was hit by a pitch, Longoria double, Guyer scored, Forsythe doubled, Longo to the plate. De Fratus relieved Morgan, Forsythe went to third on a wild pitch. DeJesus (pinch hitting for Butler) walked Loney hitting for Beckham, singled scoring Forsythe. Rays take a 3-2 lead.
In the sixth, Brandon Gomes pitching for Tampa Bay, Brown singled, Ruiz sacrificed, Brown to second, Asche doubled, Brown scored. Ruf hiting for De Fratus, singled. Cedeño relieved Gomes, Revere safe on an error, Asche scored. Phillies up 4-3.
In the seventh, Jake Diekman pitching for Philadelphia, Forsythe led off with a homer to tie the game again 4-4.
Game went into extra innings, Brad Boxberger pitching for Rays in the 10th, Brown singled, Ruiz sacrificed to move the runner, Herrera hitting for Papelbon singled to bring in brown for the 5-4 win and the series.
Odorizzi went five innings giving up two runs on five hits, two walks and struck out five, Boxberger took the loss. Boxberger's 31 pitches were one shy of his season high, and his 1.2 IP were his most since August 12, 2014 at Texas.
Morgan went 4.1 giving up three runs on none hits, no walks and struck out three, Papelbon got the win.
Brandon Guyer led off the third inning for Tampa Bay with a first-pitch blooper down the right-field line. On the field, first-base umpire Gabe Morales ruled the ball foul, but upon further review the ball actually kicked up some chalk, landing in fair territory. The call was overturned and Guyer was granted a single. The review lasted two-minutes and 13 seconds. Phillies starting pitcher Adam Morgan picked Guyer off at second base two batters later.
The Phillies appeared to take a 5-4 lead in the eighth but a video review changed the call. Freddy Galvis hit a bouncer to first baseman Loney with one out and the bases loaded. Loney stepped on the bag and threw home. Cody Asche seemed to slide under catcher Rene Rivera's tag and plate umpire Chris Conroy called him safe. But the Rays challenged and it was overturned after a video review that lasted 3:42.
Evan Longoria snapped an 0-for-18 slump with an RBI double in the fifth. The Rays committed three errors.
Rays drop to fourth in the division 5.5 games back, Phillies still have the worst record in the majors.
Rays have day off tomorrow. On Deck:
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Re: 2015 Tampa Bay Rays season
Game was scoreless until the 4th, Machado led off with a single, Davis doubled him in to put the O's up 1-0.
In the top of the 8th Machado was hit by a pitch and few words exchanged, benches were warned (since Beckham had been hit in the seventh), Machado was erased on a fielder's choice.
In the 8th, KK walked, O'Day relieved Tillman, KK stole second, Jaso singled, KK scored making it 1-1. Longo singled, Jaso to third, Loney intentionally walked to load the bases for Beckham. A line drive scored Jaso and Longo, Loney was out on a throw to third, but Rays take the lead 3-1, that would be the final score.
Tillman seven scoreless gave up two hits, three walks struck out four. O'Day took the loss.
Archer went six, gave up one run on five hits, two walks struck out 9. Colome took the win.
McGee extended his string of scoreless appearances to 21.
Rays take first game of the series.
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