2015 Tampa Bay Rays season

[Tobywan]

Very good pitching duel between Archer and Cosart in Saturday's game, it was tied 0-0 until the 6th when Longoria passed Carl Crawford on the Rays list of extra base hits with a double in the 6th inning bringing Cabrera for the first run of the game. Cosart was lifted after 6 innings.

Beckham's first hit of 2015 was his first home run in the majors which came when he pinch hit in the seventh. He remained in the game at second. Archer pitched through seven, he had thrown 83 pitches, given up just one hit and one walk with a shutout. I know Cash is a first time manager but any pitcher pulled early when not injured or getting lit up irritates the crap out of me. At least they won 2-0.

The game was broadcast only by the Marlins, they do that quite a bit when these two teams play since their broadcasts stations are owned by the same company. When Beckham hit his homer their in-game guy was kind enough to go negotiate with the fan that caught the ball. He had no problem giving it up, the Rays sent him a bat.

[Tobywan]

Today's line-up

Kiermaier RF
DeJesus LF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Jennings CF
Dykstra 1B
Forsythe 2B
Rivera C
Karns P


Karns struggled early in his last outing but settled down and did not allow a hit or a run in his final 3 2/3 innings.

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez pitched to the Rays once last season, went 8 shut out innings with 5 Ks.

Longo is hitting .538 with three home runs and six RBI in 13 career at-bats against Alvarez. Jennings with a .364 average, two home runs and four RBI in 11 career at-bats against him.

[Tobywan]

The game didn't start off well for the Marlins, Marcell Ozuna was late getting to the park so manager Mike Redmond took him out of the line-up and gave the start in center to Ichiro, though he got an RBI.

A three run homer in the 5th by DeJesus put the Rays in the lead for good. He still has a bit of skill in the outfield, he made a diving catch at a crucial moment in the game. Beckham had a pinch hit HR on Saturday and a pinch hit RBI triple on Sunday in the 6th and another RBI in the 9th.

Stanton was uncharacteristically inept in right field through most of the series. Don Kelly broke his finger fielding a ball in the third and Jeff Mathis left the game when the ball got him in the hand off the bat of Beckham in the 8th.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit the first homer for the Marlins this season in the ninth.


Karns went 7 innings giving up 2 hits and 2 runs. Rays won 8-5 taking 2 of 3 for the series win.

The Citrus Series now tied 48-48.



On deck, the Toronto Blue Jays

[Tobywan]

Oops, looks like we damaged the Marlins a bit, Kelly, Mathis and now Henderson Alvarez has gone to the DL, but not sure how serious it is, the MRI was "inconclusive".

We begin four tonight against the Jays, their home opener and begins a 22 game stint playing the AL East.

R.A. Dickey takes the mound for Toronto, Astribibical Cabrera is batting a career .444 against him.

Tonight's line-up

DeJesus DH
Souza Jr. RF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Jennings LF
Dykstra 1B
Rivera C
Kiermaier CF
Beckham 2B


Hopefully, we don't break any birds.

[Tobywan]

Whoops, left off...

Odorizzi P

[Tobywan]

Dykstra gave himself a swollen cheek just under his left eye in batting practice when he bounced a bunt off himself.

Rivera hit by a pitch in 2nd. Dickey had a balk called in the third. Allan Dykstra picked up his first big league hit in the fourth.

Two bases loaded walks in the 4th for a 2-0 Rays lead.

Pillar RBI double in the 5th, making the game 2-1 in Rays favor. Dickey went 6 innings with 2 runs on 3 hits, 5 walks and 6 Ks.

Odorizzi 8 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 3 walks and 3Ks, had a no-hitter going into the 5th. Boxberger closed it out for the 2-1 win.


I don't think I can handle a catcher that can hit AND throw out base runners at a decent clip.

[HollywoodLeo]

Allan Dykstra? I forgot he existed.

[Tobywan]

Allan Dykstra? I forgot he existed.

Yep, he's doing alright so far.





Tonight's line-up

Guyer LF
Souza Jr. RF
Cabrera DH
Longoria 3B
Jennings CF
Forsythe 2B
Rivera 1B
Beckham SS
Wilson C
Matt Andriese P


Andriese is making his first ML start, he pitched an inning in relief on Friday against the Marlins.



Commissioner Rob Manfred is in Toronto, he spoke of the Rays stadium predicament and that the tampering investigation of the Cubs is "still on going".

[Tobywan]

Souza started things off with a homer in the first to center field. Beckham's sac fly sent home Jennings to make it 2-0.

Andriese got into trouble in the 4th, Pillar had an RBI single, after Beckham failed to make a double play putting runners at the corners with one out, Andriese was lifted. Yates came and let up a double to Jose Reyes,
to score Navarro, tying the game, 2-2.

In the 6th, Wilson got whacked in the back on the back swing of Travis. He stayed in the game.

Souza led off the 8th with a bunt , stole second and took third on an error, Longo was walked intentionally. Jennings hit a sac fly to bring in Souza for the 3-2 win.

Souza went 3-for-5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored.

Rays have a four game winning streak.

It might just be me, but Kirby Yates looks like he could be a Civil War reenactor on his off days.

[Tobywan]

Tonight's line-up

Guyer LF
Souza Jr. RF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Jennings DH
Forsythe 1B
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Beckham 2B
Erasmo Ramirez P

[Tobywan]

Rays optioned Kirby Yates and called up Jose Dominguez, he is a cousin of Alex Colome.



Erasmo Ramirez got into an early 5-0 hole giving up 2 run sin the first when Jose Bombtista launched one over the left field wall with Donaldson on base. He loaded the bases with Jays in the 2nd it became 5-0 when Jose Reyes bunted home Smoak and Donaldson hit a 2 run single. Pillar doubled in Navarro, Travis doubled in Pillar making it 7-0 in the third.

Ramirez was lifted in the 4th for Beliveau with 2 on, Smoak drove in 2 more, 9-0. Souza got the Rays on the board in the 5th with a solo home run.

Devon Travis hit a solo in the 5th, 10-1, another RBI double for Donaldson, 11-1.

Jose Dominguez relieved Beliveau in the 5th. Mikie Mahtook pinch hit for Kiermaier in the sixth, with Logan Forsythe on he hit his first ML hit, a home run into center of Mark Buehrle. 11-3.

Pompey led off the 7th with a solo homer, 12-3.

Rays loaded the bases in the 9th, Souza doubled in Rivera and Beckham, 12-5. Then Cabrera grounded out to bring in Guyer, 12-6. Wilson singled in Souza 12-7 and that is how it ended.



Rays lead the series 3-1.

[Tobywan]

Tonight's line-up

DeJesus DH
Souza Jr. RF
Cabrera SS
Longoria 3B
Jennings LF
Dykstra 1B
Forsythe 2B
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Archer P

[Tobywan]

JP. Arencibia released by the O's last week has been signed to a minor league deal with the Rays, he is headed to Durham.


In other news Drew Smyly's rehab stint is going well so far, 2 starts in Charlotte with no pain, he will pitch in Montgomery this weekend.

[Tobywan]

Jose Reyes was holding his side after hitting when he left the game in the first.

Rays loaded the bases in the third, Souza brought in Kiermaier and that was all they got. DeJesus doubled in Kiermaier in the 5th to make it 2-0.

Longo led off the 5th with a double, moved to third on a ground out by Jennings. Jays pulled Sanchez for Loup who gave up a 2 run homer to pinch hitter Beckham (in place of Dykstra) for a score of 4-0. We're getting great production off the bench.

After Encarnacion and Martin were hit. Longoria was hit on the hip to start the 8th and he had to leave the game.

Archer went 7 giving up 2 hits, 2 walks and no runs with 11 Ks.

With 2 on, it appeared that Geltz hit Donaldson, it was challenged, looked like he got out of the way, but it was very close high and in, the call stood. Cash was livid, he was tossed cause you're not suppose to argue a challenge call. Geltz was lifted for Jepsen.

Encarnacion sac fly to bring in Travis. 4-1 Rays. The challenges have not gone our way this season so far. Jepsen did a good job getting out of the inning with limited damage. Boxberger closed it out, but let up a run but the Rays won 4-2. Take 3 of 4 in the series. They finished the road trip 5-2.

Update on Reyes, he strained his oblique, hoping to be in a few days.



On deck

[Tobywan]

Headley 3B

Beltran RF

Teixeira 1B

McCann C

Rodriguez DH

Drew 2B

Young CF

Gregorius SS

Warren P

Kiermaier CF

Souza Jr RF

Cabrera SS

Longoria DH

Jennings LF

Dykstra 1B

Forsythe 3B

Beckham 2B

Wilson C

Karns P