2015 Tampa Bay Rays season

[Tobywan]

Roster moves :
Optioned to Durham Mikie Mahtook.
Placed on the DL LHP Jeff Beliveau retroactive to April 16, 2015, left shoulder soreness
Recalled C.J. Riefenhauser and Ryan Brett from Durham Bulls
Signed free agent LHP Andy Oliver to a minor league contract.

[Tobywan]

Rodriguez got things started with a homer (#657) into the upper left center party area of the Trop in the second. Drew hit a solo HR (#100) in the 4th. 2-0 Yanks. Dykstra hit a 3 round shot his first ML home run off the right foul pole 3-2 Rays. Forsythe goes back to back, 4-2 Rays.


Frieri starting the 6th for the Rays with one out and McCann on ARod hit another homer (#658) to left near the foul pole, tied 4-4.

I am not impressed with Frieri so far.

Riefenhauser to the mound for the Rays in the 7th. Jepsen took over in the 8th, Rodriguez breaks the tie with a single to center to bring in Gardner.
Rays had chances in the 9th, but Miller pitched a good ninth.


Yanks take the first game 5-4.

[Tobywan]

Ellsbury CF

Gardner LF

Rodriguez DH

Teixeira 1B

McCann C

Young RF

Headley 3B

Drew SS

Petit 2B

Tanaka P

DeJesus DH

Souza Jr. RF

Cabrera SS

Longoria 3B

Jennings CF

Dykstra 1B

Forsythe 2B

Guyer LF

Rivera C

Odorizzi P

McCann went 5-for-10 against Odorizzi with two home runs, a double, and four RBIs and Teixeira, Gardner and Young all homered off him in 2014.



Tanaka is making his first appearance at Tropicana Field. His one start against the Rays was May 2014, he allowed 3 runs in seven innings, Yanks won 9-3.

[Tobywan]

It was a pitching duel up until the 6th, when Odorizzi let up walks to Gardner and Rodriguez, then McCann shot a rocket to right that bounced off the top of the wall careening to the infield, both runners scored as was able to dig out a triple. Yanks lead 2-0.

Odorizzi was lifted after giving up a single to lead off Chase Headley went 6 innings giving up 2 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks and struck out nine, Riefenhauser in relief. Drew doubled, Gregorio hit a fly to right caught by Souza, throw to the plate was a good effort but Rivera couldn't get his glove off the ground to tag in time. Call was challenged (we're 0-6) but it stood, Headley was clearly safe, 3-0. Ellsbury singled, runners at the corners. Gardner singles, Drew scores, 4-0.
Riefer gives way to Balfour. Rodriguez walks to load the bases and it just goes down hill for the Rays. Teixeira out on a sac fly, Ellsbury scores, 5-0. McCann hit by a pitch and a grand slam to Young, 9-0.

Dominguez took over for Balfour in the 8th, got through unscathed. David Carpenter took over for Tanaka to start the 8th, Tanaka gave up just 2 hits and struck out 8 in 7 IP. Carpenter retired the side. Dominguez retired the side in the 9th. Rays had a chance to keep from getting shut out loading the bases in the 9th, Jennings battled but grounded out to end the game.




Yanks take game two 9-0 for the series, hopefully the Rays can salvage at least one tomorrow.



Grant Balfour was DFA'd after the game, bringing up Brandon Gomes.

[Tobywan]

Ellsbury CF

Gardner LF

Rodriguez DH

Teixeira 1B .

Headley 3B

Drew 2B

Jones RF

Murphy C

Gregorius SS

Pineda P

DeJesus DH

Souza Jr. RF

Cabrera SS

Longoria 3B

Jennings CF

Dykstra 1B

Guyer LF

Beckham 2B

Rivera C

Andriese P

Against Pineda David DeJesus leads the Rays with four hits (in 15 at-bats), while Evan Longoria is 0-for-11 with four strikeouts.

Andriese made his MLB start of his career Tuesday against the Blue Jays, he allowed two runs in 3 2/3 innings of the Rays' 3-2 win

Longoria has a Major League-leading games-played streak of 255, but he's playing with a sore hip.

Rodriguez is looking to gain on Willie Mays on the all-time home run list, Teixeira next homer will place him in sole possession of fifth place on the ML all-time list for switch-hitters.

[Tobywan]

Yanks started the scoring with a sac fly by Teixeira to score Ellsbury in the first. In the Rays half, DeJesus walked and Souza homered 2-1. In the third, Tex brought in Gardner and Headley brought in ARod to give them a 3-2 lead. Yanks got a run in the 4th and 5th making it 5-3, both sides had a few more chances to score but no more runs.

Yankees sweep.


Andriese lasted just 3.1 innings, gave up 4 runs, 8 hits, walked 2 and struck out 2. Pineda went 5.2 with 3 runs on seven hits, one walk and 5 Ks.
With Souza's homer in the first, Rays rookies account for 7 of the team's 13 homers. Teixeira has driven in at least one run in seven of his last nine games.

The last time the Rays were swept at the Trop in a series of three or more games was Sept. 13-15, 2005 and that was of course against the Yankees.

Rays are now 0-7 on challenges.


On deck:

[Tobywan]

RHP Alex Colome sent on a rehab assignment to Durham Bulls.
McGee's rehab has been suspended for the moment due to stiffness.
Loney is likely to have one rehab game before a hopeful weekend return.
Smyly had a good rehab and could be returning Friday.
Beliveau exam showed impingement, will consult with Rays team Dr. Eaton for reading of MRI.




Tonight's line-up:

Betts CF

Pedroia 2B

Ortiz DH

Ramirez LF

Sandoval 3B

Nava 1B

Victorino RF

Holt SS

Hanigan C

Miley P

Guyer LF

Souza RF

Forsythe 1B

Longoria 3B

Jennings CF

Beckham SS

Rivera DH

Brett 2B

Wilson C

Archer P

Archer has allowed three hits while striking out 16 in 14 innings in hi slast two outings. He has kept opponents to .136 against and currrently third in the AL with 21 strikeouts.

Miley has one start at the Trop back in July 2013 when he was a Diamnondback, he went 6 1/3 scoreless innings giving up just 2 hits in 7-0 shutout.

Rivera is 3-for-6 with a double and two RBIs. Forsythe and Longoria have each homered off him.
Kiermaier feeling much better, might get into the line-up at some point tonight, if needed.
Cash wants to give Cabrera a couple days off.


Ryan Brett is making his first MLB start, he got his first ML hit, a double in the ninth during Sunday's loss to the Yanks.
Ortiz is appealing his one game suspension for umpire bumping.

[Tobywan]

Boston led off the scoring in the third, Hanigan singled, Betts walked. Pedroia grounded into a force out, Betts was out but a throwing error by Brett that allowed Hanigan to score and advanced Pedroia to second. 1-0 Sox. Ortiz grounded out to end the threat.

Ryan Brett's had to leave the game when his left shoulder popped out of place in the 3rd. Archer put two on in the sixth and was replaced by Brandon Gomes who got Brock Holt to pop out to end the inning. Archer went 5.2 with seven hits, one run, one walk and 9 Ks.

A challenge of a putout at second on Guyer in the sixth went against the Rays they are 0-8. Miley went on to load the bases and was lifted for Alexi Ogando. Miley pitched 5.2 with 3 hits, 4 walks and 3 strike outs.Desmond Jennings hit a dribbler to short, Longoria out at second to end the 6th.

Ogando faced two batters in the 7th and gave way to Robbie Ross Jr. Cabrera, pinch hitting for Dykstra grounded out to end the inning.

Frieri took over in the 8th starting with a walk to Ortiz, but retired the rest in order. Junichi Tazawa came into the bottom of the 8th, hitting coach Derek Shelton and home plate umpire John Hirschbeck got into a bit of shouting match over pitches thrown to Souza in the inning. If I have any lip reading skills, John told Derek to mind his own business and Derek said, it is my business are you Sh**ing me??

Dominguez took the mound in the 9th for the Rays, he had a runner at third but got out of it. Uehara came on to close it out. Panda bit us by starting a double play to erase a lead off single. Desmond ground out and that's was the ball game.

Brock Holt made two incredible defensive plays that robbed the Rays.

Red Sox take game 1-0. The last time the Red Sox won a 1-0 game with an unearned run was on April 21, 2005, against the Orioles.



Brett is now in a sling and day-to-day.

Celebrity sighting; Bryan Cranston was at the game wearing a Bosox hat behind their dugout.

[Tobywan]

Alex Cobb played catch for the second time with no pain schedule for bullpen session on Friday.
Jeff Beliveau is done for the year, needs labrum surgery.
Ryan Brett on the 15-day DL with left shoulder subluxation.
Rays lead the league with 12 players on the DL.

Jake Elmore has been called up.
Loney is not going to have another rehab start he's already at the Trop




Tonight's line-up:

Betts CF

Pedroia 2B

Ortiz DH

Ramirez LF

Napoli 1B

Sandoval 3B

Victorino RF

Bogaerts SS

Hanigan C

Kelly P

DeJesus DH

Souza RF

Cabrera SS

Longoria 3B

Jennings LF

Dykstra 1B

Forsythe 2B

Kiermaier CF

Rivera C

Karns P

This will be Nathan Karns first start against Boston, against Miami he went 7 nnings with 6 Ks.

Joe Kelly gave up two earned runs or less in both of his first starts.

Mike Napoli is batting .136 but in 19 careers hits at the Trop, 5 were homers.


David DeJesus and Asdrubal Cabrera, only two Rays who have faced Kelly. DeJesus is 3-for-9 and Cabrera is 1-for-3.
KK is back!

[Tobywan]

Souza starts it off for the Rays solo homer in the first. The Sox got moving in the third, Betts walked, then Pedroia homered to take a 2-1 lead. In the same inning Ramirez walked, Napoli singled to center, Hanley even with a little meat on him chugged all the way home, the throw off line, Napoli went to second, thenPanda grounded out to end the inning. Red Sox lead 3-1.

Shane Victorino left the game in the fourth when he stole second base in the fourth inning, with tightness in his right hamstring. In the fifth, Papi hit a solo HR to make it 4-1. Hanigan doubled in the 6th, Betts singled to bring him in, 5-1 in the Sox favor.

The Rays were finally able to get to Kelly in the sixth, Cabrera, Longoria, Jennings singled in a row to load the bases. Then Dykstra singled to bring in Cabrera. 5-2. Dykstra lifted for pinch runner Jake Elmore.Bases still loaded, Forsythe walked, 5-3. Kelly was lifted for Criag Breslow. Guyer pinch hitting for Kiermaier singled to center to score Jennings and Elmore, tying the game 5 all. Mujica took over for Breslow to get the last out of the inning, Souza.

Souza Jr. was replaced in the field for the 7th after he got a cramp after batting, after the game he seemed fine. That's all the Rays need, one more on the DL. With the homer in the first Souza set a new franchise record for homers by a rookie in April.


Boxberger replaced Karns to start the 7th and struck out the side. Mujica gave up back to back singles to Cabrera and Longoria. Jennings groundout with Cabrera scoring to take the 6-5 lead. Then Jake Elmore working off of call up adrenaline hit a solo to make it 7-5. That would be the end of the scoring, Rays take second game 7-5.

The Rays made a challenge in the eighth on a 5-3-5 double play, once again the call was upheld, now 0-9.

Kelly went 5 innings giving up 5 runs on 8 hits, one walk while striking out 7. Karns went 6, with 5 runs on seven hits, three walks and gave up 2 Ks.

Elmore became the 11th player in franchise history to homer in his first at-bat with the team. The last player was Ryan Roberts on July 25, 2012 and manager Kevin Cash did it in 2005.

David Ortiz passed Chipper Jones moving into 32nd place on the all-time homer list (with 469) and Joe DiMaggio into 46th place on the RBI list (with 1,538). When asked about it by Rays' reporters he complimented them on talking about something positive instead of focusing on the umpire bump thing. I guess down here we're all about those stats, 'bout those stats, no trouble!

[Tobywan]

C.J. Riefenhauser was sent to the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19th with left shoulder inflammation. We now have no lefty in the pen.
I guess Loney was just here to see the doctor they sent him on rehab assignment to the Charlotte Stone Crabs.
Mikie Mahtook was recalled from Durham.



Tonight's line-up:

Betts CF

Pedroia 2B

Ortiz DH

Sandoval 3B

Napoli 1B

Nava RF

Craig LF

Bogaerts SS

Leon C

Buchholz P

DeJesus DH

Souza Jr. RF

Cabrera SS

Longoria 3B

Jennings LF

Dykstra 1B

Forsythe 2B

Kiermaier CF

Rivera C

Jake Odorizzi P

In 2014 Odorizzi posted a 2.62 ERA in 17 starts at the Trop compared with a 6.42 in 14 road starts, the largest differential in the ML. AGanst Boston he is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA.

Buchholz is 5-3 with a 1.95 ERA in 10 starts at Tropicana and overall against the Rays, he is 8-6 with a 2.45 ERA in 18 starts.


Asdrubal Cabrera is hitting .444 against Buchholz in nine career at-bats with two home runs and two RBIs. David Ortiz against Odorizzi is 1-for-10.

[Tobywan]

Red Sox start it off, Nava hits a sac fly to score Sandaval in the 2nd. 1-0 Sox
Longo on with a double , Dykstra HBP, Forsythe grounds out, Longo scores. Tied 1-1.

Lots of chances for both teams Kiermaier laid out on the turf to end a threat in the 5th. The game remained tied.

In the Rays ninth, Dykstra singled, Beckham pinch ran. Kiermaier singled, runners at first and second.Rivera with a walk off single to score Beckham for the 2-1 win.

Rays won the series also 2-1.

Buchholz went 6 innings gave up 1 run on 2 hits, 3 walks and struck out 10.
Odorizzi pitched 6.2 with one run on 3 hits, three walks and had three Ks.
Boxberger got the W and Vararo the L.


Boston went 1-for-23 with runners in scoring position in the series.
The Rays are hitting .078 with RISP in the last seven games.


On deck:

[Tobywan]

Smyly and Loney have been activated. Mikie Mahtook and Allan Dykstra were optioned to Durham.


Tonight's line-up:

Reyes SS

Travis 2B

Donaldson DH

Encarnacion 1B

Valencia 3B

Pillar RF

Tolleson LF

Pompey CF

Thole C

Dickey P

DeJesus DH

Guyer LF

Cabrera SS

Longoria 3B

Loney 1B

Jennings CF

Forsythe 2B

Kiermaier RF

Rivera C

Smyly P

Smyly has only started against the Jays once, August 22, 2014 where he threw the first complete game of his career with a two-hit shutout in his fourth start a Ray.

Dickey has gone deeper into a game than any other of the 2015 staff, he completed seven innings in his last start, he is 0-1 in four starts with a 3.26 ERA with 16 Ks and 12 walks in 19.2 IP

Thole was recalled from Buffalo to replace the injured Dioner Navarro, Thole had been R.A.'s personal catcher the last two seasons.

On April 16th, last time they met tempers flared a little bit after hit batters, Teams always say no hard feelings and they just need to win. In lieu of what happened last night in Chicago, umps will need to keep an eye on tensions.

[Tobywan]

Toronto got the scoring started when Devon Travis homered in the fourth. Smyly struggled gave up three straight singles allowing Josh Donaldson to score, for a 2-0 lead. In the Rays half, Longoria doubled, then Loney homered to tie. The Rays weren't done, with Forsythe on , Rivera homered for a 4-2 lead.

To lead off the bottom of the fifth, Guyer was hit by a pitch, Cabrera tripled to send Guyer home. Longoria hit a sac fly sending Cabrera to the plate. Loney doubled, Jennings singled. Forsythe ground into a force, Loney scored, Jennings was out at second. Kiermaier sent a blooper to center but Tolleson got crossed with Pompey for an error. Forsythe scores and Kiermaier was able to come all the way around and score, making it 9-2 by the end of the inning.

In the Rays seventh, Jennings hit a double, Kiermaier singled to bring him in, then Beckham launched a 2 run homer making it 12-2. in the top of ninth, Smoak hit a home run off Andriese and that would be all the scoring.

Rays take the first game 12-3.

Dickey went 4.2 innings giving up 8 runs (7 earned) on 9 hits, one walk and struck out none.
Smyly went 4.2 giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, no walks and struck out five. He retired the first 10 hitters before the homer, so a good start back.
Dominguez was the winning pitcher pitching 1.1 with one walk and 2 Ks. He was optioned back to the Bulls after the game.
Andriese got his first career save.

Travis' home run was his fifth of the year, moving him into a tie with Doug Ault (1977) for the second most by a Blue Jays rookie in April. Carlos Delgado holds the franchise record with eight home runs in April of 1994.

The Blue Jays defense didn't look like the same bunch from last week, they were stumbling and fumbling. Poor Steve Tolleson was DFA'd after the game after his bad miscue in the outfield. Might be me but it seems the mangers are a bit harsh this season. Cash shoved off Balfour for a bad inning, now Gibbons banishes Tolleson for an error.

[Tobywan]

Allan Dykstra was designated for assignment. I think our new manager will be known as Cutthroat Cash.
Rays selected the contract of Everett Teaford from the Durham Bulls.


Tonight's line-up:

Reyes SS

Travis 2B

Donaldson 3B

Encarnacion DH

Smoak 1B

Martin C

Saunders RF

Pillar CF

Pompey LF

Norris P

Guyer LF

Souza Jr. RF

Cabrera SS

Longoria 3B

Jennings CF

Forsythe 1B

Beckham, DH

Elmore 2B

Wilson C

Ramirez P

Norris told the press he had a "dead-arm phase" , but tests have shown no problems.
Saunders will make his Blue Jays debut tonight after being activated from the 15-day disabled list.
Travis has a team-leading five home runs and 16 RBIs and he has eight hits in 19 at-bats against Rays pitching on the season, with a double, two home runs and five RBIs.
Rays' bullpen has allowed just two earned runs and seven hits in 18 2/3 innings with 17 strikeouts in the last five games.
Ramirez is 0-1 with a 21.32 ERA, he had a rough outing against the Jays last week, eight earned runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings at Rogers Center.