2015 Tampa Bay Rays season

[Tobywan]

Houston got things started in the first when Correa homered to left giving them a 1-0 lead.


Though there were few chances to score it wasn't until the seventh that the Rays would get on the board. Forsythe led off with a single then stole second, Beckham tripled him home. Loney hot a sac fly scoring Beckham. Ray take a 2-1 lead.

In the ninth, Brad Boxberger pitching for Tampa Bay 9in relief of Colome, Lowrie led off with a double then went to third on a wild pitch, Gattis singled Lowrie scored to tie the game.

In extra innings, Brandon Gomes held the Astros off for two innings, Andriese took over in the 12th, then in the 13th, Rasmus walked, Altuve singled, Rasmus to third. Altuve stole second. Correa singled to score Rasmus for a back to back walk off 3-2 victory for the Astros.


They take the third game land lead the series 2-1. The Rays have lost five of their last six games and now 2-10 in extra inning games this season.


Karns went six innings giving up just one run on six hits, one walk and struck out 8 taking a no-decision. Boxberger blew the save and Andriese took the loss.



Keuchel went seven giving up two runs on seven hits, one walk and struck out five, also a no-decision. Fields took the win. Though he didn't get the win, Keuchel remains unbeaten at home.



The Astros went 3-for-3 in challenge plays in the game all three being overturned in the Astros favor.




Injury report, Jake McGee was complaining of a sore knee after his outing on Tuesday night, he was sent home and will see a doctor on Thursday morning,
Astros Carlos Gomez was out of the line up with a cough and flu-like ailments.

[Tobywan]

Injury update: Jake McGee will miss 6-8 weeks after being diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his left knee,will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Friday. It is very unlikely he will return later this season.

Enny Romero was recalled to take his spot.



Tonight's line-up:

Jaso DH

Sizemore RF

Longoria 3B

Loney 1B

Forsythe 2B

Cabrera SS

Jennings LF

Kiermaier CF

Rivera C

Archer P

Altuve 2B

Gonzalez 1B

Correa SS

Rasmus RF

Gomez CF

Gattis DH

Valbuena 3B

Tucker LF

Castro C

McHugh P

Chris Archer (10-9, 2.93) allowed eight runs on 11 hits going 5 1/3 innings in a 12-4 loss to Texas during his last start.

Collin McHugh (13-6, 4.09) has a 2.99 ERA In his last 11 starts, got a no-decision in his last outing when he gave up one run on four hits in seven innings in a 4-2 loss to Detroit. That run was awarded after a challenge play was overturned on review. Opposing hitters are batting just .244 and he has 61 strikeouts during those 11 starts.

Brandon Guyer lead off double yesterday, he has reached base safely in 11 straight games with a seven-game hitting streak.


Carlos Gomez is back in the line-up after being held out due to illness.

[Tobywan]

A good pitcher's duel last night.


The first score coming in the fourth when Forsythe singled then went to second on a wild pitch, Jennings singled him home giving the Rays a 1-0 lead.

Up to the fifth, Archer had just given up a walk in the first to lead off hitter Altuve, in the bottom of the fifth, Rasmus led off with a single for the first Astros hit of the game, but they could not score.

Both teams were limited to just a couple of baserunners for the rest of the game.

In a rare turn of events for this season, Archer pitched a complete game one hit shut out. It was the first CG of the season for the Rays. He struck out eleven and gave up just the one walk, for his third career shutout and second against the Astros. It ended a streak of 154 games without one for the Rays, which was longest span in the AL. Their last one came when Drew Smyly did it against the Blue Jays on August 22, 2014. It was the ninth start this year Archer hadn't allowed a run, which tops the AL. Archer reached the 200-strikeout mark for the first time in his career when he struck out Altuve in the fourth. He ended the night with 205, joining Scott Kazmir, David Price and James Shields as the only pitchers in franchise history with 200 Ks in the a season. He also became the fifth pitcher in the Wild Card era to strike out 11 or more batters on fewer than 100 pitches in a nine-inning complete game.

McHugh went seven innings giving up just the one run on five hits, two walks with five Ks, for his second straight loss.He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 11 of his last 12 outings, going 7-4 with a 2.84 ERA in that span. McHugh also made the catch and the defensive plays of the game. He reached behind his back to snag a James Loney grounder to start the fourth and he ended the inning by tripping while he was throwing a pitch, a soft toss that Kevin Kiermaier slapped back to the mound for the third out.


After going 6-for-13 when he first returned from the DL, he was 0-for-7 before entering Thursday night's game, he snapped the skid with two singles, one brought in the only run of the game.

In post game interview Archer made a back handed comment about the pitchers not going long in games stating he hoped this showed they could do and maybe they would be allowed to have longer outings.

Houston now holds a 2 1/2-game lead over Los Angeles and a four-game lead over Texas in the AL West. Rays are three games back in the WC race.



On Deck:

[Tobywan]

Tonight's line-up:

Jaso DH

Sizemore RF

Longoria 3B

Loney 1B

Forsythe 2B

Cabrera SS

Jennings LF

Kiermaier CF

Casali C

Smyly P

Burns CF

Canha 1B

Valencia 3B

Phegley C

Smolinski RF

Lawrie 2B

Butler DH

Crisp LF

Semien SS

Bassitt P

Drew Smyly (0-2, 4.35 ERA) will be making his second start since coming back from the DL. He allowed seven hits and five runs in just four innings in his last start, a 5-3 loss to Texas.He hasn't thrown 100 or more pitches in any of his four starts this year, but his pitch total has increased every start.


Chris Bassitt (1-4, 2.60 ERA) has tossed at least six innings and allowed six hits or fewer in each of his past five starts. Since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville on July 25, he has the seventh-best ERA (2.34) in the American League.


The Rays have not won a season series against the A's since 2010. Oakland is 9-4 in its past 13 games against Tampa Bay.

[Tobywan]

Tampa Bay got the scoring started in the second, Forsythe hit by pitch, to second on wild pitch, Jennings singled Forsythe home, 1-0


It remained 1-0 though there were chances including a bases loaded situation in the 5th for the Rays and one in the 6th for the A's. In the ninth, Evan Scribner pitching for Oakland, Jennings homered to left, Rays take a 2-1 lead.

Bottom of the ninth, Brad Boxberger pitching for Tampa Bay, Lawrie reached on infield single, Vogt (was a pinch hitter for Butler in the 6th) singled, Fuld pinch running for Vogt. A wild pitch advanced the runners. Crisp singled with a bloop that fell between Cabrera and Kiermaier, Lawrie scored. Fuld went to third on the throwing error by Kiermaier, Crisp stole second. Boxberger struck out Semien and got Burns to fly out for the save.


Smyly went 5.2 innings giving up no runs on six hits, no waks and struck out two for the win, his first since Aug. 27, 2014. Brad Boxberger got his 30th save putting him in the company of Roberto Hernandez, Dany Baez, Rafael Soriano and Fernando Rodney with 30+ save sin a season in a Rays uniform.


Bassitt also pitched well going 6.2 innings giving up one run on six hits, two walks with three strike outs for the loss.

Desmond Jennings was again the hero bringing in both runs including a home run in the 9th. Jennings is 10-for-28 (.357) since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 14, and Cabrera, who singled and walked, is batting .407 in 21 games since returning from the DL on July 28.

The A's unsuccessfully challenged a ruling at first base in the top of the fifth inning. The safe call on Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, who singled a sharp ground ball to Bassitt, stood as called.


Brett Lawrie returned to the lineup after missing two days with a strained lat and Coco Crisp went 2-for-4 after also sitting out two games.

Rays take game one of the three game set.

[Tobywan]

Jose Dominguez who was DFA'd on Sunday, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Durham .



Tonight's line-up:

Jaso DH

Sizemore RF

Longoria 3B

Loney 1B

Forsythe 2B

Cabrera SS

Jennings LF

Kiermaier CF

Casali C

Ramirez P

Burns CF

Crisp LF

Reddick RF

Canha 1B

Vogt DH

Lawrie 3B

Phegley C

Sogard 2B

Semien SS

Gray P

Erasmo Ramirez (10-4, 3.57) has lost in his last five starts against Oakland and is 0-6 in eight career appearances with a 5.26 ERA against them. He is coming off a win over the Astros in which he yielded two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.



Sonny Gray (12-5, 2.04) has two shutouts and three complete games over his previous eight starts, his ERA is leading the AL. He is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in four career starts against Tampa Bay.

[Tobywan]

The Rays would get things started in the second when Forsythe homered to left, 1-0.


In the Oakland half, Lawrie reached on infield single, Phegley doubled, Lawrie scored, game tied 1-1.


In the third, Jaso homered to right, Rays retake the lead 2-1.



In the sixth, Canha homered to center, tied 2-2. Lawrie doubled, Phegley homered to left, A's take a 4-2 lead.



In the seventh, Cabrera homered to center cutting the lead 4-3.

In the ninth, Pat Venditte pitching for Oakland, Nava (substituted in the bottom of the 6th for the ejected James Loney)walked, Beckham pinch running, Forsythe doubled, Beckham to third. Pomeranz relieved Venditte. Cabrera doubled, Beckham and Forsythe score, Rays retake a 5-4 lead.

Alex Colome pitched a perfect 8 and came back out for the ninth, perfect again to earn the win. Ramirez went seven innings giving up four runs on eight hits, two walks with four Ks.


Gray went eight giving up three runs on five hits (three were homers a career high), two walks with four Ks for a no-decision, Venditte took the loss.


James Loney was called out on strikes to end the top of the sixth, he tossed his bat and helmet and cussed himself out and was ejected by home plate umpire Paul Nauert. Loney went off, bumped the umpire slightly before being restrained by Cash, Montoyo , Baldelli and Forsythe. Daniel Nava replaced him in the line-up.

Josh Phegley homered and doubled, finishing with three RBIs for the A's.

Asdrubal Cabrera homered and doubled for three RBIs for the Rays.

The A's are currently the worst fielding team in the majors, but they had the catch of day when Billy Burns robbed Logan Forsythe of extra bases with a dive in center field during the seventh. The other defensive play was in the first when Jaso led off, Marcus Semien made a back handed stop and leaping throw to get Jaso.

The Rays were 0-49 when trailing after eight innings until the win and hadn't taken a series from the A's since 2010.

The A's fell to the worst record in the AL with 53-71 and the Rays gained ground back in the WC race.

[Tobywan]

Tonight's line-up:

Sizemore DH

Nava RF

Longoria 3B

Jaso LF

Forsythe 2B

Cabrera SS

Loney 1B

Guyer CF

Rivera C

Odorizzi P

Burns CF

Canha 1B

Reddick RF

Valencia 3B

Vogt C

Lawrie 2B

Butler DH

Sogard SS

Fuld LF

Graveman P

Jake Odorizzi (6-6, 3-02) has allowed only three earned runs in 29 2/3 innings for a 0.91 ERA against the AL West. He's coming off an outing in which he yielded one run in six innings to the Astros.

Kendall Graveman (6-9, 4.27) is winless in his previous seven starts. He was the winning pitcher in his only career appearance against Tampa on May 23, a six-inning scoreless outing in which he allowed just three hits.

[Tobywan]

No one got on the board until the 4th when Burns led off with a triple, Canha singled him home, 1-0 A's.

In the seventh, Sean Doolittle pitching for Oakland, Jaso led off with a walk, Kiermaier pinch running. Forsythe grounded out, KK to second, Cabrera singled, KK to third. Jennings hitting for Loney hit a sac fly to score Kiermaier, game tied 1-1. Guyer walked, Rodriguez relieved Doolittle. Rivera singled in Cabrera, Rays take a 2-1 lead.


In the A's half, Valencia led off witha walk, Geltz relieved Odorizzi, Vogt doubled, Lawrie singled, Valencia scored, Vogt cut down at the plate by Kiermaier, game tied 2-2. Butler doubled, Lawrie to third, Sogard singled both runners home, 4-2. Fuld walked, Andriese relieved Geltz. Burns reached on infield single, bases loaded, Canha hit a base clearing triple, 7-2. Valencia singled in Canha, 8-2.


The Rays had runners in both the 8th and ninth, but couldn't get anymore runs. They take the series, lose the sweep with the 8-2 loss.


Odorizzi went six innings giving up two runs on three hits, one walk and struck out four, Geltz took the loss.


Graveman went six scoreless innings with three hits and a walk while striking out three, Rodriguez got the win. Graveman has not yielded a run in two starts (12 innings) against Tampa this season. He left the game early when he tweaked his side, team says it's an oblique.


The A's have won six of eight of their last home games and the Rays ended their win streak at just three games. TB is still planted in fourth place in the AL East and are 2.5 back of the wild card.


On Deck:

[Tobywan]

Tonight's line-up:

Buxton CF

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Sano DH

Plouffe 3B

Rosario LF

Hunter RF

Suzuki C

Escobar SS

Santana P

Sizemore RF

Jennings LF

Longoria 3B

Jaso DH

Forsythe 2B

Cabrera SS

Loney 1B

Kiermaier CF

Casali C

Karns P

RHP Nathan Karns (7-5, 3.44) is unbeaten in six starts since the All-Star break and has allowed two runs or fewer in 18 of his starts and has won three straight. HE has one career start against the Twins in 2013 when he was on the Nationals.


Ervin Santana (2-4, 5.53 ERA) has 15 career starts against the Rays with a 6-6 record and a 4.98 ERA, but last pitched against them on June 13, 2013 when he was with the Royals. In his last outing against the Yankees, he went 7.2 innings giving up two 2 run homers for the loss. He is 0-4 with a 8.46 ERA over his last five outings.



John Jaso has a career .381 average with a double, home run and six RBIs in 21 at-bats against Sanatana.


The Rays have won the last five season series at Tropicana Field vs. the Twins, though the Twins took two of three at Target Field May 15-17.

[Tobywan]

Loney was in the lineup after appealing a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine announced by Major League Baseball earlier Tuesday for making contact with umpire Paul Nauert after striking out and being ejected in Saturday's game at Oakland.




Minnesota got off to big start in the first, Buxton singled, Mauer walked. Sanó homered to center for a 3-0 lead.

In the second, Forsythe singled, Cabrera tripled, Forsythe scored. Loney singled, Cabrera scored, Rays cut the lead 3-2 .

In the third, Mauer led off with a walk, Sanó walked, runners advanced on a wild pitch, Hunter singled both to the plate, 5-2 Twins.

In the Rays half, Jaso doubled, Cabrera walked. Loney doubled to deep right center, Jaso and Cabrera scored. Kiermaier singled to center, Loney scored. Rays tie the game 5-5. Graham relieved Santana who gets out of the inning.

In the fourth, Matt Andriese pitching for Tampa Bay, Nava replaces Jennings in left due to injury. Buxton walked,Dozier homered to left center, 7-5 Twins favor.


In the Rays half, Sizemore led off with a walk, Nava hit by pitch. Longoria grounded into fielder's choice to third, Nava out at second, Sizemore to third. Jaso singled to center, Sizemore scored, Longoria to second. Cotts relieved Graham who gets out of the inning with no more damage, Rays cut lead 7-6.



In the 5th, Plouffe led off with a single, Suzuki singled, Escobar doubled to right, Plouffe and Suzuki scored. Buxton hit a ground rule double to deep right, Escobar scored. Twins take a big lead 10-6.

In the Rays fifth, Casali homered to left, 10-7. injured as he stepped awkwardly at first base. Rivera took over at catcher.


In the seventh, Xavier Cedeno pitching for Tampa Bay, Rosario leads off with a homered to right, 11-7

Rays had several opportunities for runs, Rays bullpen held Twins to just one runner, but there was no more scoring. Minnesota takes first game 11-7.


Karns went just three innings giving up five runs on four hits, four walks and struck out three. Andriese took the loss.

Santana went just 2.2, giving up five runs on 8 hits, two walks and struck out one. Graham got the win.



Three Twins home runs led to their fifth straight win.


Desmond Jennings left with a bruised left knee, same knee he had surgery on missing 96 games. Casali has a pulled hamstring.

[Tobywan]

The Rays called up Grayson Garvin , then placed him on the 60-day DL to make a spot on the 40-man roster for J.P. Arencibia. Arencibia will replace Curt Casali who goes to the 15-day DL.


Tonight's line-up:

Buxton CF

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Sano DH

Plouffe 3B

Rosario RF

Escobar SS

Herrmann C

Robinson LF

Duffey P

Nava RF

Sizemore LF

Longoria 3B

Jaso DH

Forsythe 2B

Cabrera SS

Loney 1B

Kiermaier CF

Rivera C

Archer P

Chris Archer (11-9, 2.77) threw a one-hit shutout in Houston last Thursday. On May 17th he threw six innings of one run ball against the Twins for the win. Overall he is 4-0 with a 0.74 ERA in four starts against Minnesota.


Tyler Duffey (2-1, 4.60) reached career highs in innings (7 2/3) and strikeouts (eight) in his Thursday start against the Orioles. He also retired 11 consecutive batters from the second through the fifth innings in his third Major League start. He has posted a 1.32 ERA over his last two outings.

[Tobywan]

It started out to be bit of a pitching duel, the 0-0 tie was borken in the fourth when Nava led off with a homer to right, 1-0 Rays.

In the fifth, Herrmann led off with a single,Robinson grounded into fielder's choice, Herrmann out at second. Robinson stole second, Buxton singled to left, Robinson to third. Dozier grounded into fielder's choice to third, Robinson scored, Buxton safe at second on error by second baseman Forsythe, game tied 1-1.

In the fifth, Kiermaier led off with a triple, Nava walked, Sizemore singled, KK scored, Rays retake the lead 2-1.


In the 6th, Escobar homer to right for the 2-2 tie.


In the seventh, Robinson walked, Buxton reached on bunt single to pitcher, the first one worked so Dozer bunted, Archer tried his best to make the catch, but the bases are loaded. Cedeño relieved Archer. Mauer singled, Robinson scored. Plouffe hit sacrifice fly, Buxton scored. Twins take a 4-2 lead.

In the seventh, Brian Duensing pitching for Minnesota, Longoria leads off homering to left to cut the lead by one run, 4-3.


In the eight, Brandon Gomes pitching for Tampa Bay pitching for Tampa Bay, Escobar led off with a homer to right, 5-3 Twins.


The Rays had chances in the 8th, Arencibia made his Rays debut pinch hitting for Rivera and lined out in his first at bat to end the inning.

Former Ray Kevin Jepsen pitching for Minnesota he retired them in order. Minnesota takes the game 5-3 and the series. Rays will try to avoid a sweep on Wednesday.


Archer went six innings giving up four runs on nine hits,one walk and 12 Ks. for his 10th loss.


Duffey went 5.1 innings givng up two runs on seven hits, four walks and struck out four.



Minnesota takes over the lead for the second AL wild-card. The Twins have their longest winning streak away from home since a six-game stretch Aug. 14-26, 2007.

Eduardo Escobar with two homers on the night.

Kevin Kiermaier hit his 12th triple of the season

Joe Mauer has reached base in 28 of 29 games at Tropicana Field. He has 46 hits in 114 at-bats at the ballpark after going 3 for 5 Wednesday night.

[Tobywan]

Kevin Kiermaier's triple last night gave him a dozen, along with his dozen assists it is the first time since 2001 that an OF had the double dozen in the same season.


Desmond Jennings headed back to the DL, Joey Butler has been recalled to take his spot.

James Loney has dropped his appeal and will serve his suspension tonight.


Tonight's line-up:

Buxton CF

Dozier 2B

Mauer DH

Sano 3B

Plouffe 1B

Hunter RF

Escobar SS

Suzuki C

Robinson LF

Milone P

Guyer RF

Nava 1B

Longoria 3B

Forsythe 2B

Cabrera SS

Butler LF

Beckham DH

Kiermaier CF

Arencibia C

Smyly P

Tommy Milone (6-3, 3.73) his last appearance was Sunday when he closed out a 12 inning 4-3 win over Baltimore with a perfect inning for the first save of his career. In his last start, he went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits in a no-decision against the Orioles on Friday.



Drew Smyly (1-2, 3.42) makes his first start at the Trop since April 24, he has 14 career appearances (four starts) against the Twins from his time with the Detroit Tigers.

[Tobywan]

The Rays got it started in the first, Guyer led off with a walk, Nava singled, Guyer to third, Longoria hit a sac fly to right, scoring Guyer. Forsythe homered 2-0 Rays.

In the second, Escobar singled, Suzuki doubled him home cutting the lead in half, 2-1.


In the third, Dozier walked, Sanó doubled (ground rule hitting off the B ring of the catwalk), Dozier scored to tie the game 2-2.


In the fourth, Escobar homers giving the Twins a 3-2 lead. Suzuki doubled, Robinson reached on infield single to shortstop, Suzuki scored on throwing error by shortstop Cabrera, 4-2 Twins.

In the fifth, Beckham doubled, Kiermaier singled, Beckham to third, Arencibia hit a sac fly to score Beckham, 4-3.


In the sixth, Forsythe led off with a double, Butler singled, Forsythe scored, Butler advanced on the throw. Boyer relieved Milone. Jaso hitting for Beckham, grounded out to first, Butler to third. Cotts relieved Boyer. Butler scored on Suzuki's passed ball, Rays take a 5-4 lead.

There were a couple more opportunities for the Rays to score, just one base runner the rest of the night for the Twins. Gomes (got the win) and Colome went scoreless for three innings with Boxberger striking out the side in the 9th for his 31st save.


Milone went 5.1 innings giving up 5 runs (one unearned) on five hits, one walk with two Ks for the loss.

Smyly went 4.1 giving up four runs (one unearned) on eight hits, two walks, with 5 Ks.

Kurt Suzuki's RBI double in the second was the 200th double of his career.


Eduardo Escobar became the first Twins SS with at least three homers in a three-game series since Roy Smalley in August 1978 at Seattle, he hit two on Wednesday and one on Thursday.

The Rays took the final game to avoid the sweep, snapping the Twins six game winning streak.

The loss dropped the Twins a half-game behind Texas for the second AL wild-card spot. Tampa Bay, which won for the fifth time in 13 games, is 2,5 games back of the Rangers.


On Deck: