SB Nation Tampa Bay: All Posts by Gareth Rees

Rays 2, Red Sox 9: Price leaves after 2.1 innings with left triceps tightness

2013-05-16T00:44:16Z

The reigning American League Cy Young winner saw his rough start to the season take a turn for the worse Wednesday night as Rays left-hander David Price was removed from the game against the Boston Red Sox after just two and a third innings with what the team is calling triceps tightness.

Price looked strong in the first two innings, allowing no runs and showing increased velocity from his previous outings but found himself in a jam in the third inning. With two on and a run in, David Ortiz hit a 1-2 cutter past a diving Longoria to drive in a second run. Price was seen flexing his pitching hand as he walked towards the plate after delivering the pitch and was removed following a mound meeting from pitching coach Jim Hickey, Joe Maddon and trainer Ron Porterfield.

Jamey Wright entered the game to relieve Price and wasted no time defecating all over himself, allowing two inherited runners to score as well as four of his own on a grand slam from the number nine hitter, Stephen Drew. Cesar Ramos entered and did a nice job saving the pen by pitching three scoreless innings and giving the Rays a chance to mount a comeback but the eight spot would prove too much to overcome against a very strong outing from Jon Lester.

The Rays got two off Lester in the bottom of the third after Roberts singled in front of a Desmond Jennings triple and a RBI ground out from Ben Zobrist; but that would be all for the Rays. Lester scattered eight hits over seven innings of work and was moving his pitches in and out with great effectiveness. He issued no walks and struck out five Rays batters before exiting. Koji Uehara worked a scoreless eighth while pitching around some trouble, including a long foul ball off the bat of Matt Joyce who barely missed a home run. Jose De La Torre worked a scoreless ninth for Boston.

Ultimately, the result of the game was decided in the eventful third inning and what looked like a fun pitching duel turned into a forgettable game for the Rays in which the only story line is the health of David Price. When it comes to the left arm of your franchise ace, a loss is secondary, even if it is to the Red Sox.

If a fill in starter is needed, Jake Odorizzi pitched tonight for Durham so he would be in line to start in Price's next spot. However, Odorizzi was dinged up for six earned runs and three home runs in Rochester tonight. Chris Archer is scheduled to start tomorrow for Durham.

As for the Rays, they will look to meatloaf the Red Sox tomorrow evening as Alex Cobb takes on Felix Doubront from Topicana Field.

Rays 4, Padres 2: A mothers day sweep!

2013-05-12T21:01:01Z

For much of 2013, the Tampa Bay Rays season has been felt alien. The team that has for years been built on a foundation of pitching, defense and just enough offense has to this point played some very un-Rays-like baseball. Sunday, we saw a return to the type of game the Tropicana faithful has come to expect: pitching, defense, and the timely hit as the Rays downed the San Diego Padres 4-2 and completed the three game sweep.

Roberto Hernandez threw six innings of two-run ball, limiting the Padres' offense to two one-run innings and giving his suddenly potent offense a chance to stay in the game. Hernandez threw just 95 pitches on the day, working primarily off his sinker which generated seven ground outs, while striking out four and walking two. At times he dealt with a tight strike zone but was able to keep runners off base and work out of jams when they did reach. He also received some dazzling defensive work from his teammates as Sam Fuld made a terrific leaping catch at the wall in the first inning and, later, Yunel Escobar made a diving stop out of the shift to save a run. Matt Joyce got in on the fun in the ninth inning with a running over the shoulder grab near the wall that saved at least a double.

The Rays offense was held relatively in check by Padres starter Eric Stults. Stults found himself in a bases-loaded jam in the second inning after walks to Evan Longoria and Yunel Escobar sandwiched a James Loney single, but was able to escape after surrendering just one run on a Jose Molina sacrifice fly. In the fifth inning, a lead-off triple from Sam Fuld went by the wayside as Stults got Ryan Roberts to line out to left and Ben Zobrist to ground into a double play following a walk to Kelly Johnson. The missed opportunity fortunately did not come back to bite the Rays as they were able to rally in the next frame.

Longoria lead off with a double and moved to third on a fly ball from James Loney. Sean Rodriguez, making the start in right-field, worked the count to 3-1 before lining a soft single into center field to plate the tying run. Yunel Escobar then doubled off the wall in right field and sent Rodriguez home, giving the Rays a lead they would not relinquish. James Loney added an insurance home run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The much maligned bullpen executed their roles perfectly on this mothers day, as Jake McGee, Joel Peralta, and plantain-wielding Fernando Rodney closed out the contest with relative ease. Rodney surrendered just a two-out walk but struck out two, including the final batter, Alexi Amarista, to finish the game and shoot the moon. After a rough start to the year, Rodney appears to have regained his swagger along with his velocity and is looking more like his 2012 form.

The Rays are now 19-18, over .500 for the first time this season. They remain in fourth place in the American League East, four games behind the division leading New York Yankees. Desmond Jennings missed his third straight game with a groin injury but should be in line to return after the off day this Tuesday when the Rays host the Boston Red Sox for three at Tropicana Field.

Don't forget to call your mothers, everyone.

Rays 8, Padres 7: The Great Longoria

2013-05-12T06:25:13Z

My wife promised me earlier in the week she'd take me to see Iron Man 3 this weekend, and come this evening, suddenly that plan had changed and instead we were to see The Great Gatsby with her sister and her friend. Not cool. While my child-like hopes and super-hero dreams had been somewhat dashed, I was able to take solace in catching most of the evenings Rays contest before we departed.

Our Rays were shooting for .500, a first since April 7th when they were 3-3, and when I left the house I was sure we would sail to an easy victory. The Rays offense had battered around a rookie pitcher in a way that you expect a professional lineup to do to a guy jumping from double-A to the majors; a six-run second inning had seen the youngster, Padres' starter Burch Smith, removed from the game and watching from the bench in shock. The Rays appeared to be clicking on all cylinders, lining base hit after base hit off the right-hander in an inning highlighted by a mammoth James Loney home run that tied the game, and left even Loney himself admiring his handy work from the batters box. Meanwhile, Rays right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, had settled in following a bumpy first inning and was in the midst of retiring a lengthy streak of Padre's and piling up the strikeouts along the way.

It was on the radio in the car on the way to dinner that I heard Dave Wills and Andy Freed call Jesus Guzman's inexplicable grand-slam that would tie the game at 6 with two outs in the top of the seventh. The same Jesus Guzman who had hit zero home runs this season, tallied only two RBI's and was slugging a measly .247; yet, here he was, pinch hitting and delivering the damage, stunning the Rays yet again. The disbelief that such an improbable thing could happen was matched only by the sinking, bitter reality that this was happening all over again; as if the scratched record was broken and unable to advance beyond the same tired track. Like in Kansas City, or versus Toronto, this team had once more blown a massive lead, and again they looked doomed to let a winnable game slip away in the later phases. Four more base-runners reached, and the go-ahead run walked home, as reliever Jamey Wright failed to find the strike zone.

At dinner my mood was sullen. The Rays are just a baseball team, a group of men wearing familiar laundry. But we all know the feeling too well. That bad loss that can ruin an evening. The thrilling victory that can ignite a spark inside of you and make life brighter. While my wife and her sister were laughing at inside jokes over cocktails, my eyes kept peeking at the LCD screen across the room. It was the bottom of the ninth, there were two outs. I was trying to not let a Rays loss effect my mood but it was wearing on me. It's only May, but there has already been far too many painful defeats, too many blown leads and blown calls. Then Ben Zobrist managed to get his bat on a tiny piece of a third strike slider from Huston Street, keeping his at bat alive and eventually drawing a two-out walk.

"If there's anyone we want up with our last chance on the line, its Evan," I said to my table mates who barely heard me.

The waitress interrupted the thought as she refilled our waters and brought me another Stella. When I looked back at the television Evan Longoria was rounding second base. The incredible had happened! My spirits were instantly lifted. It took a second for me to believe it, as I had missed the actual home run live, but a replay confirmed what I was hoping was real. Longoria had connected on a hanging slider and hammered a walk-off home run deep to left field and his teammates were now mobbing him at home plate. The camera from the first base line side of the field captured Longoria rounding first base and raising his right hand in the air in celebration, a fond and familiar image of another magical Rays moment.

"You are in such a better mood now," my wife said to me a mere five minutes later.

An evening--and maybe a season--saved by one swing of a bat.

So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

PGT: Rays, Royals Game 3: Postponed for SNOW

2013-05-02T18:00:07Z

Having lost two straight games, blowing leads during the sixth inning of both, the Rays look to get back into the win column on a nasty day in Kansas City. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 30's with rain and snow forecasted around 3 p.m.

The Rays will send Roberto Hernandez to the hill versus Ervin Santana. Royals INF Eliott Johnson, who has killed his former mates so far in the series, will start for the third straight game.

Royals lineup: Gordon LF, Escobar SS, Butler DH, Hosmer 1b, Francoeur rf, Moustakas 3b, Perez c, Dyson cf, Johnson 2b

Rays lineup: Jennings cf, Joyce rf, Zobrist 2b, longoria 3b, Loney 1b, Scott DH, Escobar SS, Molina c, Johnson lf

UPDATE:

And here's what Kauffman Stadium in KC looks like at 7:30, after #Rays and #Royals were gone and snow kept falling twitter.com/TBTimes_Rays/s…
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 3, 2013

Yeah, they didn't play. -DR

The Rays will send Roberto Hernandez to the hill versus Ervin Santana. Royals INF Eliott Johnson, who has killed his former mates so far in the series, will start for the third straight game.

Royals lineup: Gordon LF, Escobar SS, Butler DH, Hosmer 1b, Francoeur rf, Moustakas 3b, Perez c, Dyson cf, Johnson 2b

Rays lineup: Jennings cf, Joyce rf, Zobrist 2b, longoria 3b, Loney 1b, Scott DH, Escobar SS, Molina c, Johnson lf

UPDATE:

And here's what Kauffman Stadium in KC looks like at 7:30, after #Rays and #Royals were gone and snow kept falling twitter.com/TBTimes_Rays/s…
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 3, 2013

Yeah, they didn't play. -DR

Yankees 4, Rays 3: Yanks 9th inning rally spoils Price's strong outing.

2013-04-24T03:31:14Z

David Price just can't catch a break. Despite working in to the ninth inning and pitching his most complete game of the season, the reigning Cy Young winner left Tropicana Field, Tuesday, still searching for his first victory of the year as the Tampa Bay Rays (9-11) fell 4-3 to the New York Yankees (11-8).

A lead-off single to Robinson Cano in the ninth inning of a tie ball game would be the end of Price's evening, who marched frustratedly off the mound, tipping his cap to the 17,644 Rays faithful. Fernando Rodney entered the game and struck out Vernon Wells but in the process allowed Cano to swipe second relatively easily. What followed was a series of questionable managing decisions and head-scratching umpiring.

Joe Maddon, as savvy a manager as they come, inexplicably elected to intentionally walk pinch-hitter Travis Hafner with firstbase open, preferring Rodney to face Lyle Overbay. Rodney got ahead of Overbay and appeared to get the strikeout on a beautiful changeup at the knees, at least two inches inside the strike zone. However, Rodney didn't get the call, moving the count to 3-2, and loaded the bases with the next pitch. For a moment it looked like disaster would be averted as James Loney made a dazzling sliding grab on a foul ball from the next batter, Chris Stewart, but the Rays two-out bad luck struck once more. Ichiro Suzuki, who singled and scored the tying run earlier in the eighth inning slapped a sharp line drive single to centerfield to put the Yankees ahead 4-2.

Evan Longoria would belt a homer to left-center field on the first pitch he saw from all-world closer Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth, but it would not be enough. The last remaining number 42 in baseball retired the next three batters with relative ease.

For Price, there are reasons to be pleased despite the loss. The left-hander worked primarily off his power fastball (60% of his pitches) and appeared to have regained some missing velocity that plagued many of the Rays starters early in the season (94 MPH avg). In addition, Price was effective with his cutter, generating 10 strikes and 2 whiffs with the offering and mixing in a sharp curveball and solid changeup. While the Yankees tallied eight hits off the southpaw, they were all singles and many of the ground-ball variety, a feeling akin to death by papercut. Price's first run of the game was the direct result of a strike-out wild pitch that reached base and scored two batters later on a couple of singles. Price also did not issue a walk and struck out five.

Yankees starter Phil Hughes appeared to be heading for a short outing after throwing over 30 pitches in the first inning and surrendering one run. An Evan Longoria strikeout with a man at third and one out stranded a potential second run but it looked as though the Rays had Hughes on the ropes. He would settle in nicely however, and manage to pitch deep into the game, finishing seven innings while allowing just two runs on six hits, while striking out six and walking two. After working great at bats in the first inning (Jennings, eight pitches, Longoria, 11), the Rays reverted to swinging early and a four-pitch fourth inning got Hughes pitch-count right back on track.

The Rays briefly took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning after a Matt Joyce walk and a James Loney single brought Jose Molina to the plate against Hughes. Molina singled on a line drive to right field, plating Joyce and giving the Rays a 2-1 lead, but Loney was thrown out attempting to go first to third on the play. Maddon rushed out of the dugout to argue the call by the third-base Umpire but replay clearly showed it was the correct call as third baseman Jayson Nix applied the tag while blocking Loney's late slide with his foot. The Yankees would answer immediately, tying the game in the top of the eighth with a pair of singles from Suzuki and Nix and an RBI slow chopper from Brett Gardner.

Remarkably, The Rays are now 0-5 when their ace is on the mound, yet 9-6 with everyone else, a trend that is unlikely to continue. With the series now even at one a piece, the Rays will send out Alex Cobb (2-1, 2.53), Wednesday, to face age-defying Andy Pettitte (3-0, 2.01).

GDT: Yankees, Rays Game 2: David Price looks to get on track.

2013-04-23T22:45:06Z

The red-hot Tampa Bay Rays (9-10) will host the New York Yankees (10-8), Tuesday night, for the second of three games at Tropicana Field as they hope to get back to .500. After returning home from a disastrous 2-7 road-trip, the Rays have won four straight and send their ace, David Price, to the mound - still looking for his first win of the season.

Price has yet to resemble his Cy Young-winning form from last season, as he has started the season 0-1 with a 6.26 ERA. However, a 4.93 FIP and an ugly 69% left-on-base percentage suggests he may be ready for some positive regression. The Yankees may be just the medicine Price needs as they struggle mightily against left-handed pitchers, hitting just .195/.266/.303 against southpaws with more strikeouts (54) than hits (42).

Opposing Price will be Yankees right-hander Phil Hughes who has also had his share of struggles in the early season, going 0-2 with a 6.43 ERA and missing one start with a back injury. Hughes is giving up a whopping 3.21 home-runs per nine in the early going which bodes well for the Rays as they have been going deep in bunches in the past week.

Fresh of his 3-4, 2 HR game, Ryan Roberts again sits in the two hole and Kelly Johnson will DH, batting ninth. James Loney gets the start at first base, where Sean Rodriguez played the night before.

For the Yankees, Kevin Youkilis will miss his second-straight game with lower back stiffness.

Yankees Lineup: Brett Gardner CF, Eduardo Nunez SS, Robinson Cano 2B, Vernon Wells LF, Ben Francisco DH, Lyle Overbay 1B, Chris Stewart C, Ichiro Suzuki RF, Jayson Nix 3B

Rays Lineup: Desmond Jennings CF, Ryan Roberts 2B, Ben Zobrist RF, Evan Longoria 3B, Matt Joyce LF, Yunel Escobar SS, James Loney 1B, Jose Molina C, Kelly Johnson DH

Fresh of his 3-4, 2 HR game, Ryan Roberts again sits in the two hole and Kelly Johnson will DH, batting ninth. James Loney gets the start at first base, where Sean Rodriguez played the night before.

For the Yankees, Kevin Youkilis will miss his second-straight game with lower back stiffness.

Yankees Lineup: Brett Gardner CF, Eduardo Nunez SS, Robinson Cano 2B, Vernon Wells LF, Ben Francisco DH, Lyle Overbay 1B, Chris Stewart C, Ichiro Suzuki RF, Jayson Nix 3B

Rays Lineup: Desmond Jennings CF, Ryan Roberts 2B, Ben Zobrist RF, Evan Longoria 3B, Matt Joyce LF, Yunel Escobar SS, James Loney 1B, Jose Molina C, Kelly Johnson DH

Rays at Orioles, Game 3: Back on track, baby!

2013-04-18T23:36:01Z

BASEBALL, YOU GUYS

Rays 6, Orioles 2: Offense comes alive, Matt Moore dominant.

2013-04-18T02:46:54Z

Early in a season that has been at times difficult to watch, seeing the maturation of Matt Moore has been an absolute treat. The left-hander entered Wednesday's game 2-0, having not surrendered a run in 2013, and continued his strong start by stymieing the Baltimore Orioles all evening. The Rays hitters, marred in a season-long offensive slump, broke out and scored six runs to secure the third win in as many tries for Moore.

Moore worked primarily off his power fastball but mixed in a change-up and dynamic curve ball. The curve, which Brooks Baseball identifies as a slider, was a dominant pitch, resulting in 20 strikes and 6 whiffs on the night. Like his last start in Texas, Moore worked the whole strike zone, moving his fastball around and keeping the Orioles batters off-balance. Moore worked deep into the sixth inning, and would have finished in the inning if not for a lucky hop and a missed double play opportunity. He would finish with seven strikeouts, three walks, and five hits allowed while also surrendering his first two earned runs of the season on a two-out home run from Adam Jones in the third inning.

Last week I noted that Moore's velocity was tailing off significantly towards the end of his outing. That does not appear to have been the case this week. Perhaps the unseasonable weather in Texas played a factor or the extra rest helped, but Moore maintained his velocity throughout Wednesday's start.

via www.brooksbaseball.net

That being said, Moore averaged just 92.78 MPH on his fastball, continuing a slowing trend that seems to have swept the Rays pitching staff. It is still April and pitchers are still working there way up to higher velocities but the drop is something to keep an eye on.

While Moore was spectacular, a more exciting story line may be the reemergence of the missing Rays offense. Building off Tuesday nights late-inning outburst, the Rays slugged two more home runs while scoring six, their second highest total of the season. Seven of the nine starters reached base as the team managed 11 hits, including four hits with runners in scoring position, a welcome reprieve from the futility that has been displayed in recent weeks.

Kelly Johnson, batting second for the second time in as many days, got the party started early, belting the first pitch he saw from Baltimore starter Chris Tillman in the top of the first into the right-field seats. Shelley Duncan would add a home run of his own on a hanging curve ball in the top of the second. After Adam Jones tied the ballgame at two in the third inning, the Rays answered right back in the top of the fourth, scoring two more runs. Evan Longoria led off the inning with an opposite field double and moved to third base when Duncan singled to center field. Jones made an ill-advised throw home to prevent Longoria from scoring which allowed Duncan to move up to second base. The next batter, James Loney, slapped a sinking line drive into center field that Jones tried to catch at his shoestrings but missed, letting the ball roll past him and allowing both Longoria and Duncan to score.

Loney had a great day at the plate, going three for three with two doubles and a walk while driving in three runs. The last two hits of Loney's evening came off Baltimore left-handed reliever T.J. McFarland, who pitched two and a third innings, surrendering two runs. The target of many fans ire, Yunel Escobar, added a two-out RBI in the sixth inning with a soft liner to right field and also struck a ball well in his first at-bat, lining out to center. Regression is fun!

There was some extracurricular excitement in the fifth inning as Joe Maddon was ejected after arguing a close caught-stealing call by second-base umpire Brian Knight. Ben Zobrist struck out swinging on a 3-2 count and Wieters gunned down Kelly Johnson for the double play. The call looked questionable in real time, but replay showed that Johnson was most likely out. Maddon disagreed and decided it was a good time to work off some pent-up anger. Reading Maddon's lips you could see that this one call was not all that was bothering the skipper as he told Knight, "another blown call. Every [expletive] night." Whether Maddon's outburst will fire up his team remains to be seen.

Reliever Jake McGee retired one batter in the seventh and Joel Peralta and closer Fernando Rodney both pitched scoreless innings to close out the ballgame.

The Rays are now 5-9 and in last place in the American League East; the Orioles fell to 7-7. The two teams will wrap up their three-game set Thursday night, as David Price will take the mound against right-hander Miguel Gonzalez.