2015 Tampa Bay Rays season

[Tobywan]

Scoring didn't start until the third, Ray struck first, Franklin walked, Mahtook singled they moved up on a sac by Rivera. Guyer singled in Franklin then Butler singled in Mahtook, 2-0.

In the fifth, Sanchez walked, Eaton reached on a bunt, Sanchez went to third, then scored on an errant throw by Rivera, 2-1. Eaton scored on a sac fly off Ramirez, 2-2.

In the Rays half of the fifth, Butler singled, scored on a sac fly by Forsythe. Rays lead again 3-2.

In the sixth, Elmore singled, Franklin safe at first on an error, Elmore to second. Mahtook sacrifice advanced the runners. Danks lifted for Webb. Rivera grounded into a fielder's choice, Elmore scored on a close play at home, Franklin to third, run was challenged by White Sox, safe call upheld, 4-2. Kiermaier pinch hitting for Guyer singled bringing in Franklin, 5-2. Rivera and Kiermaier advanced on a passed ball, Butler singled, Rivera scored, 6-2.


In the seventh, Cedeno now pitching for the Rays, Flowers singled, Sanchez grounded into a FC, Flowers out at second. Gomes relived Cedeno, runners advanced on a wild pitch, Ramirez grounded out, Sanchez scored, 6-3. Abreu with a two run homer to right, 6-5.


Rays seventh, Junior Guerra pitching for Chicago, Souza Jr. and Elmore singled, advanced on a wild pitch. Franklin singled, Souza Jr. scored, 7-5 and that would be the final.

Danks went 5.1, giving up 5 runs (2 unearned) on eight hits, one walk with three Ks for the loss.

Andriese went 5.2, giving up 2 runs, both unearned on six hits, one walk with five Ks for the win.


Butler had three of the Rays 14 hits, he is now batting .342/.369/.521. He has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games and has nine hits in the last five games.

Steven Souza Jr., Jake Elmore, Nick Franklin and Kevin Kiermaier had two hits each.

Rays take the first game of a three game set.

[Tobywan]

I will be heading down to the Trop soon, no line-ups released yet. Probables are Jeff Samardzija and Chris Archer in the second game. Lee Bryce concert after the game.


Archer has allowed just one run in 23 innings with 38 Ks in his last three starts.

Samardzija allowed six runs on 10 hits in 7.1 Ip against the Tigers on Sunday. He got a no-decision in his last start against the Rays on Aug. 4, 2014, he allowed two runs in seven innings.

[Tobywan]

In the first Ramírez singled then went to second on wild pitch, Abreu singled, Ramirez to the plate, 1-0.

Rays came right back, Kiermaier tripled, Longo singled him home for the 1-1 tie.

In the third, KK was hit by a pitch, Butler doubled (ground rule) KK to third. Longo grounded out, KK scored, Rays up 2-1.

In the fourth, Abreu and LaRoche singled. Garcia ground into a fielder's choice, Abreu to thrid, LaRoche out at second, Cabrera singled, Abreu scored, tie 2-2.


In the seventh, Franklin tripled, Forsythe pinch hit for Casali, grounded out Franklin scored, 3-2.

In the 8th, Eaton pinch hit for Sanchez, he walked,Gillaspie htting for Soto, Archer lifted for Boxberger. Gillapsie homered, Sox up 4-3.

Rays half of the 8th, Putnam relieved Samardzija, with two outs, DeJesus singled stole second, Souza Jr. singled, DeJesus scored, 4-4.Souza attempted to steal second, was called out, Rays challenged and it was overturned. Cabrera was intentionally walked, Putnam was lifted for Petricka. Elmore reached on an infield single, Souza scored on the throwing error, 5-4.

McGee closed the ninth, gave up just a walk to Beckham but preserved the win.




Samardzija went seven giving up 3 runs on six hits, one walk and struck out seven.
Archer went seven, gave up three runs on five hits, one walk and struck out five for a no-decision.

Rays take the series, go for the sweep on today.

Lee Brice concert was good, nice crowd given the Lightning were playing in the Stanley Cup finals across the bay.

[Tobywan]

Tonight's line-up:

Eaton CF

Ramirez SS

Abreu 1B

LaRoche DH

Garcia RF

Cabrera LF

Beckham 3B

Sanchez 2B

Flowers C

Sale P

Guyer CF

Butler LF

Longoria 3B

Forsythe 2B

Souza Jr. RF

Cabrera SS

Elmore 1B

Franklin DH

Rivera C

Karns P

Chris Sale has posted a 3-0 record, 0.40 ERA, 39 strikeouts and a .152 opponents' average against over his last three starts covering 22 2/3 innings. He and Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax are the only pitchers since 1900 to record three or more straight starts of 12-plus strikeouts with one or no runs allowed. Sale is currently riding a four-game streak of 10-plus K's.

Nate Karns has been roughed up in his last two starts has allowed a combined nine runs (8 earned ) over 10 2/3 innings.In his only outing against Chicago he gave up three home runs and six run in five innings for a loss. Against Karns, Avisail Garcia has two solo home runs.

[Tobywan]

Chicago struck first again in the second, Beckham doubled, Sanchez singled him home, 1-0.

The game stalled at 1-0 until the 7th, Souza Jr. led off with a walk, Cabrera homered off Sale to lift the Rays 2-1.

Chicago got no base runners in the 8th or 9th, Rays swept.



While Chris Sale struck out 12 giving him five straight games with double digits he took the loss due to the homer. He went 6.2 innings with two runs on three hits and three walks and held the Rays scoreless for six.


Nathan Karns went six innings giving up one run on seven hits, one walk and struck out 8, but Riefenhauser got the win.


The White Sox are usually tough for the Rays, this only the second time they got a sweep.

Rays are in first place.

On Deck:

[Tobywan]

The Rays signed Grady Sizemore to a minor league deal today, he was released by the Phillies on June 1st after batting .245 with five doubles and six ribbies in 39 games. He will report to Charlotte for workouts.

Matt Moore's next rehab start has been moved to Tuesday at Charlotte.




Tonight's line-up:

Span CF

Rendon 2B

Escobar 3B

Harper DH

Ramos C

Robinson RF

Espinosa 1B

Taylor LF

Desmond SS

Gonzalez P

Guyer LF

Butler DH

Longoria 3B

Forsythe 2B

Souza Jr. RF

Elmore 1B

Cabrera SS

Kiermaier CF

Rivera C

Ramirez P

Gio Gonzalez is 4-3 with a 4.42 ERA, his last two starts were a loss to the Cubs on June 4th and a no decision last Wednesday against the Yankees. Last time he faced the Rays was June 21, 2012, he is 2-1 with 3.00 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay.

Erasmo Ramirez is 5-2 with a 4.96 ERA, that five wins have come in his last six starts, going 5-1 with a 2.66 ERA since April 19th. He has not faced the Nats, but Yunel Escobar is a career 4-for-7 with an RBI and a walk against him.

[Tobywan]

In the second, Kiermaier doubled, stole third and scored when Rivera hit a sac fly to center, 1-0.


In the third, Butler led off with single, he went to third when Longoria singled, he scored when Forsythe singled. Souza Jr. walked, Longoria scored on a sac fly by Elmore, 3-0 Rays.


In the fourth, Rivera singled, Guyer was hit by a pitch, Butler singled t load the bases. Longoria hit a sac fly to score Guyer. That ran Gonzalez who was replaced by Hill, 5-0.


In the fifth, Kiermaier doubled, Guyer tripled, KK to the plate, 6-0.


In the ninth, Cedeno pitching for the Rays, Taylor walked, Dan Uggla pinch hitting for Span, singled, Rendon singled, to load the bases, Taylor scored when Escobar singled to keep from geting shut out. Cedeno then got Harper to line out to a double play, Rays win first game 6-1.


Gonzalez went 3.1 with five runs on 8 hits, three walks and struck out one for the loss.

Erasmo went 6 scoreless innings, with three walks and four Ks for the win.


The Rays have won 12 of 16 and for the moment stand alone in first plcae in the AL East, one game ahead of the Yankees.


Longoria left the game in the fifth after being hit in the wrist by Taylor Hill, X-rays were negative.


Steven Souza Jr. tied a team record with five walks, but got left each time and the first player to get five walks against the Nationals.







In other news, Bobby Wilson cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Durham.

[Tobywan]

Tonight's line-up:

Span CF

Rendon 3B

Escobar DH

Harper RF

Ramos C

Robinson 1B

Espinosa 2B

Taylor LF

Desmond SS

Roark P

Kiermaier CF

Butler DH

Longoria 3B

DeJesus LF

Forsythe 2B

Souza Jr. RF

Cabrera SS

Elmore 1B

Rivera C

Colome P

Tanner Roark (2-2, 3.71 ERA) has surrendered a combined nine runs in his past two outings, he has never faced the Rays.

Alex Colome has pitched just one inter-league start, his Major League debut against the Marlins on May 30, 2013, he has never faced any National on the ML roster.

[Tobywan]

The Rays were on the wrong side of a laugher last night.

In the second Robinson led off with a homer to right (off catwalk). By the end of the inning the Nats were up 6-0, Espinosa scored on a bases walk, Taylor and Span scored on single by Escobar. With the bases loaded again Ramos hit a sac fly to score Rendon. Robinson batting again, doubled in Escobar, Harper tried to score but was cut down at the plate to end the inning.

With C.J. Riefenhauser pitching in the fifth, Harper led off with a homer. Robinson walked, Romero relieved Riefenhauser. Espinosa singled then Taylor singled to score Robinson, Desmond singled and Espinosa scored.Span reached on an error, Taylor scored. Desmond tried to score when Rendon flied out, he was out at home to end the inning. 10-0 Nationals.

The Rays finally got on the board in the 5th when Rivera doubled then scored on a ground out by Butler.

In the seventh, Enny Romero now pitching for the Rays, Robinson led off with a single, Espinosa singled, Desmond walked to load the bases again, Gomes enters to relieve Romero,Span singled in Robinson. Rendon singled to score Espinosa, then Desmond scored on a sac fly by Escobar, 13-1 Nats favor.

In the 8th, Jack Elmore takes a turn pitching for the Rays, why not? Ramos leads off with a homer, 14-1.

In the 9th, Nick Franklin now pitching for the Rays, Rendon leads off with a double, Ramos homers, everybody hits, everybody scores, 16-1.

In the Rays ninth, Drew Storen pitching, with two outs, Cabrera singled, Elmore walked, Rivera homered to give the Rays a little life, but no way to come back, final 16-4.


Nationals take second game.

Colome was rung after just two innings, he allowed six runs on seven hits (including a homer), three walks and struck out two for the loss.

Roark went seven giving up just one run on six hits, one walk and struck out four for the win.

Enny Romero left in the seventh when his back tightened up.

Jake Elmore now has an ERA of 9.00 and Franklin a whopping 18.00. The last time two position players took the mound in a nine inning game was on July 20, 1990, when Montreal sent in Junior Noboa and Dave Martinez in a game against Houston at the Astrodome.

Ramos had a multi-homer game both coming off non-pitchers.


Harper was a triple shy of the cycle.Robinson had four hits, Espinosa had a career high five hits, but the only starter not to collect an RBI. Escobar had three RBIs.

The Nats had 23 hits, the most since relocation, Expos collected 26 on May 7, 1997 against the Giants in San Francisco. It tied the second most allowed by the Rays, but most ever allowed at Tropicana Field.


After the game Riefenhauser was optioned to Durham and RHP Ronald Belisario's contract was purchased from the Bulls.



While the two face each other again tonight, technically this is two short series played at two locations.

[Tobywan]

Rehab report:
In his third rehab start for the Stone Crabs, Matt Moore pitched 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits one a homer, he struck out three and made 49 strikes out of 78 pitches. He is likely heading to Durham.



There is rain in the DC area, at the moment they are going to try to get the game in, it might be delayed or postponed by game time.

Tonight's line-up:

Kiermaier CF

Elmore 1B

Longoria 3B

DeJesus LF

Forsythe 2B

Souza Jr. RF

Cabrera SS

Casali C

Geltz P

Escobar 3B

Rendon 2B

Harper RF

Robinson LF

Espinosa 1B

Desmond SS

Lobaton C

Taylor CF

Zimmermann P

The starting pitcher was going to be Matt Andriese, but then decided to do the "bullpen day" again where Steve Geltz will start and basically see how it goes and relieve accordingly, using the no-DH to insert pinch hitters and make pitching changes. They did this in Miami on April 10th which resulted in a 10-9 loss.

Jordan Zimmermann hasn't faced the Rays since his rookie season (2009), he went 5 innings allowed a solor homer in an 8-3 loss. He is coming off two consecutive losses, where he gave up 10 runs in 8.1 innings.

Steven Souza Jr. preserved Zimmermann's no-hitter last season with a diving catch now they will face each other for the first time. Only three Rays have faced him, DeJesus, Forsythe and Longoria, in a combined 11 at-bats, none have a hit off him.

[Tobywan]

The game was a pitching duel until the 5th, Souza Jr. led off with a home run to center, Casali also homered, both off Zimmermann, 2-0 Rays.


In the sixth, Longoria singled, DeJesus singled, Longo went to third, Forsythe reached on an error, Longo scored, 3-0.

In the 8th, Blake Treinen relieved Zimmermann, DeJesus singled, Souza Jr. reached on a bunt single, both advanced on an error then both scored on another error, 5-0.

It rained heavily in the 8th, game was delayed for a bit, Rays used five pitchers for the shut out, keeping the Nats down to two hits.



Three hits for Souza Jr. including the home run, he also made a nice sliding catch into the side wall. He got a nice ovation from the DC crowd his first at-bat.

It was the first career home run for Curt Casali.

Steve Geltz started the game, pitched two good innings and Matt Andriese took over for four, he got the win.

Jordan Zimmermann took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits (two homers), one walk, with eight Ks in seven innings.


Denard Span was out of Wednesday's lineup with back tightness.

Rays take third game or first game of the second set of two game series, however you look at it.

[Tobywan]

Tonight's line-up:

Kiermaier CF

Butler LF

Longoria 3B

Forsythe 2B

Souza Jr. RF

Cabrera SS

Elmore 1B

Rivera C

Archer P

Span CF

Rendon 2B

Escobar 3B

Harper RF

Ramos C

Espinosa 1B

Desmond SS

Taylor LF

Fister P

BP has already been rained out in Washington, hopefully they get the game in on time.

Doug Fister is 2-2with a 4.31 ERA, is just coming off the disabled list to face Rays after being out for a month with a flexor strain.


Almost three years ago Chris Archer walked into Nationals Park a wide eyed kid wandering around the field taking it in that he was about to make his first major league start for the Tampa Bay Rays. He started to choke up as it overwhelmed him, he sat by a side wall to compose himself. He pulled it together and got up but then saw his folks and emotions came over him again as they hugged him showing support and encouragement. Now he returns as the current ace of the staff trying to hold down the fort until the return of Cobb, Moore, Smyly and Odorizzi.

Steven Souza Jr will be presented with the Gibby award tonight before the game.

[Tobywan]

Nationals got the scoring started in the first, Span walked, stole second (called out but overturned on challenge), Escobar singled, Harper singled in Span. Ramos walked, Escobar grounded into a fielder's choice, Escobar score, 2-0.


In the second, Souza Jr. and Cabrera singled, Elmore singled, Souza Jr. scored, 2-1 in Nats favor.

In the Nats half of the second, Taylor hit a bunt single (played was challenged by Cash, safe call was confirmed), Fister got him over to second, Span singled, Escobar singled sending Taylor to the plate, 3-1.


In the sixth, Butler led off with a home run to right, 3-2. Longoria and Forsythe single, Souza Jr. grounded into a fielder's choice, Longo was erased at third.Cabrera singled, Forsythe and Souza Jr. scored on a throwing error by Harper, Cabrera ended up on third, Rays take the lead 4-3. Treinen relieved Fister, DeJesus pinch hitting for Elmore hit a triple to score Cabrera, 5-3.

Washington had a few more chances, but that would be the last of the scoring, Rays took 3 of 4 in the series, or split the first series and swept the second to be technical. Rays still stand alone in first.

Archer went five innings giving up three runs on eight hits, two walks and struck out three for the win (five in a row).

Fister went 5.1 giving up five runs on nine hits, no walks and struck out three for the loss.

Boxberger collected his 16th save.

Yunel Escobar went 5-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

Haper left the game in the sixth inning and will be evaluated Friday for what might be a mild strain from a fall after slipping in the outfield wet grass while throwing home, resulting in the error that scored two runs.

There was a brief rain delay in the fourth inning.




On Deck:

[Tobywan]

Tonight's line-up:

Kiermaier CF

Butler DH

Longoria 3B

DeJesus LF

Forsythe 2B

Souza Jr. RF

Cabrera SS

Elmore 1B

Rivera C

Karns P

Kipnis 2B

Lindor SS

Brantley LF

Santana 1B

Murphy DH

Moss RF

Urshela 3B

Bourn CF

Perez C

Carrasco P

Nathan Karns (3-3, 3.67) has not faced any of the indians on the ML roster.He has struggled a bit in his last three start sallowing nine runs and 21 hits over his last 16.2 innings.

Carlos Carrasco (8-5, 4.38) has had four win in his last five starts.

This will be the first trip back to Cleveland for both Kevin Cash and Asdrubal Cabrera.

While the Tribe have historically beat up on the Rays especially in Cleveland, this season the Indians are 13-19 at Progressive Field.

[Tobywan]

In the first Butler hit a solo home run to start the scoring, 1-0.

During the Tribe's half, Kipnis doubled, Lindor hit a bunt single, Kipnis went to third then scored on a wild pitch while Santana was batting, tied 1-1.

Cabrera homered in the second to put the Rays back on top, 2-1.

There it stayed until the seventh, Forsythe singled but was out trying to stretch it into a double, Souza Jr. singled then went to third when Cabrera singled, Elmore hit a sac fly with Souza Jr. scoring, 3-1.


In the top of the ninth, Scott Atchison pitching for Cleveland, Souza Jr. led off with a homer stretching the lead to 4-1 and that's how it ended.

Karns went 5.1 giving up one run on six hits, one walk and struck out four for the win. Bullpen was solid again.

Carrasco went 6.2 giving up three runs on 10 hits (2 homers) while striking out five for the loss.

Two good defensive plays by the Rays, Souza Jr. made a sliding catch in the 8th on a fly ball into foul territory then double doff Kipnis at first. In the ninth, Kiermaier sprinted to the warning track and leaped for a long fly off Brandon Moss.


Kipnis' double in the first extended his hitting streak at Progressive Field to 23 games a franchise record, the all time record belongs to Texas' Elvis Andrus with 27 at the park.

Rays take first game and still hold a one game lead in the AL East.