2015 Tampa Bay Rays season

[Tobywan]

Injury Report: Matt Moore threw a bullpen session today it will be determined he will throw another simulated game or goes to extended spring training as he hopes to be near rehab assignment.

Reports are saying that Drew Smyly will not have surgery instead he will try to rehab his torn labrum with a program including cortisone shots and rest.






The Rays head into tonight's contest tied for first place in the AL East with the New York Yankees. This the game 2 of a short two game series before returning home.

Tonight's line-up:

Kiermaier CF

Souza Jr RF

Longoria 3B

Loney 1B

Forsythe 2B

DeJesus LF

Cabrera SS

Rivera C

Odorizzi P

Peterson 2B

Callaspo 3B

Freeman 1B

Markakis RF

Cunningham LF

Pierzynski C

Simmons SS

Maybin CF

Perez P

Jake Odorizzi is coming off a loss to the Minnesota Twins where he gave up three runs in 6 innings, he has a 2.36 ERA with seven quality starts.
The Braves send Williams Perez to the hill for his first Major League start. He made his debut earlier in the month, he has two relief appearances where he retired just six of the 14 batters he faced.

[Tobywan]

The Rays started off the scoring in the first when Souza Jr singled, went to third on a single by Longoria and then scored on a sac fly from James Loney, 1-0.

The Braves tied the game in the third, Andrelton Simmons doubled then went to third on a groundout by Williams Perez, then scored on a single from Alberto Callaspo, 1-1.

In the sixth, Freddie Freeman doubled, went to third on a single by Nick Markakis then scored on a groundout by Todd Cunningham, for the 2-1 game winner.
Rays had plenty of chances to score, loading the bases in the fourth with one out and coming away empty handed.


Odorizzi went six innnings gave up 2 runs on 4 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2.
Perez went five innings giving up one run on six hits, one walk and struck out seven.

Jace Peterson's walk in the third snapped Odorizzi's streak of 118 batters without allowing a walk.

On Deck:

[Tobywan]

Oakland comes in for a 4 game series.

The A's got off to a hot start but started falling near the end of April then when Ben Zobrist was lost with a torn ACL they sank even further and are currently in last place in the AL West.

The Rays have dealt with their fair share of injuries playing with a patched up starting rotation that has so far kept them treading water. They are trying to separate themselves in the AL East, they are currently tied with the Yankees.

The A's have hired Ron Washington as a "special instructor", he joins the team in St Pete.
When Evan Longoria takes the field tonight he will be the third uniformed Ray/Devil Ray to play in 1,000 games, he has a career .219 BA against the A's.

Coco Crisp's availability for this series is unknown at this time, he aggravated a neck injury on Tuesday, he and the Rays have history.


Tonight's line-up:

Burns CF

Semien SS

Reddick RF

Butler DH

Vogt C

Muncy 1B

Lawrie 3B

Fuld LF

Sogard 2B

Chavez P

Kiermaier CF

Souza Jr RF

Longoria 3B

Loney 1B

Forsythe 2B

DeJesus DH

Guyer LF

Franklin SS

Wilson C

Colome P

Jesse Chavez is 1-3 in five starts for Oakland, is 0-0, 3.18 in three relief appearances vs. Rays.
Alex Colome has allowed a combined 11 runs in his last two starts, spanning 9 1/3 innings. He gave up three runs in 3 1/3 innings on Saturday to the Twins.

A few beloved ex-Rays coming in with this series like Sam Fuld and Scott Kazmir, a few others who had a brief time here like Vogt, though as stated above most beloved Zobrist is on the DL.

The A's have committed 44 errors in 41 games, most in the majors, the Rays as a team have fewer (15) than A's shortstop Marcus Semien (16).

Against Chavez, Asdrubal Cabrera is 1-for-3 with a HR, James Loney is 1-for-6 and Evan Longoria is 0-for-2.
Against Colome, Brett Lawrie is 0-for-2 and Marcus Semien is 1-for-1.

[Tobywan]

The A's threatened in the first when Billy Burns led off with a triple, but he was stranded. The scoring didn't start until the fourth when Longoria walked then DeJesus doubled him to the plate putting the Rays up 1-0.

The A's loaded the bases in the fourth and again came away with nothing.

It remained a one run game until the seventh, DeJesus led off with a homer on the first pitch to extend the lead to 2-0. Then Guyer singled, stole second and third then scored on a ground out by Bobby Wilson.

The A's had runners on in the 9th, Reddick was at third, but Brad Boxberger got Brett Lawrie to strike out to preserve the win.

Chavez went 6 innings giving up three runs, on five hits, one walk while striking out six.
Colome went 5 scoreless innings, gave up four hits, one walks and had three Ks.

Play of the night was a leaping over the shoulder grab by Eric Sogard to bring in what would have been a sure hit for Nick Franklin.

Edward Mujica had to leave the game, the ball off Wilson that scored Guyer in the seventh was a comebacker right off the pitching hand, X-rays showed a minor fracture in Mujica's thumb.

The Rays for now take sole possession of the AL East by virtue of the Yankees have an day off on Thursday, the last time the Rays held first alone was April 12, 2014.

The last time the A's were 15-games under .500 was Sept. 27, 2011.

[Tobywan]

Tonight's line-up:

Burns CF

Sogard 2B

Reddick RF

Butler DH

Vogt C

Lawrie 3B

Muncy 1B

Parrino SS

Fuld LF

Kazmir P

Guyer CF

Souza Jr RF

Longoria 3B

Forsythe DH

Butler LF

Loney 1B

Cabrera SS

Beckham 2B

Rivera C

Archer P

The Rays took game one to pull themselves a half game ahead of the Yankees, the trick will be keeping the pace going.

Kazmir is looking for his first win for May, he had a 0.99 ERA in April. He is 1-2 with a 4.11 ERA in three career starts against the Rays. He last started at the Trop in September 2010, he allowed one earned run in five innings in a 6-3 win with the Anaheim Angels.

Archer allowed only one run in six innings in his last start, this will be his first start againt Oakland, but has faced a portion of their line up with other clubs.

Against Kazmir, Asdrubal Cabrera is 0-for-12, David DeJesus 8-for-21 (2 doubles and 3 RBI) and Evan Longoria 1-for-8.

Against Archer Billy Butler 1-for-6, Brett Lawrie is 5-for-13 and Marcus Semien is 0-for-3.

[Tobywan]

The Rays won Friday night 5-2 then lost the last two 5-0 shutout on Sat. and then 7-2 on Sunday, splitting the four game series.

They had optioned Tim Beckham and called up Enny Romero to get a fresh arm in the pen. Then optioned Romero back after the loss on Sat. to call up Preston Guilmet (picked up on waivers from the Jays on May 13th).

He was optioned back to Durham after today's game. another move will be made tomorrow.

Souza Jr, Cabrera and Loney all left Sunday's game early. Souza injured his wrist during a home plate collision with Stephen Vogt in the first. He stay in the game but the arm started swelling and he was removed in the third when he could barely hold up his bat. Cabrera has a mild left groin sprain and Loney injured his left hand when he slid into base on a double steal attempt in the 8th. Souza will have an MRI Monday.

The Rays will start the week a game up on the Yankees.

On deck:

[Tobywan]

In other Rays related news Matt Moore threw two innings in his first extended spring training game Saturday, 36 pitches allowing 2 runs on 5 hits and striking out one.

C.J. Riefenhauser and Ryan Brett are now on a rehab assignment with the Charlotte Stone Crabs


Local media asked listeners to come up with a combined name for the McGee/Jepsen/Boxberger triple threat.
Some suggestions were:

3 Mus K teers
The McJepBerger
Filthy boyz
The Stable
Troplets
Tropplegangers
The Troika of Doom
The Sting Rays
Blue Crush
The Gritty Committee
My 3 Suns

The Charlotte Stone Crabs were to have a Juice Box Promotion based on the ARod steroid scandal on friday night. The juice box contained a label reading:

The Sports Drink
100 % Juiced
Side Affects include: tainted records, inflated ego, omission from the Hall of Fame, and more!

It is not clear if the use of Affects was purposeful or merely someone that doesn't know the difference of how to use affects or effects.

The Rays were not in favor of the idea saying it was in poor taste and the Yankees were angry, calling director's personally to ask them to cease and desist even contacting the MLB commissioner's office and the Florida State League. The team decided to cancel the promotion but state they did it on their own not due to any outside pressure, issuing an apology for being insensitive.

I love my team, but the Rays are hypocrites and have no business calling anyone on "poor taste" just two weeks ago they used a Playboy playmate/Porn video star as their promotion for Mother's Day.

On the outside it might be confusing as to why a team in Charlotte County, Florida would "pick" on ARod, but he was a member of the Texas Rangers when Port Charlotte hosted their spring training camps.

[Tobywan]

Just as some players are returning from the DL others are hobbling. Loney was placed on the list on Monday with a fractured middle finger and Preston Guilmet was optioned back to Durham. Jake Elmore and Tim Beckham were recalled as Souza Jr. and Cabrera were day-to day, hoping for a return to action on Friday. Kevin Kiermaier had an X-ray on his ankle that was negative after he was plunked by King Felix in the loss on Wednesday.

The game Wednesday was a true pitching duel, with the Rays coming up short, but a great learning experience for Archer to go head to head against Felix for 8 scoreless innings, but Brad Boxberger gave up a 3 run homer in the 9th, Hernandez pitched a complete game shut out.

The Rays were swept by the Mariners putting them 1.5 games behind the Yankees.

In other related news, C.J. Riefenhauser and Ryan Brett have been moved up to Durham for rehab assignments and the Rays officially parted ways with Grant Balfour for the second time as he was released from his minor league contract.

On Deck:

[Tobywan]

Updates: The Rays activated C.J. Riefenhauser from the 15-day DL and optioned him to Triple-A Durham. Matt Moore has done well in so far in extended spring training, the Rays will decide if he gets one more game or if he will go directly to Port Charlotte for rehab.

Souza Jr. and Cabrera returned to the line up on Friday night. The Rays lost the first game of the three game set against the Orioles 2-1.
Tonight's line-up:

Guyer CF

Butler LF

Longoria 3B

Forsythe 2B

Souza Jr RF

Elmore 1B

Cabrera SS

Beckham DH

Rivera C

Ramirez P

Machado 3B

Snider LF

Paredes DH

Davis 1B

Young RF

Clevenger C

Hardy SS

Lough CF

Flaherty 2B

Chen P

After a rough couple of starts Erasmo Ramirez has a .160 opponents' batting average, best in the American League.

Wei-Yin Chen gave up three runs in 5 innings in a no decision Orioles win against Houston last Monday.

[Tobywan]

Ramirez went seven strong innings with seven strike outs, both season highs as the Rays snapped a six game losing streak. He gave up three hits and a walk. Rays starters have now gone 25 1/3 consecutive innings without allowing a run.

The Rays got on the board in the first after Guyer doubled and Butler singled, Longoria hit a sac fly to score Guyer, 1-0. Souza hit a solo homer in the second to make it 2-0. Butler hit a solo homer in the third for the 3-0 win.

The Orioles got close to scoring in the fifth when Steve Clevenger led off with a single then attempted to go home on a single from Ryan Flaherty. Butler threw from left field to nail Clevenger at the plate. The Rays loaded the bases in the 8th but Chaz Roe got out unscathed.

Wei-Yin Chen went seven innings, giving up six hits, three runs and a walk.


The Rays won a challenge in the first, when Jimmy Paredes was called safe at first, Forsythe bobbled a throw to Jake Elmore, on replay the call was overturned. There have been many complaints about the umpires and challenge plays this season, including after game comments made by Kevin Cash in a series against the Mariners last week.

[Tobywan]

Today's line-up

Kiermaier CF

Butler DH

Longoria 3B

DeJesus LF

Forsythe 1B

Souza RF

Cabrera SS

Franklin 2B

Wilson C

Odorizzi P

Machado 3B

Paredes DH

Young RF

Davis 1B

Pearce LF

Hardy SS

Lough CF

Joseph C

Flaherty 2B

Tillman P

Odorizzi is coming off a 4-1 loss to the Mariners, he pitched seven, gave up five hits, two runs (one earned), two walks and struck out seven.
Tillman has lost five consecutive decisions and hasn't won in his last six starts. He began the season 2-1, one of those wins came against the Rays on opening day.

Beckham is out of the line up with a sore hamstring, it began to cramp yesterday after he ran down a ground out in the seventh.
Jones is still out with a bum ankle.

[Tobywan]

Baltimore got the scoring started when Delmon hit a solo homer in the first. 1-0 O's.

In the second, Forsythe doubled, went to third on a roundout by Cabrera. Franklin walked, Forsythe scored on a single by Wilson. Franklin scored on a throwing error by right fielder Young. 2-1 Rays.

Young homered again in the third for a 2-2 tie.

In the fifth, Longoria walked then went to second on an single by DeJesus, then scored on a single by Forsythe. Souza Jr. hit a three run homer putting the Rays up 6-2.

DeJesus homered in the 7th, 7-2, Machado hit a 2 run homer in the 7th, 7-4.

In the 8th, Kiermaier doubled, Butler singled, Kiermaier scored on a sac fly off Longoria, 8-4.

Both teams scored one more time with the Rays winning 9-4, taking 2 of 3 from the Orioles, putting them again in a tie for first in the AL East with the Yankees.

On deck:

[Tobywan]

The Rays sent Tim Beckham to the DL and brought up Andrew Bellatti.


Tonight's line-up:

Kiermaier CF

Butler DH

Longoria 3B

Forsythe 1B

Souza RF

Cabrera SS

Franklin 2B

Rivera C

Colome P

Aybar SS

Trout CF

Pujols 1B

Calhoun RF

Freese 3B

Joyce DH

Perez C

Nieuwenhuis LF

Giavotella 2B

Richards P

Alex Colome is 3-1 with a 4.55 ERA, he has allowed two or fewer earned runs in nine of 12 career starts, this will be the first time he faces the Angels nor any on their roster.

Garrett Richards is 4-3 with a 3.12 ERA overall but a 2.30 ERA at home, he has averaged six Ks over his last four starts and is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA against the TB Rays.

Against Richards, DeJesus is 2-for-4, Longoria is 0-for-5 and Nick Franklin 0-for-2

[Tobywan]

The Rays sent Tim Beckham to the DL and brought up Andrew Bellatti.


Tonight's line-up:

Kiermaier CF

Butler DH

Longoria 3B

Forsythe 1B

Souza RF

Cabrera SS

Franklin 2B

Rivera C

Colome P

Aybar SS

Trout CF

Pujols 1B

Calhoun RF

Freese 3B

Joyce DH

Perez C

Nieuwenhuis LF

Giavotella 2B

Richards P

Alex Colome is 3-1 with a 4.55 ERA, he has allowed two or fewer earned runs in nine of 12 career starts, this will be the first time he faces the Angels nor any on their roster.

Garrett Richards is 4-3 with a 3.12 ERA overall but a 2.30 ERA at home, he has averaged six Ks over his last four starts and is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA against the TB Rays.

Against Richards, DeJesus is 2-for-4, Longoria is 0-for-5 and Nick Franklin 0-for-2

[Tobywan]

David Freese got the scoring stated for LA with a lead off homer in the 2nd, 1-0.

The Rays tied the game 1-1 when Kiermaier doubled and Butler singled him home in the third.

The game got lopsided in the bottom third when Giavotella and Aybar singled then Trout homered to put the Angels ahead 4-1.

The Rays came back in the fourth, Forsythe walked and Franklin homered to put the game closer 4-3 Angels.

Pujols homered in the 5th making it a 5-3 lead, it stayed there until the 8th, with Andrew Bellatti pitching Aybar walked then Pujols homered for the final score of 7-3.


Alex Colome went 6 innings giving up 5 runs on 9 hits (three homers) and three walks with 5 Ks, taking the loss.

Garrett Richards went 6 giving up 3 runs on 6 hits and three walks while striking out four for the win.

Nick Franklin homer in the fourth was the first this season batting left handed.

Albert Pujols is on the heels of Jimmie Foxx (17th) on the all time home run list his 8th inning shot was his 533rd. He is tied with Foxx and Ted Williams for 16th in extra base hits with 1,117.


***Injury report: Matt Moore will make his first rehab start for Class-A Charlotte on Wednesday.