Apologies for the lack of a real recap on this one. As those of you with kids probably know, you can never be sure when you might need to be on daddy-duty for an extended period of time.
It was a fantastic performance all around by the Rays – except for Benny Boo-Boo’s 2 errors, of course – and the kind of game that gets you feeling better about the team.
Feel free to leave your comments on last night’s game here.
I’m a big fan of these Game 2s where the Rays can already win a series without having to take it to a rubber-match. I especially like them when James Shields is on the hill, hungry for another win.
And, before anyone roasts me for saying that Shields “needs a win,” I understand that the Won-Loss record for a pitcher is overrated and not a true indicator of how well he has pitched, but I still think there’s some kind of psychological boost that comes from adding a “W” to that column. 4-5 just doesn’t look that good.
What to watch for: Jamie has been surprisingly mediocre against the Marlins in 3 career starts, going 19 innings with a 4.74 ERA. He’s 1-1, striking out 24 batters in that time. He didn’t face the Marlins during the last series between the two teams.
Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
James Shields - Shields is still searching for his first win since May 9, but his record doesn’t do the right-hander justice. Thursday night is a prime example, as he tossed six shutout innings before hitting a glitch in the seventh inning. Shields was charged with three earned runs off seven hits, but the Rays’ bats came alive shortly after to notch the victory. The Rays top right-hander, Shields is at his best when he has command of his fastball as he did in his last outing vs. the Cubs, in which he fanned nine Chicago batters. He will travel to South Florida looking for his fifth win, as Shields takes on the Marlins for the first time this season.
Ryan Tucker - Three big league starts, three decisions, with two wins. Not a bad way for the 21-year-old to break into the league. In his last outing, Tucker worked a career-long six innings, giving up two runs as he beat the Mariners. Showcasing a 96 mph fastball that day, he threw 94 pitches, striking out four while walking two. This will be his second meeting against the Rays. On June 13 at Tampa Bay, Tucker worked five innings, giving up five runs on seven hits in a loss.
Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Ryan Tucker.
View the game preview from Baseball Reference.
| TAMPA BAY RAYS |
FLORIDA MARLINS |
| LINEUP 1 | LINEUP 1 |
| LINEUP 2 | LINEUP 2 |
| LINEUP 3 | LINEUP 3 |
| LINEUP 4 | LINEUP 4 |
| LINEUP 5 | LINEUP 5 |
| LINEUP 6 | LINEUP 6 |
| LINEUP 7 | LINEUP 7 |
| LINEUP 8 | LINEUP 8 |
| LINEUP 9 | LINEUP 9 |
Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!
It wasn’t the least bit pretty, but the Rays pulled off the win last night in Miami, and that’s really all that matters. The Rays needed this one, as the Red Sox pulled off a come-from-behind win against the D-Backs last night.
What’s wrong with Percy? Maybe it’s nothing, but it has become a constant source of hearthburn for me that he finds a way to put the go-ahead run on base every time he pitches. Yes, he got the job done, but man was it painful. It could just be the long nature of the season – and a subsequent market-correction for his early successes – causing this little blip, and by this time next month, maybe it’ll be a long-faded memory. For now, though, I just look back at the stats and see that he’s allowed runs – and 6 walks – in each of his last 3 innings.
Longlorious: If there’s a better defensive third baseman in the game right now than Evan Longoria, I haven’t seen him. That play he made in the 9th inning, diving full-on to his left to stab a sure base-hit was one of the finest plays I’ve ever seen. And not even so much for the dive, but for the fact that he was able to react so quickly to that ball to knock it down. I’m sure the BBWAA aren’t paying attention, but if they are, they’d know that the AL Gold Glove winner should come from Tampa.
Oh yeah, he delivered a clutch 2-run double in the 9th inning after totally choking with the sacks full in the 8th inning.
Aki-see, Aki-do: There’s been some chatter about Akinori Iwamura perhaps being included on the All-Star team, and though I don’t think he belongs there, I do think he is becoming a force at the top of the lineup that opposing teams need to look out for. Tonight was a prime example of when he is at his most dangerous; he played pepper with the left-field area, roping line drive and after line drive (after home run) towards Josh Willingham, and he ended up with 3 hits out of the deal. If Aki can hit like that, it might not matter what Aybar does behind him, because there will always be someone on base for Carl and B.J. to try and knock in.
Speaking of Aybar… I think the luster is starting to come off of him a little bit. His OPS now sits at a very mediocre .729 – not what you’d like to see out of your first baseman, for sure. Carlos Pena can’t come back soon enough.
Has anyone ever heard of a timely hit? Situations like tonight – loading the bases with no one out and then getting two weak ground balls (with one on a check-swing) to the corners – will end up killing the Rays if they don’t start performing a little bit better when they arise. It didn’t end up hurting the Rays, thanks to back-to-back walks, but it very well could have. Situational hitting, my friends. We need fly balls (at the very least) in those spots.
Umpires. Who needs ‘em? I totally agree that baseball needs to look into some form of replay on home run calls, but I also think that they need to take a good, long look at their home plate umpires as well. This year I’ve seen more terrible ball-strike calls and more inconsistent umpiring than I’ve ever seen in my life. And I’m not just talking in Rays games, either. All across baseball, it’s as if the umpires are just making it up as they go along.
If the Rays want to remain serious contenders for a playoff spot in the American League, they are going to need to start winning some games on the road. Tonight would be a great time to start, as they open up a 3-game tilt with the Marlins in South Florida. Last year, Miami was very good to the Rays, so let’s hope that this year is no different.
Plus, with 3 games at Pittsburgh to follow, it could be a good way for the Rays to pad that win total before the Red Sox come to town on Monday.
What to watch for: The Rays missed Scott Olsen on the Marlins’ jaunt through Tampa a couple of weeks ago, so they don’t have anything recent to go off of when they step in against him tonight. In general, he’s probably pitched a little worse than his ERA would lead you believe, and is the master of racking up no-decisions. He’s prone to the long-ball, so the Rays might look to play a little home run derby against him.
Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Andy Sonnanstine – Sonnanstine picked up his team-leading eighth win of the season Wednesday night against the Cubs, after allowing three runs on seven hits in five innings plus one batter. The right-hander is a master of deception, employing an array of pitches that he can throw from all different angles. But he is at his best when he uses his fastball to set up the other pitches. Sonnanstine will be facing the Marlins for the second time this season, as the 25-year-old picked up a win against the Fish on June 13. In that contest at Tropicana Field, Sonnanstine tossed five 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits.
Scott Olsen – After coming out winless in Seattle in his last start, Olsen remains without a victory since he beat Milwaukee on May 6. Not that the lefty has pitched poorly over that stretch, but he was knocked around a bit by the Mariners. In 4 1/3 innings, he surrendered five runs (four earned) on 11 hits. The outing was his shortest in five starts. Typically, he goes at least five innings. He had a string of three consecutive six-plus innings starts snapped.
Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Scott Olsen.
View the game preview from Baseball Reference.
| TAMPA BAY RAYS |
FLORIDA MARLINS |
| 2B – Akinori Iwamura | SS – Hanley Ramirez |
| 1B – Willy Aybar | RF – Jeremy Hermida |
| LF – Carl Crawford | 3B – Jorge Cantu |
| CF – B.J. Upton | LF – Josh Willingham |
| 3B – Evan Longoria | 2B – Dan Uggla |
| C – Dioner Navarro | 1B – Mike Jacobs |
| RF – Jonny Gomes | CF – Cody Ross |
| SS – Jason Bartlett | C – Paul Hoover |
| P – Andy Sonnanstine | P – Scott Olsen |
Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!
