Catching Some Rays: 4/17-4/23

With the first loss and series loss of the season behind them from their visit to Toronto, the Rays turn their attention to other ways to make history. They still had a home run in every game of the season to this point and were yet to lose at home. While they would begin the week on the road against Cincinnati, they would get the chance to extend that home streak over the weekend against the Chicago White Sox. With no more concerns about staying perfect, it felt like the Rays were able to truly start their season. 

Monday 4/17
Reds 8, Rays 1
WP- Ian Gibault (1-0) , LP- Jalen Beeks (0-1)

Jalen Beeks (TB)- 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K
Hunter Greene (CIN)- 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (left early after taking a ball off of the shin)

Kevin Newman (CIN)- Solo HR in the 2nd, RBI 1B in the 7th
TJ Friedl (CIN)- Bases-clearing 2B in the 4th, RBI GO in the 8th
Tyler Stephenson (CIN)- RBI 1B in the 7th
Jose Barrero (CIN)- RBI 2B in the 8th
Josh Lowe (TB)- Solo HR in the 9th (Rays- home run in every game)
Player of the Game- Kevin Newman (CIN) (3-for-4, 1 double, 1 home run, 2 runs, 2 RBIs)

Tuesday 4/18
Rays 10, Reds 0
WP- Taj Bradley (2-0), LP- Nick Lodolo (2-1)

Taj Bradley (TB)- 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K (17 Ks in his 1st 2 starts- team record)
Nick Lodolo (CIN)- 4.2 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 1 BB, 4 K

Taylor Walls (TB)- Solo HR in the 2nd (lefty), 2-R 3B in the 3rd, Solo HR in the 6th (righty) (2B shy of the cycle)
Yandy Diaz (TB)- 3-R HR in the 2nd
Manuel Margot (TB)- Sac Fly in the 3rd
Randy Arozarena (TB)- Solo HR in the 4th
Francisco Mejia (TB)- RBI 2B in the 9th
Reds- 4 singles, 2 walks the entire night
The Rays outhit the Reds, 17-4 (Walls & Mejia- 4 hits each)
Player of the Game- Taylor Walls (TB) (4-for-5, 4 runs, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 4 RBIs)

Wednesday 4/19
Rays 8, Reds 0
WP- Drew Rasmussen (3-1), LP- Levi Stoudt (0-1)

Drew Rasmussen (TB)- 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K
Levi Stoudt (CIN)- 4.0 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 3 K

Rays- 6 runs in the 1st (Diaz lead-off HR, Paredes RBI 2B, J. Lowe 2-R 1B, Margot RBI 2B & scored on a balk)
Taylor Walls (TB)- RBI 1B in the 3rd
Brandon Lowe (TB)- RBI 1B in the 6th
Reds- 5 singles, 5 walks
Player of the Game- Drew Rasmussen (TB) (5.0 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 3 walks, 7 strikeouts)

Series Review
  • The Rays win the series, 2-1
  • The Rays outscored the Reds, 19-8
  • The Rays have six shutout wins through 19 games
  • The Reds only had nine singles in the final two games
  • Taj Bradley broke the team record for strikeouts through the first two MLB starts (17)
  • The Rays have homered in all 19 games, one shy of tying the MLB record (2019 Mariners)
  • Series MVP- Taylor Walls (5-for-8, 5 runs, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 5 RBI, 1 walk)
Friday 4/21
Rays 8, White Sox 7
WP- Kevin Kelly (2-0), LP- Reynaldo Lopez (0-2)

After a two-series road trip and a series win in Cincinnati, the Rays returned to the friendly confines of Tropicana Field, where they are yet to lose a game this season. The Rays seemed to miss home because the offense came out hot. Josh Lowe knocked a two-run double and Harold Ramirez smacked a two-run home run to put up a four spot in the first inning and extend their home run streak to 20 games, tying the MLB record. The White Sox responded with three runs in the second, three more runs in the third, and a solo shot from Eloy Jimenez in the fourth for six unanswered runs to take a 7-4 lead. The Rays chipped away at the deficit with Yandy Diaz getting an RBI single to make it 7-5 but it would remain that way heading into the ninth inning. Reynaldo Lopez would come on to close the game for Chicago and would immediately be met by a solo home run from Christian Bethancourt. Diaz would single up the middle to put the tying run on base as Brandon Lowe stepped to the plate. After a battle with Lopez, Lowe smashed a two-run bomb into the right field bleachers to complete the comeback and send the Trop into a frenzy with an 8-7 victory. 
Player of the Game- Harold Ramirez (TB) (2-for-3, 2 runs, 2-run home run, 1 walk)

Saturday 4/22
Rays 4. White Sox 3 (10)
WP- Garrett Cleavinger (1-1), LP- Jimmy Lambert (1-1)

The Rays found themselves in another tough battle with Chicago in the second game of the series as two aces took the mound. Just like on Friday, the offense started early as Randy Arozarena hit the record-setting home run in the first inning, a two-run shot off of Dylan Cease to get the team running. Chicago would erase the deficit with two solo shots of their own off of Shane McClanahan from Eloy Jimenez in the second and Yasmani Grandal in the fifth. Arozarena would immediately get the Rays back ahead with an RBI single in the fifth inning. The White Sox hit their third home run of the night as Gavin Sheets tied it once again with a blast in the eighth inning. Neither team would score in the ninth inning, sending things to extra innings, the first time this season for the Rays. Garrett Cleavinger would come in and throw a scoreless top of the tenth inning for the Rays and Arozarena would complete his magical night with an RBI single for his fourth RBI of the night to walk it off for the second straight night. Despite the no-decision, McClanahan was electric once again, striking out ten over six innings and setting the franchise record with 32 swings and misses.
Player of the Game- Randy Arozarena (TB)- (3-for-5, 2 singles, 1 home run, 4 RBIs)

Sunday 4/23
Rays 4, White Sox 1
WP- Zach Eflin (3-0), LP- Lucas Giolito (2-1), SV- Pete Fairbanks (3)

Unlike the first two games of the series, there was very little drama to close things out. Zach Eflin made his return to the rotation after missing some time with back tightness. He didn't look like he missed a beat. The offense would continue to mash the ball as Luke Raley kept the streaking going with a two-run blast in the second inning. Yandy Diaz would drive in another run in the second with an RBI groundout. Harold Ramirez mashed his second home run of the series in the third inning and it would be more than enough for the Rays. Eloy Jimenez gave the White Sox some life in the fourth with an RBI double but it would be all Chicago could muster. Eflin would pitch five strong innings, allowing just three hits and striking out four. The bullpen pitched four perfect innings, completed by Pete Fairbanks' third save of the season as the Rays completed another sweep. 
Player of the Game- Zach Eflin (TB) (5.0 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 0 walks, 4 strikeouts in his return from the IL)

Series Review
  • The Rays sweep the White Sox, 3-0
  • The Rays outscored the White Sox, 16-11
  • The Rays broke and extended their home run streak to being the season (now 22 games)
  • The Rays are 13-0 at home to begin the season
  • Friday night's game was the first time this season that the Rays hit in the bottom of the ninth
  • Series MVP- Harold Ramirez (5-for-11, 3 runs, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 3 RBIs, 1 walk)

Injury Report
The big news of the week is the loss of Jeffrey Springs for the remainder of this season and the beginning of next season as he receives Tommy John Surgery. He had been excellent to begin the season and will be a major loss for the pitching staff. The return of Zach Eflin should help to soften the blow and the eventual return of Tyler Glasnow will help too. The Rays should also be getting Jose Siri back very soon, possibly as early as Monday or Tuesday. 

The Week Ahead
The week begins with a huge matchup with the defending World Series champs. Houston comes to Tropicana Field for a three-game set with Drew Rasmussen and Taj Bradley likely to get the first two starts of the series. They'll then face the White Sox once again, this time for four games in Chicago over the weekend. 

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