The 2017 season started with success at home and struggles on the road. It appears as though times are changing for the Rays.
Earlier this year the Rays completed a seven-game road trip to New York and Boston. In those seven games against the Yankees and Red Sox they were victorious in only one. A big difference from the 5-2 mark they posted at home to start the season.
Times have changed.
After dropping 6-of-9 games at Tropicana Field earlier this month, the Rays took to the road last week for a six-pack of games in Boston and Cleveland. Unlike earlier this season, the Rays (2-1) took the series from the Red Sox. Then it was on to Cleveland.
Monday:
Despite the fact that the team put a run on the board in seven-of-nine innings, including five in the first four innings, it was the five-spot given up by Chris Archer in the first inning that set the tone for the game.
The Rays fought back from the early 5-1 deficit – cutting the lead to two in the fourth inning – before ultimately coming up a run short.
After a rough home-stand, one that he won’t soon forget, Kevin Kiermaier turned things around on the road.
KIERMAIER! We ???? you.
He blasts a homer to right center and we trail 5-2 in Cleveland.
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 15, 2017
Indians skipper Terry Francona had some fun at the expense of his buddy Kevin Cash before the game.
Who said baseball wasn’t fun?
Check out this exchange on Twitter…
.@RaysBaseball is in town, meaning another chance for Terry to take a swipe at his old pal — and our old bullpen coach — Kevin Cash. pic.twitter.com/XoG2EwM0h7
— #VoteTribe 5x a day (@Indians) May 15, 2017
Rays Respond:
@Indians … pic.twitter.com/JqM04ElqYO
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 15, 2017
The Cleveland mastermind put his mastery to the test in the middle-innings. He manipulated his bullpen to go the final five-and-a-third innings. Cleveland used five relief pitchers in the 8-7 victory, four of which went a full inning or more. Perhaps setting the tone for the rest of the series.
Tuesday:
Game Two was all about the bass…no treble. The Rays thumped five home runs on the night, accounting for all six of their runs. Corey Dickerson (8) blasted two, including the tail-end of a back-to-back with Derek Norris.
Tim Beckham and Colby Rasmus also added solo-shots helping the Rays to the 6-4 victory.
Jake Odorizzi picked up his third win of the season while Alex Colome earned his 10th save. Colome ranks third in the AL in saves, trailing Boston’s Craig Kimbrel (12) and Houston’s Ken Giles (11).
After the game Dickerson talked about his second home run. One that cleared the trees beyond the right-center field fence.
“I was looking middle-out, I was looking for something outer part of the plate and he threw it kinda middle-in,” he said.
Wednesday:
The rubber-match saw Alex Cobb face-off against Josh Tomlin – once again it was Dickerson who got the better of Cleveland pitching.
The Rays’ DH/LF is making a strong case for an All-Star appearance.
Tomlin was touched for six earned runs on seven hits, and allowed two home runs in just two-and-a-third innings pitched. This time the Indians manager was forced to use six of his bullpen arms. Cody Allen was the only pitcher left sitting in the Indians bullpen.
Cobb struck out seven over seven innings and earned his team-leading fourth win of the season.
The bright-spot for the Indians was rookie Bradley Zimmer.
After making his MLB-debut on Tuesday, Zimmer picked up his first major-league home run in the bottom-of-the-ninth on Wednesday. The 19th ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com, finished the day 2-for-4 while driving in two runs and scoring two of his own.
Up Next:
The Rays have Thursday off before hosting the Yankees over the weekend. Erasmo Ramirez joins the rotation to make his second start of the season. He takes the spot of the recently demoted Blake Snell.
