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The last time a first place team came to the Trop, the Rays took two out of three against the surging Chicago White Sox back on April 15-17. Could they repeat such a performance against the first place Orioles to open up a eight-game home stand?
Read on, sports fans.
Read on.
Game 1
Rays 2 Orioles 0
The 2015 Chris Archer finally reared his dominant head in the first game of three v the O’s on Monday evening. The Rays ace blew through a stacked Baltimore lineup and pitched a season-high 6.2 innings while striking out 10, including the always dangerous Chris Davis three times. The offense did just enough in support as catcher, Curt Casali, doubled home a run in the fifth and then was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the sixth. Relievers Enny Romero, Erasmo Ramirez, Xavier Cedeno, and finally Alex Colome would close out the ballgame for the Rays with Colome getting his fourth save in as many tries this season.
W: Archer (1-4) L: Gausman (0-1) SV: Colome (4)
Game 2
Rays 3 Orioles 1
In an effort to get back to .500 for the first time since August of last season, the Rays needed another solid start from Jake Odorizzi, and despite pitching just five innings, the righty gave them just that. After throwing 97 pitches through five, Odorizzi departed allowing just a run on seven hits making way for the second night in a row, the team of Enny Romero, Erasmo Ramirez, Xavier Cedeno, and to notch his fifth save in five tries – Alex Colome. Kevin Kiermaier hit his third home run of the season, a two-run bomb in the sixth, to provide the difference in the ballgame off Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez.
W: Romero (1-0) L: Jimenez (1-2) SV: Colome (5)
Game 3
Orioles 3 Rays 0
Matt Moore was hoping to keep the winning streak going and sweep the first place Orioles back to Baltimore. He was dominant through 4.2 innings before giving up a 3-run home run to former Rays minor leaguer, Joey Rickard, hit a 3-run home run into the left field seats after a walk and a single with two outs. That would be the only mistake made by Moore as he would finish seven innings for the Rays, departing with nine strikeouts and trailing 3-0. Former Oriole, Steve Pearce, pinch-hitting for Logan Morrison in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and Brandon Guyer on second, singled home the lone run of the ballgame for the Rays.
W: Tillman (2-1) L: Moore (1-2) SV: Britton (5)
NEXT UP:
The Rays are off Thursday before they welcome in the Toronto Blue Jays to the Trop for the second time this season.
PROBABLES:
4/29 – Drew Smyly (1-2, 2.51) v Aaron Sanchez (1-1, 3.33)
4/30 – Chris Archer (1-4, 5.47) v J.A. Happ (3-0, 2.42)
5/1 – Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 3.58) v Marcus Stroman (3-0, 4.37)
