Rays rally for four runs in the ninth inning to get the dome rocking. Still not enough to comeback against the Marlins.
After a slow start offensively, the Rays tried like hell to battle back from a five-run deficit in the ninth inning. A double by Joey Wendle, a three-run triple by Mallex Smith and a C.J. Cron sac fly got the Rays to within one run. They eventually put the winning runner on base, however, Daniel Robertson couldn’t keep the magic alive.
Smith is now hitting .467 in the month of July with six extra base hits and seven RBI. Tonight tied his season high in RBI with three. He also recorded his 17th stolen base of the season. That mark has him tied for fifth in the American League.
The Rays are now 1-4 in their last five games and have now fallen to 17-22 in one-run games. The 22 one-run losses are most in baseball.
Eovaldi bounces back nicely
In his last start against the Minnesota Twins, Nathan Eovaldi couldn’t get out of the third inning. He was rocked for nine hits and surrendered eight runs. That was not the Eovaldi I watched in his three outings prior to that start. And it certainly wasn’t the Eovaldi I witnessed tonight. His fastball and cutter were his go to pitches tonight and it showed as he racked up eight strikeouts in a solid six innings of work.
“Those were mainly the two pitches that I did rely on tonight,” said Eovaldi. “I couldn’t really get the splitter going tonight. I threw some good sliders, but for the most part I was able to elevate the fastball when I was ahead in the count and throw the cutter in on lefties and backdoor.”
If you exclude the disaster in Minnesota, Eovaldi has a 1.08 ERA in his four starts (25 innings) since June 26th.
Cause for Concern?
Kevin Kiermaier was removed for the game in the fifth inning due to right foot discomfort. It was announced he will be reevaluated tomorrow. Kiermaier was 1-2 with a double and a run scored before being replaced by Cron in the lineup.
“It goes back to April 8. I have a significant bone bruise from a game in Boston. I just haven’t been able to get rid of it quite like I wanted to,” Kiermaier said when asked about his foot.
“You’d think being on the 60-day DL it would go away. That Sunday there in Boston, April 8. It’s crazy that this is still a thing.”
Roster Moves
Over the All-Star break the Rays optioned right-hander Andrew Kittredge to Durham. They then activated Christian Arroyo from the 10-day DL and also optioned him to Durham.
They then placed All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos on the 10-day DL, retroactive to July 15, with a left hamstring strain. Adam Moore, 34, was called up to backup Jesus Sucre while Ramos is out. Moore was slashing .215/.259/.309 with Triple-A Durham.
The team also reinstated right-hander Jose Alvarado from the Family Medical Emergency List.
Next Up
The Citrus Series continues as the Rays and Ryne Stanek (1-2, 2.08) take on the Marlins and Pablo Lopez (1-1, 6.35). Start time for the game is 6:10 EST.
