On this date 17 years ago, we witnessed one of the worst tragedies on America soil in history. Today was the first time while covering the game that I got goosebumps during national anthem. This is just a friendly reminder that today is about so much more than a baseball game. We shall never forget.
Sometimes in baseball you just catch a pitcher when he’s on his A-game and there’s just nothing you can do about it. Tonight for the Rays, they caught Shane Bieber on his absolute A-game. The rookie right-hander earned his 10th win of the season as he limited the Rays to three hits in his 6.2 innings of work while striking out 11 batters.
“He had a lot of fastball life.” Rays manager Kevin Cash said when asked about Bieber’s performance. “He was able to get a lot of back foot slider swing-and-misses and takes on his breaking ball. A well pitched game all in all.”
Rays starter, Tyler Glasnow, had quite the start himself. Unfortunately, two pitches cost Glasnow two runs as Yan Gomes and Edwin Encarnacion both took him deep in the game. Neither of the two home runs were cheapies either as Gomes’ traveled 435 feet and Encarnacion’s went 422 feet.
Glasnow, however, still fired off seven innings of six hit ball while uncharastically striking out only three batters over those seven innings.
“Just one of those days.” Glasnow said regarding his dip in velocity tonight. “I was really only working with fastball and the changeup helped me out today. The put-away stuff wasn’t there with the curveball and the slider today.”
That explains the three strikeouts for a guy that came into the game with an 11.54 K/9.
In his eight starts for the Rays, Glasnow has received two runs or fewer in each of those starts. And while his ERA with the club is 4.70, if you remove his blowup start against the Blue Jays (0.2 inning, seven earned runs), that ERA dips to 3.15.
The Rays were held to four hits in total tonight. Two of which were off the bat of Joey Wendle, who continues to make his case for American League Rookie fo the Year. Wendle, who leads all AL rookies in WAR (3.8), is now hitting .295 on the year.
Tonight’s lose marked the first time the Rays have lost at Tropicana Field in over a month, August 8 against the Orioles to be exact.
Cash Ejected
In the top of the sixth inning, Indians left fielder, Michael Brantley, appeared to be picked off as he was attempting to steal second base. Third base umpire, Carlos Torres, called Vidal Nuno for a balk, however. The call immediately brought out Kevin Cash from the dugout. He was then ejected by home plate umpire, Mark Carlson.
“Just coming out. I knew that, but I just wanted some clarification.” Cash said when asked about the ejection. “[I’m] probably not the biggest fan of that rule. I’m just looking for clarification. I don’t think that warrants an ejection, but I understand the rule is in place and I have to follow them and I didn’t.”
The rule Cash is referring to is that managers are not allowed to argue balks, hence the ejection.
Updates on Matt Duffy and Kevin Kiermaier
Cash mentioned that Duffy gave him the thumbs up today, but he’s like to receive one more day of rest. Cash also said that he will speak to Keirmaier about possibly playing in the game tomorrow.
Up Next
The series finale concludes as Blake Snell (18-5; 2.06) continues his quest to conquer the American League Cy Young taking on Carlos Carrasco (16-8; 3.41). First pitch is at 1:10 EST.
