Odorizzi returns, pitches five strong as Rays win Citrus Series opener.
MIAMI, FL – Returning from the 10-day DL thanks to a hamstring injury suffered in Boston mid-April, Jake Odorizzi hoped to get the Rays back on track in Miami.
“I feel good, I’m ready to get out of jail,” Odorizzi joked. “Ready to get back out there.”
The first inning would begin a bit rough. Dee Gordon would walk to lead off putting superior speed aboard. A few pitches later, Derek Norris would throw the ball into center field trying to pick off Gordon. A very close play at third would stand after the review couldn’t overturn a great throw in by Peter Bourjos from center. Christian Yelich would hit a sac fly to left with one out to easily score Gordon and give the Marlins an early 1-0 lead.
Beckham loves South Beach!
With two on and two out in the top of the fourth, Tim Beckham would double home Corey Dickerson and Rickie Weeks Jr. The Rays would jump out to a 2-1 lead off Wei-Yin Chen who’d been cruising early. Beckham has thrived in Miami. In five games at Marlins Park before Monday, he’s hitting at a .400/.455/.900 clip.
Two bags for Tim. #RaysUp
???? https://t.co/7ZI8eXGvj2 pic.twitter.com/k1Zd8ik3xz
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 2, 2017
Ozuna goes deep…
The lead would be short-lived. Marcell Ozuna would tie things up with a two-out bomb into The Clevelander pool behind the left field wall. It was Ozuna’s seventh home run of the year, tying him with Giancarlo Stanton for the team lead.
Short leash for Odorizzi.
After just five innings and 78 pitches, Kevin Cash opts to head to his bullpen in the sixth. Danny Farquhar would take over despite a solid return by Odorizzi. He allowed just two runs on two hits, one walk, and six strikeouts.
The Outlaw the violator?
Kevin Kiermaier got a chance to make a difference in this game, after all. Coming in to pinch-hit for Bourjos with one away in the seventh, he draws a walk. Then proceeds to slide into Dee Gordon to break up a double play ball hit by Souza Jr that drove in the go-ahead run with the bases loaded. Marlins manager, Don Mattingly, asked the umpires to take a look as he felt Kiermaier’s slide violated the slide rule when breaking up double plays.
The call was confirmed after nearly a three-minute review. Rays lead, 3-2.
D-Rob doing things.
Daniel Robertson gave the Rays an insurance run in the eighth. Brad Miller stole second and third base setting up Robertson who’d deposit a Junichi Tazawa pitch into center. Rays now led, 4-2.
D-ROB!… (sorry for laughing at you).
The rookie puts us up 4-2. pic.twitter.com/E2UFSbUR7S
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 2, 2017
RAYS WIN!
Closer, Alex Colome, would pitch a perfect ninth to secure the 4-2 win for the Rays.
NEXT UP:
- The Rays will send Alex Cobb (1-2, 4.66) to the hill Tuesday night. The Marlins will counter with Edinson Volquez (0-3, 4.44).
