The Rays silenced a potent Astros lineup to win on Wilmer Font‘s first start as a full-fledged starter.
ST. PETERSBURG — After four solid outings as the “opener” for Tampa Bay’s bullpen days, going progressively longer in each appearance, Rays righty Wilmer Font was officially given the mantle of a bonafide big league starter before taking the mound against the defending champion Houston Astros.
Font respond by giving the Rays five-plus innings of one-hit ball in a 3-2 win against the ‘Stros on Friday night at Tropicana Field.
Since joining the Rays in an under the radar trade with Oakland during the last week of May, the 28-year-old Venezuelan has found new life in Tampa Bay.
Font went into Saturday with a 1.64 ERA in his first eight appearances for Tampa Bay, including allowing just one earned run in his last 13 1/3 innings. In his 10 previous innings, split between the Athletics and the Los Angeles Dodgers Font was 0-2 with a 12.71 ERA.
According to Font, who first debuted at the big league level in 2012 with the Texas Rangers, all it took was a slight adjustment to where he starts his pitching motion.
“Just my position on the rubber, that’s it,” Font said. “By moving to the third base side, my secondary pitches are more effective.”
Rays manager Kevin Cash also credited Font for going all out every time he takes the mound. By only focusing on getting through the inning at hand, Font’s pitches have been sharper — and more electric.
“From pitch one he’s going 96, 98 and just letting it go,” Cash said.
Font matched Houston starter Gerrit Cole with inning-for-inning of shutout ball through the first three frames on Friday with a leadoff walk to start the third by Max Stassi accounting for his only base runner.
Font walked Jake Marisnick to lead off the sixth, ending Font’s evening. Font would leave the game after feeling tightness in his lateral muscle.
“I worked hard for a starting spot and this happened,” a disappointed Font said after the game.
Cash wasn’t too optimistic about the injury saying that it was likely Font might miss some time.
“We’ll know more tomorrow,” he said. “We’ll have some more openers and bullpen days. Yippee.”
Reliever Diego Castillo gave up a home run to Alex Bregman to allow the inherited the plate giving Font a final line of one earned run on one hit with three strike outs and two walks in five-plus innings of work in his second straight win for the Rays (40-41).
Duff Man, Oh Yeah!
Matt Duffy’s two-out single in the bottom of the third extended his hitting streak to eight games. Duffy then stole second base for his sixth stolen base of the season.
Duffy is now batting .316 on the season, sixth in the American League.
Daniel Robertson, who finished the night 2-for-4, sparked a three-run fourth inning for the Rays with a leadoff single. The Rays have now won eight of their last nine at Tropicana Field.
“This is our home,” Robertson said.
Up Next
The Rays continue their four-game set against the Astros with a 4:10 p.m. start on Saturday. Ryne Stanek (1-1, 1.85) will function as the opener against Astros ace Justin Verlander (9-3, 1.82). The first 15,000 fans through the gate at Tropicana Field will receive a 20th anniversary Zubaz t-shirt (Editor’s note: This is my favorite giveaway of the season. These shirts are comfy.)
