This week, America celebrated it’s 241st birthday. For the Rays, they faced two of the oldest teams in Major League Baseball.
Fireworks. The beach. The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Championship. Baseball. The 4th of July is full of traditions that celebrate the United States of America. This year, Tampa Bay was in Chicago, taking on one of America’s oldest teams, in the second oldest ballpark.
Yes. ???????????? pic.twitter.com/4uy8Gk5WkV
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 4, 2017
After a couple in Chicago, the Rays returned to Tropicana Field for a four game weekend series against division rival Boston Red Sox, who lead the A.L. East. Although it is only July, this is an important series if the Rays want to start the second half off right.
Cubs
Even though the two meet only every few years, this meeting between the Rays and the Cubs was the first with Joe Maddon in the opposing dugout. Ben Zobrist and Wade Davis are also in Chicago now. The two teams meet for four games this year, with the final two in St. Pete in September.
For the first two at Wrigley Field, there were plenty of fireworks.
Rays Up-
Although they split the two games, Tampa Bay did get an Independence Day victory against their former skipper, in a 6-5 win Tuesday.
Chris Archer struck out eight Cubs while allowing three runs on eight hits in 6.0 innings. Picking up his seventh win of the season, Archer provided a little of his own offense as well…
.@ChrisArcher22 picks up his first career hit and makes it count.#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/zyR5LVYH71
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 4, 2017
With an RBI single for his first major league hit, he would later come across home for his third career run.
The win came with the assistance of a five-run fourth inning. Along with Archer’s RBI, Tim Beckham hit a two-run shot (11) that brought home Trevor Plouffe. Steven Souza Jr., who was 2-for-5 on the day, drove Archer and Peter Bourjos home with a 2-RBI double, giving the Rays a five-run lead.
With scoreless outings by Brad Boxberger and Tommy Hunter, Alex Colome came in and collected his 22nd save of the year.
Tampa Bay was also able to shut down former teammate Zobrist, holding him to 1-for-8 over the two-game series.
Rays Down-
Blake Snell avoided another loss, but is still finding his rhythm at the major league level. Wednesday, he pitched 5.0 innings, allowing four hits and four walks, with five strikeouts. The bright side? He did not allow a run for the first time this season.
Aside from collecting the save Tuesday, Colome struggled against the Cubs. Going in with a three-run lead, Colome walked two, allowed two hits, and allowed two runs to come home before closing out the game. It also took him 38 pitches to escape the inning.
The Takeaway?
Aside from the loss Wednesday, the win Tuesday meant another split for the Rays, keeping them steady at two games above .500 at 44-42. After officially posting a winning record for the first half, staying on the positive side of .500 is exactly what Tampa Bay needs to continue if they want to remain in the postseason conversations.
Red Sox
For the first time this season, Boston visited St. Pete to take on Tampa Bay in a four-game series. In their last meeting, the two teams were practically neck-and-neck, with the Rays 17-20 and the Red Sox at 18-16.
Boston has since gone on a hot streak and over the 20 games leading up to Thursday, moved from four games behind New York…to three games above, taking the division lead at 48-35.
After two earlier trips up to Fenway, how would the Rays (44-42) do on their home turf?
Rays Up-
Rookie Jacob Faria continued his historic start, picking up his sixth quality start and moving to 4-0. Allowing just one run on a sacrifice fly, Faria gave up only four hits over 6.0 solid innings.
.@JDFaria36 (4-0) is now 6-for-6 in quality starts to begin his big league career.
Tonight he allowed one run in 6 IP against Boston. pic.twitter.com/ft3LqpMkmf
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 7, 2017
And all of that in a game when Chris Sale still managed to strike out 12, adding to his Major League lead in strikeouts.
For Boxberger, Thursday was his third appearance since returning from the disabled list, and he has yet to give up a single run. This is welcomed news for a bullpen that has had it’s fair share of shake-ups so far this year. Although he allowed back-to-back two-out walks on Sunday, Boxberger escaped the jam and extended his scoreless appearance streak to four. And picked up his first win of the year.
Saturday, Alex Cobb pitched what was possibly the best start of the season for him, and possibly in the top-3 of his career. Holding the Red Sox scoreless, Cobb pitched 7.2 innings allowing only two hits in the 1-0 victory. Cobb even managed to pull off a true web gem in the seventh that wowed everyone watching…
Hard to simulate these during PFPs. pic.twitter.com/fd3djmBPnC
— MLB (@MLB) July 8, 2017
Newly acquired Adeiny Hechavarria, who has been struggling at the plate this week, proved why he was brought over from Miami with two outstanding plays Saturday…
These gems by Hech are worth another look.#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/6nSxd87eT0
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 9, 2017
Colome would add three saves over the weekend, taking him to 25 on the year. In his two appearances, Colome did not allow Boston to score a run. An impressive turnaround, given he allowed a total of 10 runs in his five previous appearances.
Brad Miller, who returned from the disabled list during the series, was the hero on Sunday. After seeing consecutive 100+ MPH pitches from Joe Kelly, Miller hit a two-out two-run shot (3) over the center field wall that put the Rays ahead entering the ninth.
Reeling ’em in.#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/KEI3JTWRXN
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 9, 2017
Rays Down-
Jake Odorizzi struggled in Friday’s game, allowing seven runs off eight hits and three walks, while only striking out five. He also gave up two home runs, taking him to 20 allowed on the season, nearing his total from last year of 29. But it’s only the beginning of July.
Hechavarria, who started his tenure with the team on a high note, has gone quiet at the plate. Going 0-for-10 against Boston in the first three games, he has only one hit in his last 23 at-bats. Compared to his 8-for-14 start when he joined the Rays on June 27th.
Although he did collect two saves, Colome had to work out of another jam on Saturday. After getting Dustin Pedroia to ground out, Colome ended up loading the bases for Boston. For the second time this week, it took Colome 30+ pitches to get the save. Compare that to Craig Kimbrel, for example, who only needed 11 pitches to close it out for Boston Friday.
Archer lost the battle of the Aces Sunday, giving up three runs through 6.2 innings, meanwhile David Price held the Rays to just two runs through 6.0.
The Takeaway?
Tampa Bay took 3-of-4 from the division leading Boston Red Sox, putting them just 3.5 games behind in the American League East. They also returned to four games above .500, tying their season high thus far.
Up Next
The Rays get a much needed break for a few days for the Major League Baseball All-Star festivities. Well, part of the team does. Corey Dickerson, who is top-5 in almost every batting category there is, was voted in to start for the American League. Dickerson is just the third Rays player in franchise history to be a voted starter by fans. Archer will join him, after being named a replacement on Friday.
Oh yeah, there’s one more person who will be wearing a sunburst on their uniform for Tuesday’s game…
ICYMI: #Rays manager Kevin Cash was selected by AL skipper Terry Francona to join the AL All-Star coaching staff. Laughs are anticipated. pic.twitter.com/7mRGS1Cwf6
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 5, 2017
After the break, Tampa Bay hits the west coast for back-to-back series against A.L. West teams. First, three games over the weekend against the Angels in Los Angeles. Following that, the Rays head just a few hours north to take on the A’s in Oakland.
