With a series win on the line, the Rays pulled out all the stops, and hit the road two games over .500.
After splitting the doubleheader Saturday, Tampa Bay took on Oakland one more time to close out the very long weekend. Four games in roughly 47 hours. The positive news is that with the split Saturday, the Rays avoid losing the series, something they have only done once since May 11th.
For Sunday’s series finale, Chris Archer put on his baby blues to face the A’s Jesse Hahn, originally a Rays draft pick from 2010.
The Ace Gets No-Decision
The A’s bruised Archer early. In the second, after a walk to Yonder Alonso, Ryon Healy hit a single to the gap that Mallex Smith bobbled. Stephen Vogt brought in both runners with a single to right-center. Archer would get himself out of the jam after two fly-outs, but had already thrown 41 pitches through just two innings.
Archer brushed off the rough inning though, and struck out the side in the third.
The A’s added a run in the sixth when Khris Davis brought Jed Lowrie home, silencing the crowd after a rally by the Rays in the prior inning.
Archer was pulled after allowing two baserunners to start the seventh. He finished with 6.0+ innings pitched, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks, while striking out eight through 114 pitches.
Rays Bats Come Alive Late
Tampa Bay hit back-to-back-to-back two-out doubles in the fifth. Daniel Robertson started the rally. He was brought in by Mallex Smith, who was brought up Friday to replace injured Kevin Kiermaier. Smith came across after a double by Corey Dickerson. Minutes later, Evan Longoria would single and drive in Dickerson.
Our friend Steve Carney asked Kevin Cash about the big inning…
Cash when asked about the 5-hit rally that tied it up #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/Mpj4Y668OI
— The Scrum Sports (@TheScrumSports) June 11, 2017
Before the end of the inning, Logan Morrison would add another two-out double, but would be left stranded at second after Steven Souza Jr. grounded out. But the rally tied the game. That would be the end of Hahn’s day, finishing with 5.0 innings pitched, giving up three runs on seven hits over 93 pitches while striking out five.
Rays Kept Fighting
Colby Rasmus would get the Rays right back into the game with a 429-foot homer (9) to straight-away center to lead off the home sixth. In the seventh, Tampa Bay took their first lead after a Dickerson sacrifice brought Smith home. Smith was at third after a two-base throwing error by pitcher Daniel Coulombe, who would ultimately take the loss (0-1).
Smith tied a career-high with three hits on Sunday, sending him to 8-for-14 during the four game series. Along with a homer, six runs, and four stolen bases, he earned his Player Of The Series nod.
Alex Colome was brought in to close out the ninth and after loading the bases with only one out, was able to escape the inning and secure the save (18) for the Rays. Chase Whitley collected the win (2-1) after throwing zero’s across the board in the seventh. Tampa Bay is now 7-1-1 in their last nine series since Mother’s Day weekend.
Cash on the win…
Cash on Tonight’s win #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/wMcF120vOf
— The Scrum Sports (@TheScrumSports) June 11, 2017
Up Next
After an off day Monday, Tampa Bay travels to Toronto for a two-game series with the Blue Jays, before continuing on to Detroit for four against the Tigers.
