Snell was back into his Cy Young form. Ties career high with 13 strikeouts.
ST. PETERSBURG — Your first place Tampa Bay Rays have now won their fifth straight game of the season and hold a 5-1 record through six games.
This is the best six-game start to a season team in team history. What a difference a year makes as the Rays started last year with an abysmal 4-13 record.
The Rays came out with a bang scoring three runs in the first inning, and that’s all the team needed behind their ace, Blake Snell. Luckily they got those runs early, because after the first – Rockies pitcher, Kyle Freeland, went pitch for pitch with Snell.
Cyzilla back and better than ever
Reigning American League Cy Young winner, Blake Snell, was on his absolute A game tonight.
“Really impressive. I think a little bit of the benefit of Blake being extra motivated to come out and wasn’t pleased with whatever sequence, but he mixed all of his pitches today.” Rays manager Kevin Cash said when asked about Snell’s performance. “I guess a lineup that doesn’t see him very often, sometimes you’re going to see that. He’s got such electric stuff it really challenges opposing lineups, but he was outstanding. He was efficient even though he picked up a lot of strikeouts – and got us through the seventh which was huge because our bullpen wasn’t in the best shape coming into the game.”
Snell was throwing all of his pitches tonight – and they were all effective.
“I was happy with the mix. I was throwing everything – that was my gameplay going in. Just throwing everything and making it look like a strike.” Snell said after the game.
Snell’s final line:
7 INN, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 13 K on 102 pitches – 67 for strikes.
Snell’s other 13 strikeout game came back in 2017 against the Baltimore Orioles.
Streaks are cool, so here’s another update
Tommy Pham‘s on-base streak has now reached 38 games after his walk in the second inning. Pham is now in sole possession of second place in Rays franchise history, one behind Johnny Damon in 2011. I’m going to keep writing about it until it ends, so hopefully you get used to it and enjoy it. And more importantly, hopefully mentioning it doesn’t jinx him.
Robertson and Diaz both exit early
Brandon Lowe replaced Daniel Robertson at second base in the second inning tonight. The Rays announced that Robertson was removed form the game due to an illness and he’s considered day to day.
Lowe ended the game going 2-3 with two singles and a walk. He’s now hitting .250 on the young season.
“Yeah, absolutely. Just really staying with that approach that gotten me a few hits and building off of that.” Lowe said when asked about things continuing to click for him.
Yandy Diaz, who was limping around in the first inning, eventually left the game after hitting a double in the ninth. He was replaced by Ji-Man Choi.
Cash said he planned on giving Diaz the day off tomorrow anyway and hopes that two days of rest and he’ll be alright.
Up Next
The final game of the Rays home stand concludes as Charlie Morton (1-0; 3.60) faces Rockies righty German Marquez (1-0; 1.50). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. EST. That game is followed by an off day and a nine game road trip starting in San Francisco to take on the Giants.
