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It was a rare meeting between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers (teams have met just 7 times before this 2-game series) at Tropicana Field to wrap up the home stand for the Rays. Could Tampa head to the west coast on a high note or be swept into yet another off-day?
Read on, sports fans.
Read on.
Game 1
Dodgers 10 Rays 5
Heading into the series with LA, the Rays were 6-0 when scoring three or more runs. All streaks, bad or good, must come to an end. This one did emphatically as the Dodgers tagged starter Matt Moore with seven runs on eight hits including two long balls off the bats of Trayce Thompson and Joc Pederson. Moore lasted just 4.1 innings. Relievers Dana Eveland and Ryan Webb got roughed up, as well giving up another three runs between them in the eighth and ninth innings that included another home run off the bat of Yasiel Puig. The Rays bats faced former Ray in lefty Scott Kazmir who pitched 6.2 innings giving up four runs on seven hits that included a fourth inning bomb off the bat of catcher Curt Casali. However, the deficit was too much to overcome and Tampa Bay would drop the first of two v the Dodgers.
WP: Kazmir (2-2) LP: Moore (1-3) SV: Jansen (10)
Game 2
Rays 8 Dodgers 5
For the second night in a row, the Rays bats produced enough runs to warrant a win – and this time they got it. Lefty Drew Smyly was outstanding early, striking out the side in the first inning and not allowing a run until the fourth when Yasmani Grandal singled home Howie Kendrick to tie the game at 1-1. The Rays run came early in the bottom of the first inning when Brandon Guyer hit his second home run of the season into the left field seats. Steven Souza Jr hit his team-leading sixth home run of the year in the fourth inning, as well, to quickly put the Rays back on top, 2-1. Smyly started to struggle a bit in the sixth inning and was pulled with runners on second and third and no one out for Erasmo Ramirez who’s wild pitch would get the tying run across. Erasmo would finish off the inning without any further damage. Steve Pearce would add his third home run of the year in the sixth inning, a 3-run moonshot, to give the Rays a 5-2 lead which they would never relinquish. Despite putting a three-spot up on the board in the eighth v Enny Romero and Xavier Cedeno, Alex Colome would come in to lock it down in the top of the ninth for his sixth save in as many tries and a split of the two-game series for the Rays.
WP: Ramirez (5-1) LP: Wood (1-3) SV: Colome (6)
GAME NOTES:
- Rays RF Steven Souza Jr left Wednesday night’s game with a “pectoral spasm” which the team has said is not serious.
- The 4 HRs hit in Wednesday night’s game were the most by the Rays since September 7, 2014 v BAL where they hit the same number.
- Wednesday’s win v LAD was first for TB since 2007.
- Through 26 games, the Rays have hit 34 HRs, matching the 2006 Devil Rays for most in club history in that span.
NEXT UP:
- The Rays have an off-day Thursday before heading out west to face the Anaheim Angels and Seattle Mariners.
PROBABLES:
- 5/6 @ Angels – Chris Archer (1-4, 5.01) v TBD
- 5/7 @ Angels – Jake Odorizzi (0-1, 3.12) v Jared Weaver (3-1, 5.40)
- 5/8 @ Angels – TBD v Nick Tropeano (1-1, 3.42)
