No lead to blow tonight: Tigers 5, Rays 1
Sometimes it’s better to never have a chance.
The road trip continues as the team with the league’s best record welcomed the struggling Rays
Kevin Cash went into this game without two of his middle infielders available; Ha-Seong Kim is still nursing a calf injury that he picked up in his Rays debut, and Brandon Lowe left Sunday’s game with side tightness, a move the team is saying is precautionary. That left backup catcher Matt Thaiss and outfielder Christopher Morel on the bench.
Base running errors cost the Rays a couple of outs in the early innings. Yandy Diaz got doubled up at second base after pulling up and not even attempting a slide, allowing the Tigers to complete the rare 3-6 double play. The next mistake would end their chances of putting up a crooked number in the third.
Javy Baez, the American League’s starting center fielder in next week’s All-Star game, pummeled a hanging breaking ball that Baz floated in an 0-2 count. That gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Leaving that pitch in that location in that situation, when you’re facing the King of all Chasers, is the reason Kyle Snyder will age like an American president.
An RBI-single from Jonathan Aranda got the Rays on the board, scoring Taylor Walls. However, Danny Jansen was nailed at third base on a throw from Zack McKinstry, ending their rally. While it took a great throw from McKinstry and a nifty tag from Javy Baez at third, it’s never pleasant to see your team’s chance at a big inning end with a tag at third base.
Baz would allow just one more run, going six innings without snowballing, and keeping the Rays in the game. He struck out seven batters, only the fifth time this season he’s punched out that many this season. It’s about as good as you can expect from a back end starter.
Paul Gervase, who hasn’t pitched in a week, ate up the last two innings, which is important to preserve the bullpen for the rest of this road trip before the All-Star break. The Rays may also opt to get a fresh arm up in place of Gervase.
Chandler Simpson managed to get two hits in the loss, and his seemingly increased comfortability at the plate has been a bright spot during this otherwise rough stretch. His batting average is now up to .309. Still some work to do in the field though.
As losses go, this was not one of the worst. The bullpen wasn’t given a chance to blow a lead, because the bats were kept off-balance by on of the most effective pitching staffs in all of baseball. The Rays were without one of their All-Stars in Brandon Lowe, who would’ve been one of the bigger threats to Montero. They’ll get another go at it tomorrow with Ryan Pepiot on the mound going up against Jack Flaherty.