Rays hold off O’s, finally end their losing streak

by Gary Shelton on July 26, 2017 · 14 comments

in general, Tampa Bay Rays

Beckham's three-run homer earned a bear hug from Souza./CARMEN MANDATO

Beckham's three-run homer earned a bear hug from Souza./CARMEN MANDATO

Wednesday, 3 a.m.

They ended the game hanging on by their fingernails. They had to scrap to outlast a sub-.500 team. They spent much of the game being shut down by the opposing pitcher.

But they won.

Finally, the Tampa Bay Rays won.

The Rays, riding a five-game losing streak, held on to beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 on Tuesday night. Tampa Bay took a 5-0 lead in the second inning, but then had to survive a ninth inning. The Rays had an error and gave up two hits in the ninth before winning.

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Colombia was shaky, but got his 29th save./CARMEN MANDATO

Colome was shaky, but got his 29th save./CARMEN MANDATO

“We needed a win and that was a good win,” Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. “Maybe there is something to be said about winning a game that tight that can jolt you to get you on a roll more than winning a 5-0 win. We will take them however we can get them.”

The Rays got yet another quality start from rookie Jacob Faria, his eighth in his nine starts. He went 7 1/3 inning and gave up only three unearned runs.

Faria had yet another quality start./CARMEN MANDATO

Faria had yet another quality start./CARMEN MANDATO

“Jake Faria provided everything and more for what we needed,” Cash said. “There wasn’t really any trouble except for the one bases-loaded situation. There were some louds outs, but they were outs. We were pretty well-positioned tonight.

“He doesn't get rattled. The stuff is really good. He threw a ton of fastballs. There is something about his fastball that it stays in 90-93 range. But he gets a lot of swings-and-misses, a lot of chases and a lot of popups.”

Still, things got dicey at the end. Tommy Hunter gave up a run to cut the deficit to 5-4, and Alex Colome had another nail-biting save, his 29th.

Evan Longoria started a key double-play in the ninth, fielding the ball and spinning before throwing to second base. “It was tremendous,” Cash said. “Very Manny Machado-esque.”

After five games, no one was willing to make fun of the way this one happened.

“We needed to shake hands (in a post-game ceremony),” Cash said. “We have to get on a roll now. We have a challenge tomorrow with a day game and then we go on

Longoria started a crucial double play in the ninth./CARMEN MANDATO

Longoria started a crucial double play in the ninth./CARMEN MANDATO

the road. I’m hoping that a close win like this is more beneficial than winning a game that gets separated early and there’s no intensity at the back end of it. There was plenty of intensity.”

Faria still seems unruffled after his early success.

“I don’t get shaken up when I get hit hard,” Faria said. “This is a team that hits a lot of homers. They are going to hit the ball hard, but if they make an out, it’s still an out. I don’t care how I make the out as long as it’s made. I don’t really get shaken up with balls hit hard. I get mad at myself if I leave a ball over the zone and they crush it because I made the mistake, but if they hit it hard, but it’s an out it really doesn’t bother me.”

Tim Beckham had a three-run homer to center in the second to lead the win. With the slumping Corey Dickerson and Logan Morrison out of the lineup, it was needed.

“No matter what lineup it is, we are going to come out and compete every day. We want to come out and win the ballgame,” Beckham said. “No matter what lineup or where we are in the lineup. Everyone is capable of putting together good at-bats and everyone is capable of hitting the ball hard somewhere. It was fun today. We want to keep it going.”

The Rays close out their seres against the Orioles in a 12:10 game today at the Trop. Alex Cobb pitches against Ubaldo Jimenez.

Smith singles to center in the second inning for the Rays./CARMEN MANDATO

Smith singles to center in the second inning for the Rays./CARMEN MANDATO

 

 

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