Rays’ Banda leads 5-1 victory over Baltimore

Robertson had three hits and a couple of defensive gems./JEFFREY S. KING

Sunday, 3 a.m.

As a strategy goes, all of baseball seems to be discussing the Rays' revolutionary new pitching blueprint.

Perhaps, however, the controversy should not be over who opens the game for the Rays.

Perhaps, just perhaps, the controversy should be over whichever pitcher pitches second.

The Rays captured an easy 5-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles Saturday when Anthony Banda came in to pitch. Banda went 6 1/3 innings, allowing only three

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Banda

hits and one unearned run. In the fifth, he gave up a leadoff triple to Danny Valencia but worked his way out of the jam.
After the game, Banda was sent to the minors.

In all, Banda struck out seven and, in one stretch, retired 13 of 14 Orioles.

“A lot," Rays manager Kevin Cash said when asked how much he was impressed with Banda. "Especially when the leadoff triple happened, and just how he continued to make pitches. We know we are asking these guys for a lot. We know we are asking them to go outside of their comfort zone with them used to being starters. Two ways -- with Ryne Stanek and Anthony -- both being young pitchers, showed a ton of poise today. Stanek was tremendous, but for Banda, to get that deep into the ballgame, given that his Anaheim start was (57 pitches), to get that deep was really impressive. He had an outstanding fast ball that, for whatever reason, they couldn’t catch up to.”

The Rays scored two runs in the first and three in the second to explode against Baltimore.

Cron had a two-run double for the Rays./JEFFREY S. KING

Tampa Bay's relievers now have 14 appearances with at least 50 pitches, the most in the majors.

Cash was impressed with Stanek, who opened the game and retired the first five batters.

"I think that’s his biggest issue -- controlling the count," Cash said. "It probably plays stronger for him than other pitchers because of the stuff that he features. If he can get ahead, that’s the type of performance that he’s capable of showing. They’ve seen him, (Machado) hit a home run off him last time we were (in Baltimore). But, when he’s throwing strike one putting the onus on them to make decisions behind in the count, he becomes really challenging.”

Banda said he likes to work fast.

Gomez tagged out after a running gaffe./JEFFREY S. KING

"It’s definitely something that I like to do, just to keep the hitters feeling a little rushed." Banda said. "Whether they take the time to get in the box, or whatever, I’m still going to come after them, have a quick tempo, and pound the zone. Just trust my pitches, keep everything where I need to throw it, and produce outs.”

Stanek said he liked the pitching strategy.

“Yeah it’s cool," Stanek said. "It’s something that’s definitely going to shake things up for a little bit because it’s different. Different isn’t bad. Different in this case seems to work and it’s worked a couple times for us so far.“

Elsewhere on the diamond, shortstop Daniel Robertson had a good day. He

Roe finished things off in the ninth./JEFFREY S. KING

picked up three hits and played superbly in the field.

"He's fun to watch," Cash said. "The comfort at the plate, the comfort with the glove. When we get in a jam, we're thinking 'hit the ball to Robbie. That play he made today will be on every highlight reel today."

Both C.J. Cron and Wilson Ramos had two hits for the Rays. Cron had a two-run double and Ramos a one-run double.

The Rays will use the bullpen strategy today against the Orioles. Sergio Romo will start for Tampa Bay against the Orioles Andrew Gausman. Game time is 1:10 p.m. at Tropicana Field.

Cash liked his team's effort's against Baltimore./JEFFREY S. KING