Jake Bauers hits his first major league homer./JEFFREY S. KING
Tuesday, 4 a.m.
Bauers has doubles in three straight games./JEFFREY S. KING
There is a new energy to the Rays' clubhouse. There is a quicker step, and a fresher look. There is a bit of a hop to the step of the players.
The Young Guns are here.
Could their time finally have arrived?
The Rays, the just-got-here Tampa Bay Rays, not only beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 Monday night. They did it with their highly valued kids.
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Adames drove in two to help the Rays./JEFFREY S. KING
Hours after bringing up shortstop Willie Adames, who joined first baseman Jake Bauers in the starting lineup, the 22-year-olds led the Rays to their 30th win of the year (against 35 losses).
Bauers hit his first major league home run, a two-run shot in the fourth inning. Adames had a two-run single in the third.
Yarbrough improved his record to 5-2 with the win./JEFFREY S. KING
Those weren't the only kids at play, however. Of the Rays 10 starters (counting designated hitter), eight of them were under 30. So, too, was Diego Castillo, the Rays' first reliever.
“I guess that’s how you want to draw it up," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. "Our two young guys came in, really impacted us in a big way and helped us win a game. Offensively, it was nice to get the eight runs."
Ryan Yarbrough, 26, gave up four earned runs across six innings to run his record to 5-2 on the season.
Duffy upped his batting average to .320./JEFFREY S. KING
"I thought (Ryan) did a really nice job of settling in," Cash said. "They challenged him early on. We needed him to get as deep as possible given that the bullpen was pretty taxed going in so I give Yarbs a lot of credit for being a big part of that win. Obviously the offense and we did a lot of little things to help us win.
“I don’t really think he did anything wrong in the first place. Teoscar Hernandez, that was pretty impressive to hit the ball that way on
that pitch. I thought Yarbs threw the ball pretty well throughout the night. He was efficient, he worked quick. If you look at the outing he had against the Nationals, there were a lot of pitches in between and
it wasn’t coming easy. I know he gave up the runs, but it looked like he had
Smith can't come up with a fly against the wall./JEFFREY S. KING
a good approach and good game plan of what he was trying to do."
Yarbrough wasn't completely satisfied, however.
“Not the most ideal way to start off today. Obviously one of those days where you have to battle. All of the position players were great, they kept us in the game. Wilson [Ramos] called a really good game behind the plate. It was just more about execution for me early on, especially when we had that lead on the [Jake] Bauers home run. It was a matter of being aggressive still and getting in the dugout as fast as possible for us to keep hitting. I know we were contagious so that’s what I wanted to do.”
Bauers, who has doubles in three straight games, enjoyed his first home run.
Chris Archer took time to assist the umps./JEFFREY S. KING
“Duffy gets a base hit before me and steals second in a big spot," Bauers said. "Down one run. I really was trying to stay in the middle of the field. Hit something hard and hopefully it gets through and scores him. (Gaviglio) left a fastball up in the zone, got just enough barrel to it and it sailed out.”
Bauers liked playing with Adames again.
“Every minute of that was fun," Bauers said. "We kept making eye contact and you couldn’t help but crack a smile. We’ve talked about it for a while, playing with each other the past 3-4 years now. For all of it to come together and be here now, it was special out there. I hope that feeling sticks around for a while.”
Refsnyder bottles a ball for Rays./JEFFREY S. KING
Bauers said the energy provided by the duo was contagious.
“A hundred percent," Bauers said. "I don’t know if that’s the only thing that’s contagious. I think good at-bats are contagious. A lot of our guys went up to the plate tonight and battled whether it was falling behind 0-2 and getting a base hit like Duffy did in the first inning or getting walks in big spots. It seemed like everyone was walking up there with a purpose tonight and having good at-bats. When you have an order 1-through-9 doing that, chances are you are going to put yourself in a position to win the game.”
Cash enjoyed seeing the Rays win./JEFFREY S. KING
Adames, who was brought up Monday for his second stint with the Rays, said it was a different feeling this time.
“It was way different, especially because we got the win and the team played good," Adames said. "I got to see Jake Bauers’ first homer. I think he was waiting for me to get here for his first homer. It was pretty amazing for me to be here and be part of it. The pitchers looked good, the team looked good. If we can keep this going, I think we are going to win a lot of games.”
The first thing Adames said to Bauers?
“I told him, ‘were you waiting for me to get here to hit your first homer?’ and he said ‘yes, buddy.’”
The Rays had nine hits, including two each by Matt Duffy (who is up to .320) and Bauers. C.J. Cron was hit by another pitch, which gives him a league-leading 12 on the season.
The teams play the second game of their series tonight at 7:10 p.m. at the Trop. Ryne Stanek will pitch against Toronto's Jaime Garcia.
Wendle goes to his knees to make a play./JEFFREY S. KING
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