Adames had three hits and drove in three./JOE MESTAS
Friday, 4 a.m.
Maybe he just likes airplane rides.
Maybe he likes museum tours, or seeing opposing baseball parks. Maybe he likes popcorn on the road. Maybe he loves suitcases. Maybe he hates the hot dogs at the Trop.
Whatever it is, Willy Adames is a traveling man.
Adames overcame two early errors Thursday night to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. He had three hits, including a home run, to further enhance his away-from-home numbers in the victory.
Content beyond this point is for members only.
Already a member? To view the rest of this column, sign in using the handy "Sign In" button located in the upper right corner of the GarySheltonSports.com blog (it's at the far right of the navigation bar under Gary's photo)!
Not a member? It's easy to subscribe so you can view the rest of this column and all other premium content on GarySheltonSports.com.
Not a member? It's easy to subscribe so you can view the rest of this column and all other premium content on GarySheltonSports.com.
Pagan recorded his 14th save./JOE MESTAS
In 61 road games this year, Adames is hitting .315 with 13 homers and 30 RBI. In 60 home games, he's hitting .186 with three homers and 10 RBI. On the road, he's Godzilla. At home, he's the Geico Lizard.
"Maybe I like staying in hotel rooms," Adames said. "Maybe I'll stay at the Vinoy."
Meadows had a homer and a double./JEFFREY S. KING
The Rays pulled within percentage points of Oakland for the top Wild Card position with the win. They are in a virtual tie in the standings.
"It was really huge," Rays' manger Kevin Cash said of the win, which included a rain delay of two hours and 16 minutes. "We sat for 2:16. But the guys stayed locked in enough to get out there in a 2-2 game. Those aren’t easy situations. It’s tough to simulate that."
The Rays managed only eight hits for the evening, and Adames and Meadows had five of them.
Cash liked the way Adames bounced back.
“We talk about Willy hitting on the road," Cash said. "He seems to like it here, so good. We have six more games on the road. Hopefully he can get hot and stay hot for us.
Yarbrough started well before the rains came./TIM WIRT
"Willy's done really good things defensively for us. You're not going to play shortstop at this level and not have some defensive hiccups at times. It is encouraging that he can come back and impact the game is such a positive way."
The Rays fell behind 2-0, but rallied for a 4-2 lead. That's when they put Jose Alvarado into the game, who was wobbly once again. Alvarado gave up a walk and a hit, then an infield chopper that moved both runners into scoring position.
Neil Anderson came on to work his way out of the jam, and Emilio Pagan followed to notch his 14th save.
"We've got to get Jose going somehow," Cash said. "We can’t have pitchers on this staff we don’t have confidence in using. Right now, Jose is pitching with half a pitch. He has a fastball and, sometimes, he throws it for a strike and sometimes, he doesn’t. The breaking ball has not been a factor for him. We've got to get him going."
Ryan Yarbrough started the game and did well, allowing one earned run in his 4 1/3 innings. The rain delay finished him, however, and the Rays went on to use seven
Rays want to get Alvardo in control./STEVEN MUNCIE
pitchers.
"Yarbs was outstanding," Cash said. "It stunk that the rain came and we had to sit there and wait. I know he wanted to continue pitching. He looked just as good as he had the last 6-7 outings. "
The Rays were unsure of who they will start in tonight's game. Ty Blach pitches for the Orioles. The game begins at 7:05 p.m. at Camden Yards.
{ 0 comments… read it below or Subscriptions }