Snell pitches like he belongs in Cy Young debate

by Gary Shelton on September 2, 2018 · 0 comments

in Baseball, Tampa Bay Rays

Snell won his 17th game of the season./JEFFREY S. KING

Snell won his 17th game of the season./JEFFREY S. KING

Sunday, 1:30 a.m.

It doesn't matter if you believe that Rays' ace Blake Snell is a viable Cy Young candidate.

Evidently, his fastball believes it.

And his curve.

Also, his slider.

And his change.

And opposing hitters.

Snell was excellent again Saturday night, allowing just one earned run in 6 2/3 innings as he won his 17th game (tied for the major-league lead) of the season. Snell's ERA is down to 2.02, and he's won five straight starts. The Rays won the game 5-3.

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Duffy had a two-run double./CARMEN MANDATO

Duffy had a two-run double./CARMEN MANDATO

"We always talk about what his best start is, this and that,'' Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. "You can argue that was his best start because he didn't have anything. … To limit that offense to two early runs, he didn't cruise by any means, he had to work, but I thought that was a really, really strong performance. Pretty telling performance for Blake, and how far he's come.’'

Snell allowed eight hits, but he allowed his team to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the victory.

Choi had three hits for the Rays./JEFFREY S. KING

Choi had three hits for the Rays./JEFFREY S. KING

"Everybody wants to say, 'Put Blake into these Cy Young conversations,' " Cash said. "He probably should be in all these conversations because he's put up a great season,'' Cash said. "But the other guys that have put up these great seasons have done it year after year. He hasn't had the luxury of doing it because he's only played two or three years now.’'

Lowe had a homer in the ninth./JEFFREY S. KING

Lowe had a homer in the ninth./JEFFREY S. KING

The Rays scored four times in the sixth inning to take the lead. Matt Duffy had a two-run double and Tommy Pham a one-run double. Kiermaier singled in Pham.

Brandon Lowe had a ninth-inning homer to pad the lead. After Jason Kipnis homered for Cleveland in the ninth inning, Adam Kolarek came on to get the save.

Ji-Man Choi had three hits for the Rays. Joey Wendle, Duffy and Lowe all had two hits.

The Rays finish the series today at 4:10 p.m. Diego Castillo will pitch for Tampa Bay against the Indians' Carlos Carrasco.

 

 

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