Cubs win another close one against Rays

by Gary Shelton on May 31, 2023

in general

McClanahan lost his first game of the year./TIM WIRT

Wednesday, 4 a.m.

By now, the Chicago Cubs have be wondering what all the fuss about the Tampa Bay Rays is.

The Cubs, the bottom-feeders of the NL Central, beat the Rays for the second straight gameTuesday night. This time, it was 2-1, a loss that may leave the Rays wondering if this is the onset of a slump.

The Cubs have to be full of themselves after a second straight one-run win.

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The power the Rays supposedly have? In two games, they have no home runs. They have just eight hits and only one run.

Shane McClanahan? The Rays' stopper couldn't plug the leak this time. He lost his first game of the year (against eight wins) when a defensive misplay cost the Rays. In the sixth inning. Ian Happ hit a popup that either Josh Lowe or Brandon Lowe could have had, but neither caught it. Happ ended up on second base, and he later scored on a bloop single by Mike Tauchman.'

The speed? Rays' shortstop Wander Franco was thrown out at the plate in the first inning. The Rays struggled all night to score.

Defense? Rays' misplays have led to two of the three runs the Cubs have scored in the series.

“It was a pretty quiet night offensively," said Rays' manager Kevin Cash. "That’s back to back days. The Cubs have done a good job making pitches."

In two games, the Rays are two-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

The Rays, just 13-12 on the road this year, try to avoid a sweep today at Wrigley Field. Zach Eflin will start for the Rays against Chicago's Justin Steele.

Rays’ smothered in 1-0 loss to Chicago

by Gary Shelton on May 30, 2023

in general

Franco had the Rays' only hit./TIM WIRT

Tuesday, 4 a.m.

Can they take this show on the road?

As good as the Tampa Bay Rays have been this season, and as potent, they still have to learn to win away from Tropicana Field.

The Rays' latest loss, a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Cubs and pitcher Marcus Stroman, was the latest evidence of the Rays' mortality on the road. They are now just 13-11 away from home this year.

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Monday's game was the cruelest an opposing pitcher has been to the Rays. Stroman threw a complete game, allowing just one bloop single (to Wander Franco) in the win. He struck out eight batters and allowed just one batter to reach scoring position.

The narrow defeat came one day after the Rays won a wild 11-10 win over the Dodgers.

"He had a lot of late movement," said Rays' manager Kevin Cash. "We didn’t hit many balls hard. He executed his pitches where he wanted to. We’ve seen him a few times; that personally, was the best I’ve seen him. He pitched a heck of a ballgame."

Rays' rookie Taj Bradley wasn't far behind. He threw a three-hitter over 5 1/3 innings and allowed just one unearned run. That came after a throwing error by Tyler Walls and two fly balls.

"Man, what a step in the right direction," Cash said.

The Rays, 39-17 overall, play against the Cubs again tonight at 8 p.m. at Wrigley Field. Shane McClanahan (8-0) will start for the Rays. Kyle Hendricks will start for Chicago.

Adam shuts the door as Rays edge Dodgers

by Gary Shelton on May 29, 2023

in general

Adam earned his seventh save./TIM WIRT

Monday, 4 a.m.

His job, by nature, is to calm the waters.

This time, however, Jason Adam was facing a hurricane.

The Los Angeles Dodgers would not go away. Did you see how easily they slapped around Josh Fleming Sunday? They were relentless. As Adam took the mound for the eighth inning, they already had 10 runs and 12 hits. Five of the hits were home runs.

And Adam put a stop to all of that nonsense.

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Paredes drove in four runs with three hits./TIM WIRT

In two innings, Adam faced six batters, and he got them all out. He struck out four, including Freddie Freeman, to earn his seventh save of the season. He made a back-and-forth game look one-sided. In the end, he made sure the Rays won 11-10 in one of those Houdini games.

In 23 appearances, Adam had not gone more than an inning this year. However, Pete Fairbanks was warming up but left the bullpen with a trainer.

The Rays won their series over the Dodgers, scoring 25 runs in the three games.

Isaac Paredes had three hits, including his eighth home run. He drove in four runs to lead the Rays.

Yandy Diaz, Wander Franco, Brandon Lowe, Harold Ramirez, Josh Lowe and Luke Raley all had two hits in the Rays' 16-hit attack.

Tampa Bay scored six times in the second inning, five of them with two out. the Rays scored one runs in the first inning.

The Rays are now 39-16 on the year.

Tampa Bay will begin a series against the Chicago Cubs today at 2 p.m. at Wrigley Field. Taj Bradley will start for the Ryas against Marcus Stroman.

Raley had two hits and a nice catch./TIM WIRT

Dodgers edge Rays in Glasgnow’s return

by Gary Shelton on May 28, 2023

in general

Ramirez homered to give the Rays a lead./TIM WIRT

Saturohday, 4 a.m.

For all the anticipation of the Rays' starting pitcher, it was the bullpen that left them a run short Sunday.

Most fans had talked mainly about the return of Tyler Glasnow, who was fairly impressive considering that he hadn’r pitched in 236 days. He threw 4 1/3 innings, giving up three runs and five hits in a no-decision.

Alas, the Rays gave up three runs from their bullpen -- two by Colin Poche -- and lost a 6-5 game.

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Margot had a two-run single./TIM WIRT

Poche threw 22 pitches and gave up three hits, two runs and had two wild pitches in taking the loss. Mookie Betts' single and Freddie Freeman's double were the key hits in the inning.

"I thought Po’s stuff was really pretty good," said Rays'' manager Kevin Cash. "A couple of good hitters just got him."

The Rays had little luck early with Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw, but picked up four runs in five innings. Manuel Margot had a two-run single and Harold Ramirez had a two-run homer. The Rays led 4-3 going into the seventh.

But the Rays could dent the Dodgers' bullpen for only one run (Wander Franco's single that drove in Tyler Walls). Harold Ramirez grounded out with the tying run on third.

"We just came up short," Cash said.

The Rays play the Dodgers again today at 11:35 a.m. at Tropicana Field. The Rays have not announced a starter yet. The Dodgers will start Gavin Stone.

Franco brought the Rays within one run./TIM WIRT


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