Ramos had three hits and a homer for the Rays./CARMEN MANDATO
Wednesday, 3 a.m.
Perhaps the most surprising part of the recent nose-dive by the Tampa Bay Rays is the guy who ended it.
Blake Snell?
Who had him in the pool?
Snell earned his first victory of the season Tuesday night, and he gave the Rays at least a moment's respite from their 2-8 slump, with a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Snell went six innings and gave up four runs — three on a home run by Josh Donaldson – to bring the Rays back to within one game (60-61) of .500.
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Snell has pitched better since returning from the minors./CARMEN MANDATO
For Snell, it has been a tough season, one defined by walks and a lack of focus. But he has pitched better since returning from the minors. He is 1-1 in his last seven games.
“That might have been his best (start),” Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. “I know he gave up four runs, but one was a pretty quirky play. The other one, Donaldson's going to hit home runs. That's what he does. Blake got three huge outs (in the sixth). I'm happy for Blake. Hopefully, he can rack up a couple (more wins) going forward.”
Snell said he felt in control throughout.
“I never worried about (the season) ending with a zero (wins),” Snell said.
Colome had his 35th save for the Rays./CARMEN MANDATO
Snell gave up a run in the second when Keith Pillar's fly ball bounced beyond both Mallex Smith and Steven Souza Jr., allowing Steve Pearce to score.
But Lucas Duda came back with a two-run homer in the third. In the fourth, Wilson Ramos homered and Corey Dickerson had an RBI single. The Rays scored twice in the fifth when Adeiny Hechavarria and Daniel Robertson drew bases-loaded walks.
“It was outstanding to get some runs on the board,” Cash said. “There was something of a relief, but I was most impressed with the looseness we had. You wouldn't have guessed with what we've gone though that the team would be this loose.”
Ramos had three hits for the Rays, and Souza, Robertson and Logan Morrison all had two. Corey Dickerson went one-for-six, and his average fell to .284.
The Rays' bullpen threw shutout baseball over the last three innings. In the month of August, the Rays' bullpen has a 3-1 record, a five-for-five in saves, four-for-four in save opportunities and owns a 2.00 ERA. In 45 innings, they've had 44 strikeouts.
Alex Colome picked up his 35th save of the season.
The Rays send Jacob Faria to the mound tonight to face Marcus Stroman. Game time is 7:07 p.m. in Toronto.
There was finally something worth smiling over./CARMEN MANDATO
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