Glasnow allowed only two hits in his debut./JEFFREY S. KING
Thursday, 4 a.m.
Say hello to Tyler Glasnow.
Say goodbye to Adeiny Hechavarria.
Say welcome back to Jack Faria.
And say "get comfortable" to Willy Adames.
The shuffling isn't over for the Tampa Bay Rays. A day after trading away Chris Archer, Wilson Ramos and three minor leaguers, the revolving door kept moving for the franchise. The team inserted newly acquired Glasnow and Tommy Pham into the lineup, designated Hechavarria for assignment, returned Faria to the roster and gave the starting shortstop job to Adames.
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.
Pham made his debut with the Rays./JEFFREY S. KING
When the movement stopped -- or at least slowed -- the team won a 7-2 game over the Los Angeles Angels. The Rays (55-53) returned to two games over .500 after falling behind 2-0.
“Nice to come from behind right there," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. "I was really excited to see Tyler throw the ball. He lets it go, that’s for sure. Impressive to see the fastball-curveball, the strikes were impressive, lots of upside, gotta like it. I was impressed with the way Jake Faria came back and threw the ball knowing that he didn’t have the cleanest rehab outing. "
Adames had a homer and a single for the Rays./JEFFREY S. KING
Cash was impressed with Glasnow, who came in the Archer trade.
“That’s a great start," Cash said. "If he’s featuring that kind of stuff at a 70 percent clip in the zone, he’s going to have a special career. I was impressed with how much he landed the breaking ball in the zone. And the fastball was in the zone and around the zone, and when you establish that, you’re going to get some swings and that’s where he gets his punch outs from. There were a couple fastball counts that he had that everyone knew he was going to throw a fastball, and still hitters had a tough time catching up to it. He creates plenty of deception. It looks like he’s placing the ball in the catcher’s mitt.”
Said Glasnow: "It was nice to go out and get the first one out of the way. Kind of found out the last second that I was starting and it was awesome. I
Bauers catches a popup by Mike Trout./JEFFREY S. KING
called my parents and girlfriend and everyone was just as excited as I was. It was a good opportunity.
“Just getting that text so late telling me I was going to start, I could just tell there was a lot of confidence in me. So it made me feel pretty good, and I was excited to come here and get it going today. I’m comfortable as a starter, I’ve done it my entire career. I think getting back on that routine and working with everyone here will be good.”
After Glastnow's three-inning debut for the Rays, Jake Faria threw 3 2/3 innings for the win.
“Just getting comfortable out there again, but today felt really good for the
Faria got the win in relief for Rays./JEFFREY S. KING
most part," Faria said. "And we got a win, so that’s good. I didn’t have any predetermined expectations going out there, just whenever they decided to tell me that was it.”
Adames and Jake Bauers both homered for the Rays, becoming the fourth duo short of their 23rd birthdays who have homered.
“That was good for Willy," Cash said. "He needed a couple hits. He got every bit of the home run. It was good to see him smiling, because I know he’s put
Wendle makes a play at second base./JEFFREY S. KING
pressure on himself to go perform and it doesn’t always come that easy. Today he really performed for us and got some big knocks at the plate.”
Adames, Matt Duffy and Mallex Smith all had two hits for the Rays. Bauers homered for the third straight game. He has nine on the season.
“You feel nothing," Bauers said of a home run swing. "You see the ball jump. You know you are swinging it good when you aren’t feeling it off the bat and you can almost not keep up with it off the bat.”
Adames admitted that he relaxed with Hechavarria gone.
“I would say it helped me a little bit," Adames said. "You never want one of your teammates to get DFA’d, but it’s part of the business. I hope he knows that he’s going to get a job. He’s one of the best shortstops in the game.”
The Rays play the Angels today at 1:10 p.m. Hunter Wood of the Rays pitches against Andrew Heaney.
{ 0 comments… read it below or Subscriptions }