Meadows turned the game into a route./CHUCK MULLER
Saturday, 3 a.m.
He is brand new, fresh off the shelf, and there are a great many things that Trevor Richard does not know about the Tampa Bay Rays.
He does know this, however.
He kind of likes this Austin Meadows kid.
Meadows hit a second-inning grand slam and put the Rays ahead 7-0 early in the game, giving Richards a victory in his second start for the team. Richards was dominant, allowing only two hits and no runs.
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Zunino knocked in two runs for the Rays./CHUCK MULLER
It was Meadows' third home run of the week. His blast came after Mike Zunino knocked in two runs.
"He’s pretty special when he’s got a bat in his hand," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. "I can think of one cool streak kind of leading into the all-star break, but other than that he’s been so consistent. He sees the ball so well. You never see him really take an out-of sort swing. That's the sign of a good hitter."
Cash was impressed with Richards, too.
"Trevor was awesome," Cash said. "I saw some encouraging things from him in his last outing. We were hoping to see some more. and we did. He got the cutter going, and the changeup seemed to play better. Once we got the runs for him, he settled in and did a really good job.
“Right now, it's all hands on deck. We're going to need solid outings from anyone who takes the ball. He certainly gave us one today."
The Rays play the Orioles again today at Camden Yards. Jose Alvarado, who has struggled, will open for the Rays at 1:05 p.m. against Dylan Bundy.
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