Tuesday, 4 a.m.
This year, he shows no sign of slowing down.
Shane McClanahan, the acknowledged ace of the Tampa Bay Rays, won another game Monday afternoon. He went six innings, and he allowed five hits, and he struck out six. In all, it looks like McClanahan's best start since, well, last year.
McClanahan is 9-1 this year, cruising as smoothly as any pitcher in baseball.
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Ah, but last year McClanahan was 10-3 in June, and he started for the American League in the All-Star game. But McClanahan leveled off, finishing at 12-8 and losing his last three games.
Will that happen again? Not if McClanahan pitches the way he did Monday. Despite walking two in the first inning, he was in control as the Rays won their third game in the four-game series against the Boston Red Sox, 4-1.
"He's really good," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said. "He got kind of irritated with himself and took it to another gear and kind of locked it in."
The Rays had their own struggles against Boston's Brayan Bello, who held them to one hit over the first four innings. In the fifth, however, the Rays got five hits and three runs. Luke Raley doubled to start things, followed by a single by Manuel Margot. A single by Frankie Mejia and a groundout by Josh Lowe brought home the other runs.
Taylor Walls' walk with the bases loaded in the seventh brought home the Rays' other run.
Tampa Bay is now 43-19 on the season.
The Rays return home today to face Minnesota at Tropicana field at 6:40 p.m. Zach Eflin will start for the Rays against Louie Varland.