Archer struck out six to bring his season total to 249./ANDREW J. KRAMER
Sunday, 2:30 a.m.
For Chris Archer, there was enough frustration to go around.
He didn't win enough games. His team didn't make the playoffs. There were too many stretches where he wasn't the ace he was expected to be.
In the end, however, Archer pitched 200 innings again. It's something, at least.
“Taking the ball 34 times, not a whole lot of people did that,” Archer said. “I feel like the majority of my starts, I gave my team the chance to win, although
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.
Miller had a three-run homer and played well in the field./ANDREW J. KRAMER
we didn’t win all of them and I didn’t have a ton of wins, but I gave my team a chance. When I’m training in the offseason, that’s what I’m thinking about. I’m thinking about giving my team the best possible chance to win and making every start.”
Archer went five shutout innings Saturday night, improving his record to 10-12 and
Hechavarria had three hits for the Rays./ANDREW J. KRAMER
snapping a personal five-game losing streak in a 4-3 victory over Baltimore. He struck out six before turning things over to the bullpen.
“Five innings scoreless isn’t really a good note,” Archer said.” A losing season for the team. A losing season for myself. It’s not really good or bad note. I want to go to the playoffs. I want to maximize my potential every single start, which you strive for perfection and you come up a little bit short it’s ok. To me, a good note or bad note, we had a losing season so it’s really not that good of a note.”
There were other milestones. Alex Colome had his 47th save, and he'll lead the majors in saves.
“He’s doing it in the American League East, and that says a lot. What he’s done the last two years, have just been so consistent,” said manager Kevin Cash. “It's just amazing how, you guys see it day in and day out, they aren’t always easy, and when they aren’t
Kiermaier had a good night running the bases.ANDREW J. KRAMER
easy, he seems to have a knack for calming the situation and getting through it. That’s a sign of a strong closer, strong-minded closer who can go out there and help you get a lot of wins.”
Brad Miller had two hits, including a three-run homer for the Rays, his ninth of the season.
“We saw what Brad was capable of last year,” Cash said. “We saw spurts of it this year. It’s just been the inconsistency. The injury certainly didn’t help him. For me, he was the player of the game. He made the best defensive play, maybe the best one that he’s made all season long, and gets a three-run homer.”
For the Rays, Adeiny Hechavarria had three hits.
Kevin Kiermaier had a big inning in the seventh, stealing a base and forcing a balk. It was the kind of inning forced by speed. Cash said it could be a hint of the future.
“You have to get on first first before you do anything,” Kiermaier said. “I just try to
Robertson throws out Machado in the first./ANDREW J. KRAMER
create havoc on the bases anyway I can. It’s all about getting to third as fast as you can before two outs. I liked my chances off Hart right there getting to second, just kind of surprise attacking him with the steal right there, and then I planned on going to third and I thought I had him timed up and then fortunately made him balk. Wilson came with the sac fly right there. Us base stealers, or however you want to define us, it’s the little things like that that can win a team ballgames. You see that game right there was a one-run
Morrison had a hit for the Rays./ANDREW J. KRAMER
difference. Little things like that can help a team a long way. I hope you guys enjoyed it this year, previous year, but many more to come next year and so on after that.
“We are going to have a totally different team next year compared to right now, that’s the nature of the game. For the guys who are going to be here, we have to do the little things right a lot more. That’s how our team has always been built. We aren’t going to go out and spend all the money on the big guys. We have to do the little things right a lot more than other teams out there, and that’s just being honest and realistic with what we have going on here. That’s fine with us.”
The Rays (79-82) conclude their season today. Blake Snell of the Rays pitches against Kevin Glausman at 3:10 p.m.
Colomé's 47th save makes him the first Rays closer to lead the league./ANDREW J. KRAMER
{ 0 comments… read it below or Subscriptions }