Field scores from first on Robertson's double./CARMEN MANDATO
Thursday, 3 a.m.
It was long ago, back when Jake Faria was. young and the world was new.
It was July 25 of 2017, and back inn those days, he was an efficient rookie. He had just ran his record to 5-1 for the Tampa Bay Rays, and it seemed as if he would be smooth forever.
Ah, the glory year.
Since then, the road has turned rough for Faria, the Rays 24-year-old pitcher. He had gone 0-4 and winless in eight starts.
Wednesday, however, Faria showed he remains a pitcher with potential,
Filed tied the game at one after scoring from first./CARMEN MANDATO
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.
Faria had his second straight strong start./CARMEN MANDATO
however, shutting down the Texas Rangers in a 4-2 victory. Faria allowed only one run and spread five hits in six innings of work. For the Rays, it was their second series win out of the last three.
The Rays trailed 1-0 against the Rangers' Cole Hamels, but scored three times in the sixth to take the lead.
Cron celebrates completing a double play./CARMEN MANDATO
"I thiught he did a good job of rebounding from is first inning," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said of Faria. "Today was his best in-zone work. Trust your stuff, that’s what he did today."
Alex Colome got the save for the Rays despite walking the first two hitters and giving up a one-out single to Drew Robinson. A double play ended the game, however.
"In all fairness, he’s not quite right," Cash said. "I don't ever remember him throwing a fastball above the hitter’s head last year. He’s working through it. I'm happy he worked through it. He’s the first to admit that he’s not totally locked in. When he is, he’ll get on a good run."
Faria was hit hard in the first, but wasn't worried, he said. "I threw two sliders
Colome managed his fourth save of the season./CARMEN MANDATO
across the middle," he said.
The outing was a good one for him, however.
"After the last outing, I was feeling a lot better mentally," Faria said. "I was ready to pound the strike zone. Whether we have our guys out there or they're banged up like they are now. our goal is to pound the zone and keep the team in the game."
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead on a hone run by Shin-Soo Choo in the third inning
In the sixth, however, Field led off with a single to left, then scored from first on a double by Daniel Robertson. Cron followed with a run-scoring single, and Adeiny
Hechavarria hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.
In the seventh, Span doubled to drive in Joey Wendle.
The Rays are off today, then host the Twins on Friday at 7:10 p.m. Chris Archer, with his 7.84 ERA, pitches against Lance Lynn.
Gomez is examined after being hit by a pitch./CARMEN MANDATO
{ 0 comments… read it below or Subscriptions }