The Rays defense kept the first inning from escalating into disaster. With Pete Alonso on first base, Ryan Vilade made this catch to save a run. But that’s not all! Pete Alonso was so sure this would be a hit that he was moseying around second base and even with Vilade having stand up and spin around Alonso still couldn’t get back to first. Double play of the year!
In the bottom of the inning the Rays pulled their all-too-common this series act of getting several men on base and then leaving them there. It’s a reminder that while small ball has its place, it’s very hard to score runs on a bunch of singles. Could someone please hit the ball out of the park?
Just as frustrating: Orioles Trevor Rogers threw a first pitch strike in nearly every at bat, yet only once or twice were Rays batters swinging.
Finally, Ryan Vilade, fixing to be today’s hero, does hit one out of the park, giving the Rays a 1-0 lead.
After that, however, came the fifth inning, which was inexplicably awful. Peralta, who had been effective enough to get through four innings unscathed although he wasn’t particularly dominant or efficient, walked two batters. There were two outs, but I guess Kevin Cash wasn’t confident that Peralta could get out of the inning.
Here comes the inexplicable part: he brought in Cleavinger. Cleavinger’s 3 point something ERA belies how ineffective he’s been lately. His August ERA is over eight, and he’s given up runs in his last two outings. Also should he fail to get Holliday to end the inning, he would have a very unfavorable match up against the right-handed Pete Alonso.
So, of course he gives up a single to Holliday, which tied the game.
And then, the least surprising things of all, he gives up a two run double to Alonso. Oh wait I guess it was a little surprising, I was sure he’d give up a home run. Baltimore 3, Tampa Bay 1.
Then it was Steve Matz’s chance to help turn a winnable game into a blow out. He also got two outs, before giving up a single followed by a home run. Baltimore 5, Tampa Bay 1. And then two more runs, to make it 7-1. He was replaced by the recently called up Joe Boyle, who managed to give up another three runs. ALL THIS WITH TWO OUTS. How did the Rays get this far into the season and not be able to bring in a pitcher who can get one lousy out?
The Rays scored one more run and I mention it only because newly signed Jorge Mateo got the RBI. Yippee.
This has been an altogether dispiriting series, to be sure, but at least the Rays seemed in it until the last out in the first two losses. I don’t know how you punt a game this badly in the fifth inning.
I guess this is a reminder that it’s a long season and still a lot more has to happen before the Rays make it to October.