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Art Deco · 01-05-2021, 10:30 AM

Game 1: The Rays and Christian Little beat the Royals 5-0 in what was probably the worst team shutout in franchise history. Although they didn't allow a run Rays pitchers gave Kansas City 18 baserunners on 9 hits, 8 walks and a HBP yet the Royals could not push across a run. And they only turned one double play and threw one runner out on the bases so it wasn't like KC ran into a bunch of outs. Of course it helps to have a strikeout pitch like Little and he went 5.2 9 0 0 2 8 to go to 5-1, 1.96. Mike Mooney took over for him in the 6th and was the most effective of the relievers, getting 5 outs on 3 whiffs and only allowing one walk. Jordan Diaz walked 2 in his lone inning, and Evan Godwin was given the opportunity to finish but walked the bases loaded in the 9th, necessitating JDLC to come in for the final out and get save #6. Nate Clark was the star on offense with a 2-run HR in the 3rd (#8) giving the Rays all the runs they'd need, and he added an RBI single in the 9th. In the 4th Connor Kirkley's RBI groundout and Keibert Ruiz's sac fly provided the other runs. All the other AL East teams won except Toronto (who was playing Boston), so 18-8 is only good for a 2 1/2 game lead right now.

Game 2: The Rays completed the sweep of the 2-game mini-series with Kansas City with a 9-6 win. It was a tense 2-2 game until the 6th when Jasson Dominguez, struggling to get going with his injury-riddled start to the season, cleared the bases with a 2-out double to put the Rays up 5-2. After Blake Money was left in too long to allow a 2-run double to Lewin Diaz in the bottom of the frame, the Rays broke it open with 4 runs in the 8th on a 2-run HR from Isaac DeLeon (#8) and a 2-run single from Jhon Diaz who's been thriving since being moved to the leadoff spot (3-4 today with 2 steals). But after Jordan Diaz got the Rays' first 1-2-3 inning of the two games in the 7th and Jose Alvarado did the same in an 8-pitch 8th, Alvarado stayed on and gave up 2 hits and Daniel Espino gave up 2 more of his own to allow Alvarado's runners to score to make it 9-6 before he got Xavier Edwards to ground out to end the game. Earlier Joe Barker had hit a 2-run HR (#5) in the 1st to put the Rays up before former Ray Hunter Bishop hit a 2-run shot of his own off Money in the 3rd to tie it. Money got the win and is now 3-2, but the 4 runs allowed in 5 2/3 keep his ERA up at 5.46. Baltimore won its 8th straight to stay 2 1/2 back.

Team record: 19-8. Next up: An off-day followed by 3 games in Coors Field against the Rockies. With how well the bats have been going and how mediocre the pitching has been, I'm fully expecting a 13-10 game or two this weekend.

01-05-2021, 10:30 AM	#545
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,428	May 1-2, 2029: at Kansas City (2) Game 1: The Rays and Christian Little beat the Royals 5-0 in what was probably the worst team shutout in franchise history. Although they didn't allow a run Rays pitchers gave Kansas City 18 baserunners on 9 hits, 8 walks and a HBP yet the Royals could not push across a run. And they only turned one double play and threw one runner out on the bases so it wasn't like KC ran into a bunch of outs. Of course it helps to have a strikeout pitch like Little and he went 5.2 9 0 0 2 8 to go to 5-1, 1.96. Mike Mooney took over for him in the 6th and was the most effective of the relievers, getting 5 outs on 3 whiffs and only allowing one walk. Jordan Diaz walked 2 in his lone inning, and Evan Godwin was given the opportunity to finish but walked the bases loaded in the 9th, necessitating JDLC to come in for the final out and get save #6. Nate Clark was the star on offense with a 2-run HR in the 3rd (#8) giving the Rays all the runs they'd need, and he added an RBI single in the 9th. In the 4th Connor Kirkley's RBI groundout and Keibert Ruiz's sac fly provided the other runs. All the other AL East teams won except Toronto (who was playing Boston), so 18-8 is only good for a 2 1/2 game lead right now. Game 2: The Rays completed the sweep of the 2-game mini-series with Kansas City with a 9-6 win. It was a tense 2-2 game until the 6th when Jasson Dominguez, struggling to get going with his injury-riddled start to the season, cleared the bases with a 2-out double to put the Rays up 5-2. After Blake Money was left in too long to allow a 2-run double to Lewin Diaz in the bottom of the frame, the Rays broke it open with 4 runs in the 8th on a 2-run HR from Isaac DeLeon (#8) and a 2-run single from Jhon Diaz who's been thriving since being moved to the leadoff spot (3-4 today with 2 steals). But after Jordan Diaz got the Rays' first 1-2-3 inning of the two games in the 7th and Jose Alvarado did the same in an 8-pitch 8th, Alvarado stayed on and gave up 2 hits and Daniel Espino gave up 2 more of his own to allow Alvarado's runners to score to make it 9-6 before he got Xavier Edwards to ground out to end the game. Earlier Joe Barker had hit a 2-run HR (#5) in the 1st to put the Rays up before former Ray Hunter Bishop hit a 2-run shot of his own off Money in the 3rd to tie it. Money got the win and is now 3-2, but the 4 runs allowed in 5 2/3 keep his ERA up at 5.46. Baltimore won its 8th straight to stay 2 1/2 back. Team record: 19-8. Next up: An off-day followed by 3 games in Coors Field against the Rockies. With how well the bats have been going and how mediocre the pitching has been, I'm fully expecting a 13-10 game or two this weekend. Last edited by Art Deco; 01-05-2021 at 01:53 PM.