Going to do shorter recaps and post the entire series at once (but not this one), in a bit of a change from what I had been doing and what I do with the other Rays save.
Here's Opening Day:
A tough loss after we had come back to take the lead twice on 2-run homers from Oscar Colas and Manuel Margot. The only reason Margot was in the game is because Josh Lowe broke his thumb on an infield single, I guess on a Kiermaier-style dive into the bag. It was his first MLB hit and he'll be sitting on a 1.000 BA for awhile since he's out 6 weeks. Yonny Chirinos wasn't that good but he'll get a few more starts before I make any judgments.
April 8: Placed OF Josh Lowe on the 10-day IL with a broken thumb, recalled IF/OF Vidal Brujan from AAA Durham.
Time to see what we have in Brujan and how passably he can play CF.
Game 2: Another walk-off win for Kansas City as they beat the Rays 4-3 in 12 innings after Andrew Kittredge gave up a triple to lead off the 12th, which scored on a sac fly. Randy Arozarena had a 2-run double in the 8th to tie it as the offense struggled with 7 hits in 12 innings. Matt Peacock was 5 6 3 3 1 3 in his Rays debut but probably shouldn't have come out for the 6th on 89 pitches as he put two on which Pete Fairbanks allowed to score. Wander was 2-5 with 2 steals.
April 9: Signed OF Khris Davis to a minor league contract.
Davis hit 26 HR for Texas last year so there's still some gas left in the tank and he could maybe platoon with Colas if Colas has trouble with lefties (his ratings aren't that bad against them). We'll let him play at Durham and see how it goes; if we bring him up we owe him $3.2M.
Game 3: The Rays took out 2 games and 8 innings' worth of frustration as they scored 9 times in the 9th to beat the Royals 9-1 and take their first win of the season. They had numerous chances to score throughout the game with several RISP (including men on 3rd) with less than two out but couldn't score and it looked like they'd lose another heartbreaker. But Austin Meadows' RBI double, a bases-loaded HBP to Randy Arozarena, a bases-loaded walk to Willy Adames and then a grand slam from Oscar Colas (#2) blew it open. Vidal Brujan made his MLB debut as a pinch-runner in the 9th and stole second before later getting to bat in the inning and beating out an infield single. Ryan Yarbrough deserved the win, going 7.1 7 1 1 2 3 but Diego Castillo got it going the final 1 2/3.
Team record: 1-2. Next up: The Twins, who vanquished us in the ALDS, visit the Trop for our home opening series.