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Art Deco · 03-13-2023, 08:32 AM

The Rays took 2 of 3 from the Pale Hose but suffered about as devastating injury as possible in the finale of the series.

Chris Ferguson was on point in the opener as the Rays eked out a 2-1 win at Guaranteed Rate Field over Chicago. The righty went to 2-0 after a 6.2 6 1 1 3 2 outing and the pen did its job with Josh Scanlon securing save #4. Both runs came in the first on consecutive RBI singles from Orlando Tosado and Nate Strickland and thanks to Ferguson and the pen they held up.

The Rays didn't have to hold their breath as much in the second game as they took a comfortable 6-1 win over the White Sox. Joe Marlette (2-0) flashed his dominant form for the first time this season, going 6 2 0 0 2 11 and he received ample support. Orlando Tosado's 3-run homer in the 6th (#4) broke open a 2-0 game while Arturo Gutierrez was 3-5 with a double and 2 runs scored and Cristian Hernandez went 2-3 with a walk and RBI.

Tampa Bay lost the finale three times, twice on the field and much more significantly off it as one of our twin aces, Kevin DiCostanzo, had to leave the game early with bone chips in his elbow and will undergo surgery which will shelve him for the rest of the season. The recovery time is six months which puts us in mid-October, so theoretically he could make a playoff return but that would be without any rehab. DiCostanzo struck out the side in the first around giving up a run and then left after pitching to the first man in the 2nd. Slade Cecconi took over and went a respectable 5 4 2 2 1 5 in long relief and the Rays took a 4-3 lead in the 6th on Joshua Baez's 2-run shot (#4). They took that lead into the 8th when Mike Moore imploded to allow 3 runs but Arturo Gutierrez came through with a 2-run single in the top of the 9th to tie it back up. And although Mason Feole (0-1) hit a man in the bottom of the 9th he got two outs and with righties due Josh Scanlon came on, only to give up consecutive singles to let Chicago walk it off 7-6. Earlier the Rays got solo homers from Billy Carlow (#6) and Nate Strickland (#4).

Team record: 11-5. Next up: We slide east to New York to play 4 against the Yankees.

Transaction: After the game DiCostanzo went on the 60-day IL and top starter prospect Danny Morales was called up from Durham to take his place in the rotation. Morales followed up an Opening Day start for 9-0 Durham in which he went 8.2 5 0 0 4 8 with a rougher outing in which he gave up 4 runs and 8 hits in 4 2/3. He has 60 stuff, 65 movement and 50 control with potential to improve and we'll see what he can do at the big league level. With a bevy of top level prospects (several of whom are crushing it at Durham hence the 9-0 start) I also can't rule out a trade for a frontline starter at some point.

03-13-2023, 08:32 AM	#1054
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,086	April 18-20, 2033: at Chicago White Sox (3) The Rays took 2 of 3 from the Pale Hose but suffered about as devastating injury as possible in the finale of the series. Chris Ferguson was on point in the opener as the Rays eked out a 2-1 win at Guaranteed Rate Field over Chicago. The righty went to 2-0 after a 6.2 6 1 1 3 2 outing and the pen did its job with Josh Scanlon securing save #4. Both runs came in the first on consecutive RBI singles from Orlando Tosado and Nate Strickland and thanks to Ferguson and the pen they held up. The Rays didn't have to hold their breath as much in the second game as they took a comfortable 6-1 win over the White Sox. Joe Marlette (2-0) flashed his dominant form for the first time this season, going 6 2 0 0 2 11 and he received ample support. Orlando Tosado's 3-run homer in the 6th (#4) broke open a 2-0 game while Arturo Gutierrez was 3-5 with a double and 2 runs scored and Cristian Hernandez went 2-3 with a walk and RBI. Tampa Bay lost the finale three times, twice on the field and much more significantly off it as one of our twin aces, Kevin DiCostanzo, had to leave the game early with bone chips in his elbow and will undergo surgery which will shelve him for the rest of the season. The recovery time is six months which puts us in mid-October, so theoretically he could make a playoff return but that would be without any rehab. DiCostanzo struck out the side in the first around giving up a run and then left after pitching to the first man in the 2nd. Slade Cecconi took over and went a respectable 5 4 2 2 1 5 in long relief and the Rays took a 4-3 lead in the 6th on Joshua Baez's 2-run shot (#4). They took that lead into the 8th when Mike Moore imploded to allow 3 runs but Arturo Gutierrez came through with a 2-run single in the top of the 9th to tie it back up. And although Mason Feole (0-1) hit a man in the bottom of the 9th he got two outs and with righties due Josh Scanlon came on, only to give up consecutive singles to let Chicago walk it off 7-6. Earlier the Rays got solo homers from Billy Carlow (#6) and Nate Strickland (#4). Team record: 11-5. Next up: We slide east to New York to play 4 against the Yankees. Transaction: After the game DiCostanzo went on the 60-day IL and top starter prospect Danny Morales was called up from Durham to take his place in the rotation. Morales followed up an Opening Day start for 9-0 Durham in which he went 8.2 5 0 0 4 8 with a rougher outing in which he gave up 4 runs and 8 hits in 4 2/3. He has 60 stuff, 65 movement and 50 control with potential to improve and we'll see what he can do at the big league level. With a bevy of top level prospects (several of whom are crushing it at Durham hence the 9-0 start) I also can't rule out a trade for a frontline starter at some point.