The Rays returned to action after the All-Star Break by splitting a 4-game home series with the Red Sox in which they hit well but got some lousy pitching, inspiring a pretty good-sized trade.
The opener looked like a gimme for the Rays as they were up 5-1 after 7 innings but even after getting some insurance in the 8th they still had to hold on to a 7-6 win thanks to shaky bullpen work. Homers from
Jake Westfall (solo, #6/13) and
Kelly Crumpton (a 2-run shot, #21) who was 4-5 today, helped them build their lead although
Pedro Avila couldn't make it through 5 despite pitching well (4.1 4 1 1 3 5 on 83 pitches).
Slade Cecconi (3-1) earned the win but
Tommy Burpee (2 runs allowed),
Mike Moore (1) and
Josh Scanlon (a pair of solo homers in the 9th) really made a mess of things with Scanlon lucky to record save #24.
Wes Mendes (5-7) was horrendous and although the Rays tried a valiant comeback from 7-1 down early, they ending up falling 9-6 to Boston in the second game. Mendes just didn't have it today and was torched to the tune of 2 8 7 7 2 2. A
Joshua Baez solo shot (#15) and a 2-run
Kelly Crumpton single helped them get back within 7-6 but
Jon Post gave up a pair of runs in the 9th to give the Red Sox a cushion in the end.
Tampa Bay overcame a lousy
Shane Panzini start and won it late from Boston 9-5 in the third game. Panzini's first start off a brief IL stint was an ugly one as he was wild in going 3.1 3 3 3 6 2 and the fact that he didn't give up one or more of his normal homers kept the score from getting out of hand. Rookie
Danny Arroyave had the best game of his short MLB career with a 2-run single in the 5th to put the Rays up 5-3 and a 2-run homer (#4) in the 7th. Speaking of rookies,
Masharu Shimizu hit his first MLB homer, a solo shot in the 4th, while
Orlando Tosado (#28) and
Arturo Gutierrez (#25) also found the seats. Gutierrez had 3 hits, 2 RBI and a stolen base on the day to go with the homer.
Slade Cecconi (4-1) picked up his second win in three days in relief.
The terrible starts from Mendes and Panzini made me realize that although we're cruising to a runaway division title, I can't count on either of them in a playoff start so we swung a deal with Detroit to pick up a couple of starters:
We finally cut the cord on Panzini, who earned a total of 8.7 WAR over 130 career Rays starts and was 52-31 but with a 4.36 ERA. His consistent inconsistency was always a source of frustration. We also parted with Penagos, a good-looking 2B prospect with 75 potential contact and 50 power who was our big July 2 signing a couple of years ago. In return we get a couple of solid starters in Baldino and McElvain. The latter is the better of the two, 6-3, 2.86 with 2.2 WAR already this year for the Tigers and 10-7, 3.72 with 3.6 WAR last season, while Baldino was 8-7, 4.38 but is rated 55/65/60. Both are free agents at season's end. McElvain will take Panzini's spot, and Baldino will likely take either Mendes or Avila's. A couple weeks ago Avila's would have been the obvious choice but he's pitched very well lately. Stay tuned.
Jake Baldino got the surprise start in the series finale, and it went well until it suddenly didn't as the Rays dropped a 4-3 decision to the Red Sox. He had only allowed a solo homer through 4 innings with 7 whiffs until he hard time getting anyone out in the 5th, getting his only out on a sac bunt, and Boston scored 3 times to leave him with a 4.1 5 4 4 1 7 line in his Tampa Bay debut along with a loss.
Joshua Baez was a one-man offense, homering twice (#s 16 & 17) to drive in all 3 runs including a 2-out, 2-run shot in the bottom of the 9th which made the final closer than it really was.
Team record: 66-27. Next up: Seattle invades the Trop for 3 games.