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Art Deco · 04-16-2024, 06:08 PM

A tough series for the Rays which saw them drop 3 out of 4 including a pair in the most dispiriting fashion.

The opener wasn't a heartbreaker though as the Orioles jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on their way to a 7-3 beatdown of the Rays. Joe Marlette (1-3) was uncharacteristically bad once again, without his best stuff in a 3 7 5 5 3 0 meltdown. His poor start to the season is a concern, especially as we have to rely on pitching now with our top 3 hitters on the shelf. Willie Gutierrez had a 2-run consolation homer (#2).

Aside from Marlette another pitcher we thought was money in the bank was Jadon Smith, and when the Rays have managed to get leads this season he's been shaky in preserving them. Today he didn't blow a save but gave up a run in the 10th to lose it 3-2 after Agustin Lopez came off the bench to deliver a dramatic 2-out pinch-RBI single in the 9th to tie it. In the loss the Rays wasted another great start from Danny Morales (8 4 2 2 1 6). The loss was Smith's 3rd in as many decisions, not a great thing to see from your star closer only 22 games into the season.

Gabe Bryant was brilliant and the Rays took a 2-0 lead into the 9th but Jadon Smith faltered once again, giving up a 2-run homer and then Ruben Abeyta (1-2) allowed a solo shot in the 11th and the Rays suffered another excruciating 3-2 loss. Bryant was 7 2 0 0 1 7 on 91 pitches but didn't get a lot of support with Willie Gutierrez's 3-5 night with one of the RBIs the highlight on offense. One of those hits was a double in the 9th but the Rays couldn't plate him and after that a loss in extras almost seemed inevitable.

The Rays finally took out their frustrations in the finale, walloping the O's 11-5 in a rare offensive outburst that was large enough to bullpen-proof a win. They put 4 on the board in first highlighted by a 2-run Joe Stack single, and Stack tacked on another ribbie later. Agustin Lopez was 3-5 with 2 RBI and Alex Rivas scored 4 runs and had a pair of hits including an RBI double. Duk-yoon Ko contributed his first homer of the year as well. Joe Scheu (1-0) wasn't very good again in his second start off the IL but didn't have to be, going 6.2 10 5 5 0 5.

Team record: 11-13. Next up: 3 games in San Antonio. We'll just have to hang in there and hope to not fall too far behind until we get Arroyave, Berumen and Charlton back while Marlette and Smith hopefully figure out a way to return to their all-star form.

04-16-2024, 06:08 PM	#1370
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,128	April 27-30, 2037: vs Baltimore (4) A tough series for the Rays which saw them drop 3 out of 4 including a pair in the most dispiriting fashion. The opener wasn't a heartbreaker though as the Orioles jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on their way to a 7-3 beatdown of the Rays. Joe Marlette (1-3) was uncharacteristically bad once again, without his best stuff in a 3 7 5 5 3 0 meltdown. His poor start to the season is a concern, especially as we have to rely on pitching now with our top 3 hitters on the shelf. Willie Gutierrez had a 2-run consolation homer (#2). Aside from Marlette another pitcher we thought was money in the bank was Jadon Smith, and when the Rays have managed to get leads this season he's been shaky in preserving them. Today he didn't blow a save but gave up a run in the 10th to lose it 3-2 after Agustin Lopez came off the bench to deliver a dramatic 2-out pinch-RBI single in the 9th to tie it. In the loss the Rays wasted another great start from Danny Morales (8 4 2 2 1 6). The loss was Smith's 3rd in as many decisions, not a great thing to see from your star closer only 22 games into the season. Gabe Bryant was brilliant and the Rays took a 2-0 lead into the 9th but Jadon Smith faltered once again, giving up a 2-run homer and then Ruben Abeyta (1-2) allowed a solo shot in the 11th and the Rays suffered another excruciating 3-2 loss. Bryant was 7 2 0 0 1 7 on 91 pitches but didn't get a lot of support with Willie Gutierrez's 3-5 night with one of the RBIs the highlight on offense. One of those hits was a double in the 9th but the Rays couldn't plate him and after that a loss in extras almost seemed inevitable. The Rays finally took out their frustrations in the finale, walloping the O's 11-5 in a rare offensive outburst that was large enough to bullpen-proof a win. They put 4 on the board in first highlighted by a 2-run Joe Stack single, and Stack tacked on another ribbie later. Agustin Lopez was 3-5 with 2 RBI and Alex Rivas scored 4 runs and had a pair of hits including an RBI double. Duk-yoon Ko contributed his first homer of the year as well. Joe Scheu (1-0) wasn't very good again in his second start off the IL but didn't have to be, going 6.2 10 5 5 0 5. Team record: 11-13. Next up: 3 games in San Antonio. We'll just have to hang in there and hope to not fall too far behind until we get Arroyave, Berumen and Charlton back while Marlette and Smith hopefully figure out a way to return to their all-star form.