FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 Vs. BALTIMORE ORIOLES RH Jake Odorizzi (10-8, 4.26) Vs
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 vs. BALTIMORE ORIOLES RH Jake Odorizzi (10-8, 4.26) vs. LH Wade Miley (8-14, 5.52) First Pitch: 7:10 p.m. | Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla. | TV: Fox Sports Sun | Radio: WDAE 620 AM, WGES 680 AM (Sp.) Game No.:60 (77-82) | Home Game No.: 79 (39-39) | All-Time Game No.: 3,236 (1,497-1,738) | All-Time Home Game No.: 1,619 (819-799) April: 12-14 | May: 17-13 | June: 13-13 | July: 12-13 | August: 13-15 | September: 10-14 | Pre-All-Star: 47-43 | Post-All-Star: 30-39 AWARDS SEASON—Today the Tampa Bay Chapter of the BBWAA an- POWER BALL—The Rays have a club-record 224 HR this season, 6th nounced their annual Rays awards at the annual Clutch Hitters Luncheon, most in the majors…they finished with 122 HR on the road, which currently held at the St. Pete Hilton Carillon, and these players will each be hon- leads the majors ahead of the Astros (121 in 78 games) and Mets (120 in ored in a pregame ceremony tonight…OF Steven Souza Jr. won the Don 78 games)…excluding rookies, the Rays have seven players on their active Zimmer Award, given to the Rays most valuable player…RH Jake Faria roster who have either tied or established a career high in home runs: Lo- was named Outstanding Rookie…RH Alex Cobb won the Paul C. Smith gan Morrison (37), Lucas Duda (30, ties career high), Steven Souza Jr. Champion Award, given to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of true (30), Corey Dickerson (27), Kevin Kiermaier (15), Adeiny Hechavarria professionalism on and off the field…in addition, the Clutch Hitters present- (8) and Jesús Sucre (7). ed the Rays Baseball Foundation with a check for $30,000 at the luncheon. Ê There are 36 players in the majors with at least 30 HR, but only Ê The Rays also announced their 2017 minor league awards, and three teams with three of those players on their roster…the Rays will honor those players in a pregame ceremony…all minor league (Morrison, Duda and Souza Jr.) are joined by the Indians (Edwin En- award winners will sign autographs for fans down the right field line carnación–38, Jay Bruce–35 and Francisco Lindor–33) and Reds tonight from 5:45–6:30…Class-A Bowling Green OF Jesús Sánchez (Joey Votto–36, Adam Duvall–31 and Scott Schebler–30). was named Minor League Player of the Year, Triple-A Durham RH Ê The Rays have hit 7 HR in extra innings, tying the club record (2008). Yonny Chirinos was named Minor League Pitcher of the Year and Ê The Rays have a franchise-record 27 HR from their catchers. Bowling Green INF Miles Mastrobuoni was honored with the Erik Ê The Rays have hit 10 leadoff home runs, a club record and tied with Walker Community Champion Award…for a full list of awards, includ- the Orioles for 2nd in the majors behind the Mets (11). ing affiliate MVPs, see separate press release. K’s FOR DAYS—The Rays offense has a club-record 1,514 SO this sea- THE FINAL COUNTDOWN—The Rays finish the 2017 season with this son, ahead of their 1,482 SO in 2016, and with 3 games remaining are only weekend’s 3-game series vs. Baltimore…the Rays enter the weekend se- 21 SO shy of tying the American League record held by the 2013 Astros ries 2 games ahead of both Baltimore and Toronto for 3rd place in the AL (1,535)…they rank 2nd in the majors to Milwaukee (1,546), who yesterday East, which would be their highest finish since 2013 (2nd)…if they sweep broke the major league strikeout record they set just one season ago (1,543 the series, the Rays can match their best record under Manager Kevin in 2016)…Major League Baseball has broken its own strikeout record for a Cash (80-82 in 2015)…this will be their fourth consecutive season with a 10th consecutive season; MLB totaled a then-record 38,982 in 2016 and is losing record, following six straight winning seasons (with four postseason on pace for more than 40,000 this year (39,334 currently). appearances) from 2008-13. Ê The Rays returned home early this morning from a 3-4 road trip to SEEKING LENGTH—Rays starters have gone less than 6 IP (i.e. 5.2 IP or Baltimore (2-2) and New York (1-2)…they finished the season 38-43 fewer) in 16 of their 24 games since the beginning of September…the start- (.469) on the road, a 6-game improvement over 2016 (32-49). ers rank 11th in the AL this month with a 5.01 ERA (109.2-IP, 61-ER), which would be their highest in a calendar month since June 2010 (5.08)…also RAY MATTER—Last night at Yankee Stadium, the Rays overcame a 4-1 this month, Rays starters have covered fewer innings than any other team deficit with a 7-run 5th inning en route to a 9-6 victory, avoiding a sweep in the majors (Angels, 114.2 IP). and snapping a 3-game losing streak…the 7-run 5th matched their highest- scoring frame of the season (7-run 9th on May 14 at BOS) and tied their THE BUFFALO—C Wilson Ramos is batting .350 (36-for-103) with 10 HR highest-scoring inning ever against the Yankees (fifth time, first since Sep and 26 RBI in only 32 games vs. AL East opponents, ranking 2nd in HR 23, 2010 at NYY (7-run 6th)…the Rays have scored 8 or more runs in 4 and RBI among catchers this season behind NYY Gary Sánchez (16-HR, of their last 8 games, after doing so only twice in their previous 68 games 38-RBI in 52 games)…the 10 HR are 4 more than any other Rays catcher (July 2–Sep 19)…the Rays are 6-13 in their last 19 games since Sep 6, on vs. the AL East (Toby Hall, 6 in 2006)…against all other opponents, he is the heels of a 10-5 stretch (Aug 20–Sep 5)…the Rays are 1-5-2 in series batting .176 (18-for-102) with 1 HR and 8 RBI in 31 games. play in September, after winning their previous three series from Aug 22-30 Ê Since Aug 14, Ramos is batting .352/.384/.610 (37-for-105) with 8 (vs. TOR, at STL, at KC). HR and 21 RBI in 31 games (28 starts), raising his season avg. from Ê The Rays have allowed at least 6 runs in 5 consecutive games, their .170 to .263…his 8 HR during this span are tied with BAL Welington longest such streak since they were known as the Devil Rays, from Castillo for 2nd among major league catchers, behind Sánchez (14). Sep 8-14, 2006 (6 straight)…the club record is 8 games (twice, last July 15-22, 2006). LONGO-GEVITY—3B Evan Longoria needs one more home run to Ê The Rays are an AL-worst 18-29 (.383) vs. LH starters this season, achieve a fifth consecutive season of at least 20 HR…it would also give him compared to 59-53 (.527) vs. RH starters…they have lost 8 of their nine 20-HR seasons in his first 10 seasons in the majors, a feat achieved last 10 games vs. lefty starters. by only one third baseman in major league history: Hall of Famer Eddie Ê The Rays are 32-41 (.438) within the AL East, including an 18-16 Mathews did it in each of his first 14 seasons, from 1952-65…also of note, (.529) mark at Tropicana Field…they are 45-41 (.523) in games out- only one AL third baseman has had nine 20-HR seasons at any point in his side the division. career: Graig Nettles (10)…TEX Adrián Beltré, who has 17 HR currently, is also pursuing a ninth 20-HR season as an AL third baseman. RAYS vs. ORIOLES—The Rays split a 4-game series in Baltimore last Ê Longoria’s next home run would give the Rays four players with 20 weekend and are 8-8 in the season series (3-3 at home, 5-5 on the road)… HR this season with the club…he would join Logan Morrison, Ste- the Rays are seeking their first season series win over Baltimore since 2013 ven Souza Jr. and Corey Dickerson…only once in franchise history (13-6), after going 22-35 (.386) from 2014-16…7 of the Rays final 10 games have the Rays had four players with 20-HR seasons (2016). are against Baltimore…the Rays have out-homered the Orioles, 25-21, this Ê Since 2013, Longoria leads the majors with 796 games played, fol- season…their 25 HR are tied for their most vs. any opponent this year (also lowed by SEA Kyle Seager (789), KC Alcides Escobar (789) and 25 vs. Toronto), and their most ever vs. Baltimore in one season is 29 (2006). ATL Nick Markakis (786). Ê Evan Longoria has 39 career HR vs. BAL, his most against any opp. (35 vs. NYY)…38 of those have come as a 3B, more than any other ADEINY HECHAVARRIA—Has not committed an error since July 30 at 3B in the Orioles 63-year history, ahead of Alex Rodriguez (32).