THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014 at BALTIMORE ORIOLES RH Jeremy Hellickson (1-2, 2.61) Vs
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014 at BALTIMORE ORIOLES RH Jeremy Hellickson (1-2, 2.61) vs. RH Bud Norris (11-8, 4.14) First Pitch: 7:05 p.m. | Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD | TV: Sun Sports | Radio: 97.9 FM, 1250 AM, WGES 680 AM (Spanish) Game No: 134 (65-68) | Road Game No.: 69 (36-32) | All-Time Game No.: 2,724 (1,260-1,463) | All-Time Road Game: 1,365 (565-799) March: 1-0 | April: 10-16 | May: 12-17 | June: 13-16 | July: 17-6 | August: 12-13 | Since the All-Star Break: 21-15 RAY MATTER—The Rays won last night, MAJORS’ BEST W-L, SEEKING A SEVENTH WINNING SEASON—Since evening their record 3-1, behind a combined 2-hitter from Drew SINCE JUNE 11 at 61-61 on Aug 15—their first time at .500 since they were 10-10 through Smyly, Brad Boxberger and Jake Mc- Baltimore 43-25 .632 Aug 22—the Rays have gone 4-7 while batting .213/.272/.285 (80-for-375) Gee…it was the 5th time this season Rays Los Angeles-AL 43-25 .632 with 31 runs…the Rays are attempting their 7th straight winning season, pitchers have held opponents to 2 hits or Kansas City 42-26 .618 and if they achieve it, will become the first team in major league history to fewer, most in the AL, and tied with the Gi- Tampa Bay 41-26 .612 do so after being at least 18 games under .500 earlier in the season (24-42 ants for 2nd most in the majors after the through June 10)…they are already just the fourth to return to .500 after Dodgers (6)…the Rays have held opponents to 1 run or fewer in 4 of their being 18-plus games under, joining the 1899 Louisville Colonels (22 under), last 7 games…the Rays are 3-3 (2-1 at TOR, 1-2 here) on the road trip, 2006 Florida Marlins (20 under) and 2004 Devil Rays (18 under). which ends tonight, and head home to open a 10-game homestand tomor- row vs. Boston (4 games), Toronto (3) and Baltimore (3). EVAN LONGORIA—Had 3 hits last night and is batting .346 (9-for-26) on Ê Last night the Rays gained a game in the race for the second AL Wild the road trip with 7 of the team’s 18 RBI…in 36 games since the All-Star Card spot, from 8.5 GB to 7.5 GB of Seattle…they also gained a break, his 30 RBI are tied (with BOS David Ortiz and DET Victor Martinez) game on first-place Baltimore in the AL East, to 11.0 GB. for 3rd most in the AL after HOU Chris Carter (38) and OAK/BOS Yoenis Ê The Rays have scored only 8 runs combined over the last 4 games Cespedes (31)…prior to the break, he totaled 44 RBI in 97 games. (2.0 R/G), 21 runs over the last 8 games (2.6 R/G) and 31 runs over the last 11 games (2.8 R/G)…their only 2 HR on the road trip came in CROOKED MATH—The Rays have outscored opponents 98-78 in the month the first game, Fri at TOR Evan( Longoria, Wil Myers). of August yet have a losing record (12-13)…their +20 run differential this Ê This series matches 2 of the majors’ 4 best teams since June 11… month ranks 5th in the majors behind Seattle (+48, 16-8 record), Washington while going 41-26 since that date, the Rays have pitched to a 2.85 (+35, 17-9), Baltimore (+34, 15-9) and Kansas City (+32, 19-6)…this month ERA (612.1-IP, 194-ER), 2nd best in the majors to Seattle (2.63). they are 4-10 in games decided by 2 runs or fewer, and 8-3 in games decided by 3 runs or more…on the season, their +16 run differential (519-R, 504-RA) RAYS vs. ORIOLES—The Rays are 5-10 in the season series (1-5 at is 2nd best in the AL East to Baltimore (+64)…the Reds (+5) are the only home, 4-5 here)…this is only the second time since becoming the “Rays” in other team in baseball with a positive run differential and a losing record. 2008 they’ve lost the season series (also 2012, 8-10)…their worst season series ever vs. Baltimore is 2006 (6-13)…by contrast, the Rays went 13-6 KINGS OF K—Rays pitchers lead the majors with 1,196 strikeouts and are in 2013 and won 11 of their final 13 meetings…the Rays won 3 of 4 games on pace for 1,457, which would break the all-time record of 1,428 set by in the last meeting, June 27-29 here…included was a Friday doubleheader, the 2013 Tigers…the club record is 1,383 in 2012, which remains 5th in ML which the teams split, making up for the April 15 rain/sleet-out. history…they have 50 SO more than any other team (Cleveland, 1,146). Ê The Rays have yielded 23 HR in the season series—10 more than Ê Brad Boxberger’s 89 SO are T-2nd among ML relievers, tied with they have to any other opponent (13, NYY)—with 4 games remain- PHI Jake Diekman behind NYY Dellin Betances (114)…he’s only ing…the most homers they’ve allowed to any team in the Rays era 3 shy of J.P. Howell’s club record for strikeouts by a reliever (92 in (since 2008) is 28 to the 2009 Yankees…Rays hitters have 16 HR this 2008)…all this despite spending most of the first month in the minors. year vs. Baltimore, tied for their most vs. any opponent (also NYY). FIRING BLANKS—Rays pitchers have 17 shutouts this season, tying the THROUGH THE WRINGER—Today is the 7th in a stretch of 26 straight club record (2013), including two back-to-back on Thurs vs. DET (1-0) and games vs. AL East competition through Sep 17 (9 vs. TOR, 7 vs. BAL, 6 Fri at TOR (8-0)…this leads the AL and is one shy of St. Louis for the ML vs. NYY, 4 vs. BOS)—the longest stretch of divisional play of any season lead…in the past 25 years (since 1990), the most any AL team has recorded in club history…in 2003, the Devil Rays played their first 25 games against is 19 by the 2011 Rangers and 2002 A’s…the Rays have also been shut out AL East opponents, going 10-15…the longest prev. stretch in the “Rays” era 15 times…the 32 total games decided via shutout are most in the majors. came Aug 26–Sep 17, 2008 as the team went 11-10 in 21 games. Ê The Rays are 13-7 vs. AL East opponents since June 28. DP DEFICIT—The Rays defense has turned 73 double plays this sea- Ê The Rays are 12 games (5-7) into a stretch in which they play 28 of 32 son—17 fewer than any other team (Yankees, 90)—while their opponents games against teams currently over .500…the Rays have gone 24-17 have turned 129…they are on pace for 89 double plays, which would be the in their last 41 games vs. teams currently over .500 (since June 25). fewest by any team in a non-strike-shortened season since the advent of the 162-game schedule…the 2012 Padres (97) currently hold that distinc- DREW SMYLY—Threw 7 innings of 2-hit ball last night, allowing 1 run…this tion…the Rays pitching staff leads the majors in strikeouts and has the low- came on the heels of his 2-hit shutout on Friday in Toronto—making him est groundball-to-flyball ratio (1.13). the second pitcher in Rays history to record back-to-back starts of 7 IP or more and 2 hits or less, joining Victor Zambrano (June 2003)…Elias notes MYSTERY BALL—During Saturday’s game vs. Boston (Aug 30), the Rays that Smyly and Zambrano are also the only two in club history to record 4 Wives will hold the fourth annual Mystery Ball event to raise money for All straight starts of 7 IP or more and 4 hits or less. Children’s Hospital…fans can purchase a bag containing a baseball signed Ê Smyly’s 1.50 ERA is the best of any pitcher in his first 5 starts for the by mystery player or coach…Derek Shelton and his wife, Ali Shelton, co- Rays…previous best was David Price (2.22 in 2008-09). chair the event, which has raised nearly $100,000 over the past 3 years. Ê Smyly improved to 6-0 with a 1.32 ERA (68-IP, 10-ER) in 18 career apps (7 starts) vs. the Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles and Blue Jays. LATEST ON DEJESUS—OF David DeJesus went 1-for-2 with 2 walks as the DH for Class-A Charlotte last night at St. Lucie (Mets)…he is off today… PITCHER OF THE MONTH?—Since joining the Rays at the beginning of in 7 games (6 with Charlotte) on rehab assignment, he’s batted .263 (5-for- August, Drew Smyly leads the majors with a .150 opponents’ batting avg. 19) with a .417 OBP. (18-for-120), followed by SF Madison Bumgarner (.152) and BAL Chris Tillman (.156)…his 1.50 ERA is tied with teammate Alex Cobb for 2nd JUST FOR FUN—Today at 4:30 p.m., FXX will air the second of two epi- best in the AL this month, after Tillman (1.26)…his 6.25 baserunners per 9 sodes that referenced the [Devil] Rays, as they continue their “Every Simp- IP ranks 2nd in the AL to Tillman (5.80).