WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016 vs. TORONTO BLUE JAYS LH Matt Moore (3-4, 5.43 in 2015) vs. LH J.A. Happ (11-8, 3.61 in 2015) First Pitch: 1:10 p.m. | Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla. | TV: Fox Sports Sun | Radio: WDAE 620 AM Game No.: 4 (1-2) | Home Game No.: 4 (1-2) | All-Time Game No.: 2,918 (1,353-1,564) | All-Time Home Game No.: 1,463 (745-717) THAT’S A FIRST—Last night the Rays won their first game of the season in 39 games are against Toronto (through May 18), then they don’t meet again unprecedented fashion when Jose Bautista’s attempt to break up a double until Aug 8-10 in Toronto…the Rays 166 wins vs. the Blue Jays are their play in the 9th inning was challenged by the Rays and overturned as a viola- most against an opponent and their all-time mark of 166-151 (.524) is their tion of the new slide rule [6.01(j), that the runner’s actions hindered and im- 2nd best against an AL opponent behind their 15-6 record vs. Houston (AL peded 2B Logan Forsythe]…it was also determined he did not engage in a only)…the Rays are 80-52 since 2009…Tampa Bay is 94-65 at home vs. bona-fide slide, as he did not attempt to remain on the base…it was the first the Jays, including 54-25 since Sep 8, 2007. game ever to end due to an overturn of the new slide rule…after the over- Ê In 2015, the Rays went 10-9 vs. Toronto (6-3 at home, 4-6 at Rogers turn, that play—which occurred with the bases loaded and initially plated 2 Centre)…they began the year 6-1 against them, but finished it 4-8. runs for Toronto—was ruled a game-ending GIDP for Edwin Encarnacion. Ê In the “Rays” era (since 2008), the Rays have posted a winning re- Ê The Rays won after trailing 2-1 through 7 innings…last season they cord in seven of eight season series vs. Toronto, the exception being were 7-60 when trailing after 7. 2014 (8-11)…they hold a 91-59 (.607) record in this span, best mark of any AL team against the Jays. NEAREST COMPARISON—According to Retrosheet, in the expanded re- play era (beginning 2014), last night was the ninth time an overturned call BUNCHES OF PUNCHES—Chris Archer’s 12 SO in Sunday’s opener and ended a game—but only the second time it directly affected the outcome of Jake Odorizzi’s 10 SO last night made the Rays one of only six teams the game…the other was May 6, 2014 in Pittsburgh’s 2-1 win over the Giants: since 1914 to have two 10-SO performances within the team’s first 3 games with the score tied 1-1 and 2 out in the 9th, Starling Marte tripled but was (see chart below)…prior to Archer and Odorizzi, only one other Rays pitcher thrown out at the plate…replay overturned the call and the Pirates won 2-1. recorded 10 SO in his first start of the season: Jeremy Hellickson (10) on April 6, 2011 vs. LAA. RAY MATTER—The Rays aim for a series split in today’s matinee…tomor- Teams with Two 10-SO Performances within their First 3 Games row they fly to Baltimore for a 3-game weekend series beginning Friday… 2015 Indians Carlos Carrasco (10) Trevor Bauer (11) after another off-day Monday, they open a 6-game homestand vs. CLE and 2013 Rangers Yu Darvish (14) Alexi Ogando (10) CWS…10 of the Rays first 13 games of the season and 18 of their first 27 2001 D-backs Randy Johnson (10) Curt Schilling (12) are at Tropicana Field. 1975 Angels* Nolan Ryan (12) Nolan Ryan (10) Ê The Rays have scored exactly 3 runs in each of the first 3 games, 1966 Indians Sam McDowell (10) Gary Bell (13) the first team to do this since the 1990 Twins…the only team since *Ryan started Game 1 (April 7 vs. KC) and Game 3 (April 11 vs. CWS) 1914 to score exactly 3 runs in their first 4 games was the 1969 Twins…only once in Rays history have they scored exactly 3 runs in FOR THE RECORD—Rays pitchers have 36 SO in the series’ first 3 4 straight games at any point in the year: June 17-20, 2009. games…the club record for strikeouts in a 4-game series is 50, set Ê The Rays are 3-for-20 (.150) with RISP in the series, and 12 of their Aug 17-20, 2015 at HOU…the Rays record for a 4-game series at Tropi- 19 runners left on base have been stranded in scoring position. cana Field is 49, June 25-28, 2007 vs. CWS. Ê The Rays opted to begin the season with a four-man starting rotation, thanks to a schedule that features at least one off-day in each of the THE SPOILER—Today’s starter, LH Matt Moore, faced the Jays once first seven weeks of the season (eight total off-days in the first 47 in 2015, in Game 162 at Tropicana Field, when he defeated the AL East days of the campaign)…the Rays eighth off-day of the 2015 season Champions, 12-3, in a game that began with the Jays vying with Kansas didn’t come until the Monday of the All-Star break. City for home field advantage throughout the postseason…his line: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R/ER, 4 BB, 4 SO, 1 HR. HOME RUN STREAK TIES RAYS RECORD—The Rays have hit a home run in 17 consecutive games dating back to last Sep 20 vs. BAL…this ties LEFTY LOOSEY—Today the Rays face a left-handed starting pitcher for the franchise record, first achieved April 15–May 3, 2013…in fact, it’s the lon- the first time this season…last year they went 30-23 when facing a lefty gest home run streak by any team since Seattle’s 23-game streak June 20– starter, 3rd-best record in the majors, compared to 50-59 vs. RH starters… July 19, 2013…the last team to compile a streak this long that spanned two they ranked 3rd in the majors in home runs (69) and OPS (.766) against seasons was the 2001-02 Indians (17; 3 in 2001, 14 in 2002). lefty starters, but against RH starters they ranked T-23rd in home runs (98) and 24th in OPS (.697)…only Houston (81) and Texas (78) hit more home LOGAN FORSYTHE—Last night delivered a go-ahead, 2-run homer off LH runs against lefty starters in 2015. Brett Cecil in the 8th inning, the third time in his career he gave his team a lead on a homer that late in a game…the others occurred June 5, 2015 at EIGHT STRAIGHT—3B Evan Longoria tied Carl Crawford for most SEA (9th inning off Fernando Rodney) and June 5, 2012 vs. SF while play- Opening Day starts in club history, with his eighth…all eight have come con- ing for San Diego (walk-off in the 9th off Steve Edlefsen; first major league secutively (2009-16) while starting at 3B, a streak currently matched by only home run)…according to Baseball Reference, it was the third opposite-field two other third basemen: David Wright (12 straight, 2005-16) and Adrian homer of his career (Sep 9, 2015 at DET and July 22, 2015 at PHI). Beltre (15, 2002-16)…Evan is one of 12 players to start every Opening Ê Has as many homers (18) in 2015-16 (in 156 games) as he did in his Day from 2009-16 with the same team, along with WAS Ryan Zimmerman, first four seasons combined (in 338 games). NYM David Wright, CIN Joey Votto, CIN Brandon Phillips, STL Yadier Molina, BAL Adam Jones, CIN Jay Bruce, MIL Ryan Braun, TEX Elvis COREY CAN CRUSH—In the 4th inning last night, DH Corey Dickerson Andrus, BOS Dustin Pedroia and DET Miguel Cabrera. hit a home run estimated by ESPN Stats & Info at 453 ft., the longest of his career according to their measurements…it’s the second straight season UNDER-30 STREAK ROLLS ON—Today will be the 240th consecutive (2015 with Colorado) that Dickerson has hit 2 HR in the team’s first 3 games game the Rays have started a pitcher under the age of 30, the longest of the season…he is the first Ray to do this sinceCarlos Peña in 2012…the current streak in the majors…Arizona’s streak of 237 ended in their season full list of Rays to turn the trick: Peña (2012, 2010), Evan Longoria (2010, opener, when 31-year-old Zack Greinke started vs. Colorado…the Rays 2009), Cliff Floyd (2008), Elijah Dukes (2007) and Jorge Cantu (2005). streak doesn’t figure to end any time soon, as the Rays don’t have a starter Ê Dickerson is one of only four players to hit a home run on Opening over the age of 27…Erik Bedard on July 3, 2014 was the last 30-plus pitch- Day in both 2015 and 2016…also WAS Bryce Harper, BOS Mookie er to start a game for the Rays…since May 25, 2007, the Rays have started Betts and his former teammate COL Nolan Arenado.