Rays started slow with some awkward last minute changes. Griffin Jax had to be scratched with elbow discomfort, while Taylor Walls was removed from the initial lineup still dealing with back soreness.
The loss of Jax (and hopefully not for too long) changed the strategy shifting towards a full on bullpen game. Combine that with it being a road game in Seattle, on a night the Mariners celebrated their 50th anniversary with an all star cast of former players returning to the park, the vibes were were extremely bleak for the road club.
However, while the Rays pen has not been a strength this year overall, they have worked towards improving and lately have been performing extremely well. Tonight was no exception, and without this amazing work, by the relievers chosen and by Kevin Cash’s gameplan and sequencing of arms, the Rays were able to overcome all the cards stacked against them.
7 guys were called upon and aside from two one inning lefties, they made like a NIMBY and didn’t let Seattle build anything.
Starting it off was Casey Legumina, returning back to the team he started the season with, and getting a bit of revenge for his former club. 1.1 IP and just a hit given up.
Both Booser and Cleavinger struggled and matched their lines: 2 hits 1 HR served up lefty on lefty to Josh Naylor, and a walk. Booser was able to wriggle out and finish the inning for his 2nd out, while Cleavinger needed Kevin Kelly‘s help to escape.
Outside of those two, the rest of the pen was nails. Tyler Wells and Steven Matz were able to give some length, 2 innings apiece, with just 1 hit no walks and 3 Ks combined. Excellent job shortening the middle innings.
On the backend it was the dynamic duo of Kevin Kelly and Bryan Baker again. First Kelly was able to clean up Clev’s inning, finishing 1.1 IP and just a single hit yielded. Baker would slam the door shut to finish (more on that later).
On the other side of things, this was a bit of a stolen game from the offensive perspective. The Rays bats worked good counts and fought hard against a very good George Kirby tonight. And while they weren’t able to generate much (just xBA of 1.64), they did force a short night for Kirby and held serve with the Mariners keeping things close.
Victor Mesa Jr got the Rays on the board to tie it up at one apiece with a mammoth blast going 412 ft on 105.7 MPH exit velo.
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Rays had some good opportunities but Mariners were able to escape several jams, including a spectacular catch from Cal Raleigh.
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Eventually though, when you keep putting guys on base, eventually you are bound to break through. Richie Palacios had a fantastic night overall, being a total pest running up the count and spoiling pitches, was able to be the bat to finally break through with a 2 RBI double to give the Rays a 3-1 lead.
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Palacios would finish the game 2-3 with that double and added a walk for good measure. Big game for Richie to pick up the top of the lineup who were held well in check.
Weird scene in the 6th, where on an 0-2 pitch Julio Rodriguez took a close pitch at the top corner of the zone. Could have gone either way, framed nicely by Hicks, and called strike 3. Julio, wisely, challenged. But home plate umpire Emil Jimenez refused the challenge, saying Julio waited too long. To my eyes and the eyes of several thousand at T-Mobile Park, disagreed and saw Julio challenge fairly quickly. Dan Wilson, perhaps in an homage to Sweat Lou Pinella in attendance for the Mariner’s 50th anniversary celebrations, got his money worth before getting tossed.
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Jimenez was on a collision course for a double manager booking when the very next inning he wasn’t paying attention when Jonathan Aranda challenged a strike call (that ended up being out of the zone). Thankfully the 3rd base Ump was able to run in and was paying attention to force the hand. Just strange stuff overall, and ultimately didn’t change the outcome of the game, but certainly changed the vibes for the last several innings as Seattle fans continued relentless booing.
The one bat in the M’s lineup the Rays struggled to contain, at the plate and on the bases, was Josh Naylor. After going 43 games without a HR, Naylor foudn the long ball again. First on a fairly cheapy HR just over the RF wall. His 2nd bomb however was well and clearly tagged for the hardest hit ball of the night.
In the 9th, after a J-Rod leadoff single, Naylor stepped to the plate vs Bryan Baker. Baker looking for his 23rd consecutive save, which would break a Rays franchise record with a closer familiar to both these teams: Fernando Rodney.
Best bat tonight for Mariners vs the guy the Rays want on the mound with a lead. Naylor got a changeup up, gave it a ride, but died on the track in Cedric Mullins glove. Brendon Donovan up next got 3 straight fastballs, and then Baker pulled the string on him finally giving the change-up to induce the game ending double play.
Another save for Baker, and well earned place in Rays history books. This one giving the Rays a series win in the Pacific Northwest.
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