The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Tampa Bay Rays – INSIDE PITCH
Six weeks into the season, the Rays feel they are finally looking — and playing — like they are supposed to.
Sunday’s 4-2 win over the Padres was their season-high fifth straight, and a prime example of how they are constructed to win — opportunistic offense, dazzling defense, strong starting pitching, dominant bullpen.
Outfielder Sam Fuld called it the blueprint.
Infielder/outfielder Sean Rodriguez said they are “back to normal.”
Manager Joe Maddon praised them for persevering through a rough stretch — including a pair of frustrating back-to-back losses to open the homestand.
“It speaks to the quality of guys in the clubhouse to lose games like that and not really have it impact you on any kind of permanent basis,” he said. “The hitting continues, the defense has been there. But now the pitching is going to start coming back to us. And then, heads up.”
The key to the recent run has been the return to form of the bullpen, which was uncharacteristically ragged earlier but now working on a streak of 13?2/3 innings without an earned run.
“That’s the way it’s supposed to look,” Maddon said. “All these guys are throwing the ball extremely well. And as they really get their confidence flowing through a couple successful outings, you’re really going to see them take off.”
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MLB Team Report – Tampa Bay Rays – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 19-18
STREAK: Won five
PAST 10 GAMES: 7-3
NEXT: Tuesday: Rays (Matt Moore, 6-0, 2.14) vs. Red Sox (John Lackey, 1-3, 2.82)
PLAYER NOTES:
–CF Desmond Jennings missed his third straight game with a sore groin, but hopes — after Monday’s off-day — to be back for Tuesday’s series opener against the Red Sox. Jennings, who suffered the injury diving back to first base in Thursday’s game, tested it in the outfield Sunday morning and said it felt better. But they’re being cautious so it’s not a long-term issue. CF Sam Fuld started in Jennings’ place for the third straight day.
“If it were late September, October, I’d definitely be playing,” Jennings said. “My game is my legs, and I don’t want to do something that could affect me for two months instead of for two days.”
–3B Evan Longoria is one of the hottest hitters in the league, having reached base safely twice in each of his last seven games, the first time he’s done so in his career. Since April 15, he leads the majors with 24 runs in 26 games, and hitting .343 since that date. “He’s really on top of his offensive game right now,” manager Joe Maddon said. “His plate discipline has been outstanding, and the contact has been real hard. Every time he comes up, you almost expect him to hit something well, and it’s pretty much almost been that.”
–1B James Loney has homered in consecutive games for the 10th time in his career (last Sept. 16-17 vs. Pittsburgh), tying a career-long streak.
–LHP Jake McGee struggled to start the season, beginning with allowing five runs on Opening Day. But manager Joe Maddon has stuck by him, and has been rewarded with two straight perfect outings, including a 1-2-3 seventh in Sunday’s 4-2 win over the Padres. McGee, who throws in the high-90s, said the key has been the location of his fastball.
–C Jose Molina returned to action on Sunday after leaving Thursday’s game after seven innings, having sustained a bruise on his right knee after being hit by a foul tip. He sat out Friday and Saturday.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Everything is clicking together. We’re playing good defense, we’re hitting, and now we’re pitching.” — LHP Jake McGee, following the Rays’ 4-2 victory over the Padres Sunday that extended their winning streak to five games and put them over .500 for the first time since April 6.
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MLB Team Report – Tampa Bay Rays – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–CF Desmond Jennings (sore groin) sat out May 10-12 but hopes to return May 14. Jennings, who suffered the injury May 9, tested it in the outfield May 12 and said it felt better. But the team is being cautious so it’s not a long-term issue.
–RHP Brandon Gomes (Right lat strain) was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 10 retroactive to May 8.
–C Jose Molina (bruised right knee) left the May 9 game. He sat out the May 10-11 games but returned to action on May 12.
–RHP Jeff Niemann (sore right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 28, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 16. He had season-ending surgery April 10 to repair his rotator cuff and labrum. The expected recovery time is nine to 12 months.
–RHP Juan Carlos Oviedo (Tommy John surgery in September 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list on March 31. He will spend most of the season rehabbing his elbow, with the possibility he could help the Rays in September. Plus, the team holds a 2014 option.
ROTATION:
LHP David Price
RHP Jeremy Hellickson
RHP Roberto Hernandez
LHP Matt Moore
RHP Alex Cobb
BULLPEN:
RHP Fernando Rodney (closer)
RHP Joel Peralta
LHP Jake McGee
RHP Kyle Farnsworth
LHP Cesar Ramos
RHP Jamey Wright
RHP Josh Lueke
CATCHERS:
Jose Molina
Jose Lobaton
INFIELDERS:
1B James Loney
2B Kelly Johnson
SS Yunel Escobar
3B Evan Longoria
DH Luke Scott
INF Ryan Roberts
INF/OF Sean Rodriguez
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Sam Fuld
CF Desmond Jennings
RF Ben Zobrist
OF Matt Joyce
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