Final/13
Rays-Tigers Preview
Sep 7, 2015 - 10:03 PM The Tampa Bay Rays' playoff hopes continue to dwindle, and they could be gone altogether soon if their starting pitching can't turn things around.Tampa Bay turns to Erasmo Ramirez to stop the rotation's slump Tuesday night against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Last in the AL with 3.8 runs per game, the Rays (67-70) have remained in contention for a wild-card spot on the strength of their starting pitching, which ranks third in the league with a 3.66 ERA. The rotation is slipping at the wrong time, though, posting a 6.41 mark as the club has dropped four of five.
Drew Smyly was the latest to turn in a lackluster performance, giving up four runs over five innings against his former team in Monday's 5-4 loss to Detroit.
"This is a very young team and these are really tough losses for them," manager Kevin Cash said. "In the long run, it is a great learning experience, because we've played so many close games that every pitch of every at-bat matters. You learn how to play hard every out."
Ramirez (10-5, 3.84 ERA) has posted a 5.87 ERA in his last three starts. He totaled only 8 1-3 innings in the past two after completing at least six in five of his previous six outings.
The right-hander has also won once in his previous six road starts, posting a 5.96 ERA in the past four while surrendering five homers in 22 2-3 innings.
Ramirez threw a scoreless inning of relief for Seattle in his only appearance against Detroit on April 25, 2012.
Evan Longoria stayed hot for Tampa Bay on Tuesday, going 3 for 4 with his fifth home run in seven games. He owns a 1.375 OPS in that span.
Rajai Davis led the Tigers (63-74) to their fourth win in 17 contests Monday with two home runs, his first multihomer game since 2012. Davis, who has disappointed with a .244 average after hitting .282 in 2014, had batted .155 over his previous 21 with four home runs all season.
Aside from his first career win against Kansas City on Aug. 5, Detroit's Matt Boyd (1-5, 8.36) has been mostly dismal in seven other starts. The most recent was a 15-7 loss to the Royals on Thursday in which the left-hander was tagged for six runs before getting pulled after facing four batters in the second inning.
"I just couldn't throw stuff where I wanted to," said Boyd, who also walked two.
Tampa Bay ranks near the top of the majors with 46 home runs against lefties. Logan Forsythe's seven-game hitting streak was snapped Monday but he owns a 1.008 OPS against left-handers. Longoria is hitting .365 off lefties compared to .243 against right-handers.
J.D. Martinez, tops on the Tigers with 89 RBIs, was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts to bring his average to .156 over his last nine games. Victor Martinez, who sat out due to an illness, is also hitting .156 in his last 12, but .344 with 24 RBIs in his past 26 against Tampa Bay.
- TAMPA BAY: 7
DETROIT: 8
Final/13
Sep 9 12:12 AM - R.Davis hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder Sizemore, J.McCann scored.
Rays 7, Tigers 8 Bot 13, 2 OutsSep 9 12:12 AM - Rajai Davis out on a sacrifice fly to left center field to Grady Sizemore. James McCann scores.
Rays 7, Tigers 8 Bot 13, 2 OutsSep 9 12:11 AM - Longoria hit a sacrifice fly, safe on fielding error by left fielder R.Davis, Kiermaier scored, Franklin to third, Nava to second.
Rays 7, Tigers 7 Top 9, 1 OutSep 8 10:27 PM - Evan Longoria reaches on a sacrifice fly to deep left field. Daniel Nava to second. Nick Franklin to third. Kevin Kiermaier scores. Fielding error by Rajai Davis.
Rays 7, Tigers 7 Top 9, 1 OutSep 8 10:26 PM - Ian Kinsler pops out to shallow center field to Logan Forsythe.
Rays 6, Tigers 6 Bot 7, 1 OutSep 8 9:47 PM - Daniel Nava singles to left field. J.P. Arencibia scores.
Rays 6, Tigers 5 Top 7, 2 OutsSep 8 9:33 PM - Romine singled to left, Mi.Cabrera scored, J.Martinez scored, J.McCann to second.
Rays 5, Tigers 5 Bot 6, 2 OutsSep 8 9:16 PM - Andrew Romine singles to left field. James McCann out at third. J.D. Martinez scores. Miguel Cabrera scores.
Rays 5, Tigers 5 Bot 6, 2 OutsSep 8 9:15 PM - J.McCann was hit by a pitch, Kinsler scored, Mi.Cabrera to third, J.Martinez to second.
Rays 5, Tigers 3 Bot 6, 1 OutSep 8 9:11 PM - James McCann hit by pitch. J.D. Martinez to second. Miguel Cabrera to third. Ian Kinsler scores.
Rays 5, Tigers 3 Bot 6, 1 OutSep 8 9:11 PM - J.Martinez walked on a full count, Gose scored, Kinsler to third, Mi.Cabrera to second.
Rays 5, Tigers 2 Bot 6, 0 OutsSep 8 9:05 PM - Miguel Cabrera to second. Ian Kinsler to third. Anthony Gose scores.
Rays 5, Tigers 2 Bot 6, 0 OutsSep 8 9:05 PM - T.Beckham singled to center, Forsythe scored, A.Cabrera to second.
Rays 5, Tigers 1 Top 6, 2 OutsSep 8 8:47 PM - Tim Beckham singles to shallow center field. Asdrubal Cabrera to second. Logan Forsythe scores.
Rays 5, Tigers 1 Top 6, 2 OutsSep 8 8:47 PM - Forsythe singled to right, Mahtook scored, Longoria to second.
Rays 4, Tigers 1 Top 6, 1 OutSep 8 8:41 PM - Logan Forsythe singles to deep right field. Evan Longoria to second. Mikie Mahtook scores.
Rays 4, Tigers 1 Top 6, 1 OutSep 8 8:41 PM - Longoria singled to left, Sizemore scored, Mahtook to second.
Rays 3, Tigers 1 Top 6, 1 OutSep 8 8:39 PM - Evan Longoria singles to left field. Mikie Mahtook to second. Grady Sizemore scores.
Rays 3, Tigers 1 Top 6, 1 OutSep 8 8:39 PM - Sizemore singled to left, Kiermaier scored, Arencibia to second.
Rays 2, Tigers 1 Top 6, 0 OutsSep 8 8:37 PM - Grady Sizemore singles to left field. J.P. Arencibia to second. Kevin Kiermaier scores.
Rays 2, Tigers 1 Top 6, 0 OutsSep 8 8:37 PM - Longoria hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder R.Davis, Mahtook scored.
Rays 1, Tigers 1 Top 4, 2 OutsSep 8 7:54 PM - Evan Longoria out on a sacrifice fly to deep left field to Rajai Davis. Mikie Mahtook scores.
Rays 1, Tigers 1 Top 4, 2 OutsSep 8 7:54 PM - Brandon Guyer flies out to deep left center field to Anthony Gose.
Sep 8 7:09 PM - TAMPA BAY: 0
DETROIT: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 8 7:08 PM
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