After the total pitching debacle Monday night in Cleveland I was looking forward to watching SP Matt Garza work his mojo on the bump in game 2 Tuesday evening. Needless to say it didn’t happen. As a matter of fact Matt went from one extreme result to the other with little in between. What do I mean by that? Here you go…Garza went 6 innings, scattered 5 hits (3 HR amongst these hits), walked 0 and struck out 7. He was pitching well but when he made a mistake the Tribe made him pay. RP Randy Choate followed Garza for 2 innings allowing another HR for the 5th run of the game for the Tribe.
The offense sputtered for the Rays. The managed to eek out 6 hits total. The big hit came from the bat of Carlos Pena as he hit a bomb into the seats for #16 of the season. The top of the order was minimally effective for the Rays. Hitters 1-2-3-4 went 2 for 14 with Pena’s bomb accounting for the only run/RBI, 2 walks and accounting for all 7 strike outs by Ray hitters. Considering the current state of the Ray’s offense and pitching this will not win many games. Someone must step up in the lineup and take charge, someone must lead. Love to see Pena put that bunt down against that shift, love to see Upton bunt or take a walk just to get on base, etc….
The good news out of this day is that all other AL East teams above the Rays also lost so the Rays have not given up any more ground. The Rays need a leader right now to take charge. They need someone to push them. These are the times we are missing Hinske and Floyd. Sometimes I think our team is a bit too nice. I understand they want to win but they need someone to stir up some pride and desire in that club house especially now with the losses we have endured. The Rays have an opportunity to split the series in Cleveland but must win the next 2 games. Time to turn it up a notch guys!
