Article author:
Reuters
After losing a series with its American League East rival, the New York Yankees, the Tampa Bay Rays will host a comparatively unfamiliar enemy, the Pittsburgh Pirates, in a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Florida. Friday night.
Recently, Pirates won two out of three against Tampa Bay at home in 2017, but their last visit to the Dome Stadium was eight seasons ago. They hold a 9-6 record against the defending AL East Champion.
Florida's Gulf Coast is both training and face-to-face, so the only familiarity between teams is near spring before the season. Pirates do spring training in Bradenton and Rays is an hour south of Port Charlotte.
But this weekend's game is not a spring training game where starters play half the game and troll from the backfield to get a turn at bat in the last few innings. .. And both teams will certainly enjoy the scoreboard boost.
Pittsburgh dragged home to the Chicago Cubs 10-1 on Wednesday night, while second-base Diego Castillo wiped out the mound in the ninth inning to save the bullpen and blow out 14-5. I'm done.
"I've talked a lot about this, but the group is still playing hard," said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. "The game was a bit out of control today, but our level of effort wasn't. We were still chasing it."
Thursday, Pittsburgh Cubs in 10 innings Was beaten 8-7, but the club is only 5-12 in the last 17 games.
Raise escaped from them the victory over the New York Yankees, who ranked first on Wednesday at the finale of the three-game set. The criminal proved to be a lack of quality pitching depth.
Starter Shane Baz was lifted in 42/3 innings and couldn't maintain a three-run lead in the hope that six reliefs would win the Yankees in the series.
Instead, Jose Trevino hit a two-run home run from the rarely used relief pitcher Ralph Garza Jr., winning the AL East leader 5-4. This is the 51st victory.
The right-handed player allowed one hit (Trevino's shot) in two innings, but made three of the eight raise walks, including Isiah Kinerfarefa's lead-off walk. did.
Tampa Bay Manager Kevin Cash was responsible and in recent circumstances Garza could not be called frequently.
"It's not Garza, it's not at all. It depends on me more than anyone else," Cash said. "We chose him, he came back, so he was laid off just waiting for the place. It's like catching up with us."
Rays, who won only three of the last twelve games, finished fourth in a category far closer to the final Baltimore than the Yankees.
In need of a bullpen arm, Rays bought right-handed David McKay from the Yankees on Thursday for cash considerations.
Both teams will start pitchers on Friday to make their first career appearances — Pirates right-handed Mitch Keller (2-5, 4.72 ERA) and Raise left-handed Jeffrey Springs (3-). 2,2.00)).
– Field-level media
