 |
| Cobb threw a gem last night for the Rays. Photo Credit: USA Today |
The Tampa Bay Rays gave starting pitcher Alex Cobb plenty of early run support as they raced out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning eventually shutting out the New York Yankees 5-0 at Tropicana Field on Friday night.
By: Sunil Sunderraj
With this victory, the Rays became the fourth team in Major League Baseball history to reach the .500 mark after being as far back as 18 games below .500.
Cobb was sensational in his start as he went a strong 7 1/3 innings, giving up six hits while issuing one walk and striking out eight. He improved his record to 8-6 on the season.
Alex Cobb was locked in early as he got off to a strong start in the top of the first inning with his first seven pitches going for strikes. He ended up striking Jacoby Ellsbury and Jeter to close out a dominant opening frame for him.
The Rays offense, meanwhile, got going early as well. It started with back to back singles by Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist then a walk worked by Matt Joyce that gave Tampa Bay an early chance to hang up a crooked number with the bases loaded.
New York had an opportunity to get out of the inning with no damage done but their miscues on defense cost them. First on a potential double play ground ball off the bat of Evan Longoria, Yankees had a double play lined up perfectly but a wide throw from Chase Headley to Stephen Drew at second base caused a force out bringing in Jennings in for the first run of the game. The Yankees then would have trouble on another double play opportunity on a James Loney grounder hit to Drew, which allowed Zobrist to cross home plate giving Tampa a 2-0 advantage.
The Yankees had a scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth after Derek Jeter singled to lead off the inning, then moved to second on a wild pitch but ended up stranded after Ellsbury and Mark Teixeira struck out back to back. Headley grounded out to second base to end the inning.
Tampa Bay padded their lead in the seventh inning. An error by Headley on a ground ball by Logan Forsythe kick started the rally for the Rays. Yunel Escobar sac bunt advanced Forsythe to second.That was followed by a Curt Casli single to left field plating Forsythe to give the Rays a 3-0 lead. Kevin Kiermaier delivered a single to center field put runners on the corners. Jennings bloop single to right field increased Tampa’s lead to 4-0.
New York wasted a golden opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the eighth inning. Francisco Cervelli singled to left field followed by a Brett Gardner walk. At this point Rays Manager Joe Maddon replaced Cobb with Brad Boxberger. Jeter singled to shallow right field to load the bases. However, Ellsbury and Teixeira repeated their fourth innings at bats striking out consecutively to end the inning, slamming the door on any potential comeback.
In the bottom half of the eighth inning James Loney put the game away belting a solo shot, his sixth of the season off Esmil Rogers deep into the right field seats to make the score 5-0.
Starting Yankees pitcher Brandon McCarthy (4-2) went 6 1/3 innings, yielding two runs on four hits while striking out eight batters. New York has lost 8 out of 11 meetings to Tampa Bay this season. The Yankees were 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position and now are 2 for their last 33.
On Saturday afternoon New York rookie pitcher Shane Greene(3-1) opposes Drew Smyly (7-10) who will be making his first home start since being acquired from Detroit in the three-team trade that sent David Price to the Detroit Tigers. 