One year ago on Rays Index we learned that Evan Longoria was being promoted to the big leagues and would make his first major league start that night.
[THE HANGOVER] The Dirtbag Get’s The Call: Evan Longoria To Start Tonight [Rays Index]
This gameday open thread will have two parts and it is all user-generated…
Time to bring back the GBT – The Good, The Bad and The Telling sandwich, where The Bad is nice and lean and the The Telling is ripe.
click above image for boxscore
THE GOOD: Rebounds. Despite his horrid first inning, Jeff Niemann managed to stay in the game into the 6th inning. In fact, at one point he retired 9 in a row…Joe Nelson. Nelson looked good with 2 shutout innings…Evan Longoria. He was only 2-4 with a double. He is doing his job. but he did ground into his third double-play already.
THE BAD: Bad Beginnings. Another bad first inning and this one was as bad as it gets. We were actually surprised Jeff Niemann did not get pulled. The first 6 batters all reached base including a grand slam, 2 ground-rule doubles and a hit batter. You could really see how nervous Niemann was in the first with the very deep breathing when Joe Maddon visited the mound..No offense. 1 run in two games off of the O’s starting pitchers just can’t happen. 0-11 with runners in scoring position doesn’t help.
THE TELLING: As young as the Rays are as a team, Jeff Niemann is the only rookie on the opening day roster…Joe Nelson and Lance Cormier pitched in similar situations the past two games, which does not shed light on which pitcher is low-man on the totem pole for when Jason Isringhausen is ready to join the Rays.
SUNBURST PLAYER OF THE GAME: Dioner Navarro. 2 hits, including a double and we are going to give Navi some of the credit for Niemann’s ability to settle down after the first inning. It may not have been important for last night, but it could be important for Niemann’s psyche moving forward.
DEVIL DOGS WEBTOPIA…
Durham 8, Norfolk 4.David Price made his first start of the year and lasted only 3.2 innings as he couldn’t keep his pitch count (75) in check. Both runs allowed came on a 2-run home run. In total he gave up 4 hits and walked 2. He struck out 4. In the two times Price faced Matt Weiters, He struck him out and walked him… Reid Brignac had a pair of singles in 5 at bats and Justin Ruggiano was 3-5 including a 2-run home run…John Jaso was on base 4 times, with a single, double and 2 walks.
West Tenn 10, Montgomery 1 (gm 1). Aneury Rodriguez gave up 6 runs in 3 innings in his first start since being acquired from the Rockies for Jason Hammel…Eddie Morlan pitched 2 shutout innings…The Biscuits managed only 4 hits, 2 from Desmond Jennings who was 2-4 with a double.
Montgomery 3, West Tenn 2 (gm 2). Heath Rollins pitched 5 scoreless innings, allowing only 2 hits and a walk with 3 strikeouts…Calving Medlock relieved Chris Mason in the 9th inning with a 1-run lead, 1 out and the bases loaded. He struck out the final two batters to seal the win…Desmond Jennings was 2-3.
Ft. Myers 11, Charlotte 6. David Newmann gave up 8 runs (7 earned) in just 3 innings…BJ Upton was 3-4 with a walk and 2 stolen bases, playing center field. He is now 4-9 in his rehab stint and 4-7 stealing bases.
Hickory 5, Bowling Green 0 (gm 1). The Hot Rod were no-hit (7 innings) in game 1…Shane Dyer gave up 2 runs in 5 innings.
Hickory 4, Bowling Green 0 (gm 2). Well they got 4 hits in the second game. Still no runs, but 4 hits is better. All singles…Neil Schenk pitched only 3 innings but did not allow a run on 2 hits and a walk. He struck out 3.
Notes from Down on the Farm…
