Tampa Bay Rays Snap Losing Streak; Snell Earns 1st MLB Win
By Adam Piede
Blake Snell pitched into the sixth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays offense came alive to help end the team’s 11-game losing streak.
Tampa Bay’s next pitching prodigy, Blake Snell, was buoyed by an offensive outburst which allowed him to earn his first major league win on Monday night. It wasn’t exactly a lights-out performance by Snell, but his offense handed him an early 5-0 lead which he never relinquished, as the Rays knocked off the Boston Red Sox 13-7 at Tropicana Field. Snell pitched well enough to earn the win as he went 5.1 innings, giving up eight hits and four runs while striking out four in his fourth career start.
Rays manager Kevin Cash seemed relieved as he spoke after the game: “Good win. A needed win, really happy for the guys because I know they have been grinding through it.”
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Snell was armed with a nine-run lead as he headed out for the fourth inning before giving up runs in each of his final three innings. His biggest threat was a bases loaded jam in the fifth inning where he walked David Ortiz, forcing in a run, before striking out Hanley Ramirez to end the threat. In earning the victory, Snell became the first rookie pitcher to snap his team’s double-digit losing streak since David Price achieved the same feat for the Rays in 2009.
The 23-year-old rookie commented on his first big league win by saying, “A really great moment that I get to share with my teammates.”
During his brief time in Tampa Bay, the young left-hander showed glimpses of the promise which earned him the 2015 Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year award. He possesses a low-to-mid 90s fastball while mixing in a curve and an ever improving changeup. Command was an issue at times in the minors, and thus far has also proven to be a bit of a bugaboo in the big leagues. After four starts his WHIP sits at 1.77, which will certainly have to be improved upon if he is to sustain success in the gauntlet that is the American League East.
Snell and the Rays certainly hope Monday’s game will help give the team a bit of momentum as they head into the final two weeks before the All-Star break. Next up for Snell will likely be a weekend matchup in Tampa against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers. In the meantime, he will have a couple days to savor his first win in the big leagues.