Former Covington Catholic and University of Kentucky star Luke Maile hit his first career major league home run in the second inning Saturday for the Tampa Bay Rays.
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Beltre had four hits, including leading off consecutive innings with home runs that gave him 434 for his career, moving him into a tie with Juan Gonzalez and Andruw Jones for 45th place all-time. Arcia, acquired while the Rays had several outfielders on the disabled list, hit.259 in 21 games with two home runs and seven RBIs, striking out 19 times in 54 at-bats.
With Tampa Bay up 2-1 in the sixth, Texas’ Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-out double that appeared to score Adrian Beltre until a replay review showed second baseman Tim Beckham’s throw was in time to get Beltre and end the inning. The earned run came off a solo homer in the eighth from Steve Souza, but other than that, Hamels’ was virtually un-hittable on Friday. “To be going through that, I’m sure, was extremely tough for him”.
The loss ended the Rays’ four-game winning streak.
Tampa Bay (51-70) is far out of any sort of playoff race but manager Kevin Cash is looking for some consistency from his ball club as it tries to avoid any more extended losing streaks for the rest of the season. But each failed to bring home a run. “So a pretty disappointing effort”.
“It was a sellout, a pretty important game”, he recalled. (The announced attendance Friday night was 15,109). Texas SS Elvis Andrus is 6-for-10 with two walks and two stolen bases in his last three overall games and is hitting.306 lifetime versus the Rays. 2.
CF Kevin Kiermaier was pulled early in Friday’s game with tightness in his left hip – his defense was sorely missed with rookie Mikie Mahtook as his replacement. Coming out of the All-Star break, they dropped six of their first seven on the road, and opened their next road trip losing three of four. The Rays will issue vouchers to kids 14 and under who attend Sunday’s game.
Heading in the opposite direction from Odorizzi is Rangers starter A.J. Griffin, who comes in 5-2 with 4.68 ERA, but has seen his effectiveness drop consistently as the season progresses.
Rays: 2B Logan Forsythe (back spasms) could be back in the starting lineup Sunday. Griffin of the Rangers.
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Odorizzi (8-5) is 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA in seven starts since the break.
