The original rendition of this recap comes from SBN Tampa Bay, sports hub for all things Tampa Bay and balls-related.
Alex Cobb (L, 3-1) acquired his first major league loss in an impressive and hard-fought battle with the Seattle Mariners' young phenom, Michael Pineda (W, 9-7). The All-Star Pineda baffled the Rays hitters, allowing only a combined 5 base runners in 6 and 1/3 inning, while striking out 10 Rays hitters.
The Seattle pitching staff as a whole allowed only one hit, a Ben Zobrist single that tied the game 2-2 in the 6th inning. Altogether, the Rays offense combined for 1 hit, 4 walks, and a whopping 13 strike outs.
The Rays pitchers, however, brought their best to the fray. Cobb allowed a two-run homer to Dustin Ackley in the first inning, but went on to stymie the Seattle hitters, collecting 9 strikeouts to only 1 walk. Unfortunately, Cobb allowed a double to Ackley and then a single to Mike Carp in the 6th inning, giving the Mariners the consummate lead.
J.P. Howell finished the 7th inning for Cobb, inducing an inning-ending double play, and then Joel Peralta pitched a perfect 8th, striking out Brendan Ryan in the process.
The Rays (55-51) have now dropped to just 4 games above .500 and 10.5 games back from the division-leading Boston Red Sox.
Additional notes:
- Ben Zobrist had just about the only halfway decent night for the Rays, going 1 for 4 with a caught stealing. Yeah, that was the best Rays line of the night.
- Ol' Desmond Jennings finally looked like a call-up, striking out three times with a sac bunt. The bunt was well executed, but it was not a 4-for-5-with-a-homer night for sure. I'm pretty sure it's time we consider him a bust.
- Trade deadline, tomorrow at 4 pm E.T. If B.J. Upton is in the lineup, then the Royals still have the best minor league system. If not, well...