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I mean it’s like, how did you…? Why would this…? What…how can this happen? Why does this keep happening? I can’t…it’s…like…
I feel relieved. But also…not.
Poor Nathan Karns. How is it possible that he keeps getting stacked up against opposing pitcher performances such as these? It takes an incredible amount of anti-luck. An almost impossible amount. Which makes you think about how much luck really has to do with it. A slumping offense in some cases is a trick of luck, but not always. When performances start to happen like this one, maybe it’s systemic. Maybe there’s something going on with it. Maybe when Marco Estrada and Cody Anderson start to look like Cy Young and Greg Maddux, you deserve to get a little freaked out.
Or hey maybe it’s just BABIP just need one in the gap
Ol’ Karnsy wasn’t quite as good as he was in the Marco Estrada game, but he still deserved a bit better. In six innings he collected seven strikeouts, but also had to work around some unusual plays, some of which were self-inflicted.
In the first Kipnis led off with a double, and Lindor dropped a bunt down. Karns responded by throwing the ball away, ostensibly scoring Kipnis. Or did he? The umpire made the unusual call of batter interference by Lindor, who made contact with Marc Krauss. That pushed Kipnis back to second. The Indians still got the run though, once Michael Brantley singled to right and Souza bobbled the ball.
Next inning, Yan Gomes doubled hard off of the wall, and scoring on yet another Kipnis hit. In the fourth, the Pride of Cleveland threatened again but nothing came of it. Karns allowed two singles, and after a sac bunt by Michael Bourn, intentionally walked Jason Kipnis to get to Francisco Lindor. The speedy Lindor grounded into a double play thanks to some slick fielding by Logan Forsythe.
An inning later, Karns had to get Carlos Santana out a couple of times when Rene Rivera managed to drop an easy pop foul on the transfer. Cash thought about challenging it but refrained from doing so. Karns struck out Santana anyway.
It took seven innings for the Rays to reach base, but they did it in style on a Grady Sizemore home run.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So, Grady Sizemore couldn't have picked a better time for his first <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rays?src=hash">#Rays</a> HR. WATCH: <a href="http://t.co/oj9ztsSJHq">http://t.co/oj9ztsSJHq</a> <a href="http://t.co/LLCtKnTakw">pic.twitter.com/LLCtKnTakw</a></p>— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/status/615691174804889600">June 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Let that be a lesson to anyone who thinks he can get the Rays out 20 times in a row.
Longo also did a thing by lining a single to left that Michael Brantley sort of just…mishandled. It rolled near the wall and Longo reached second with one out. Of course the Rays didn’t get him in, stranding him on third but honestly I got super excited about a baserunner not two minutes beforehand so it’s progress, maybe.
Kirby Yates let all the air out of the balloon by allowing a home run to Yan Gomes, who got a couple of hard hits tonight. In the ninth Ronald Belisario, who had one of the worst innings I've ever seen, gift-wrapped an extra run to Cleveland when he airmailed the first pitch of an intentional walk, scoring (who else?) Jason Kipnis. The Indians kept getting on base and getting hits, and by the time it was all over, the Indians led 7-1, and the Rays lost a game they had no business winning anyway.
So it all sort of works out, I guess. The Rays avoid an increasing probably outcome, and the Indians pick up a win after being swept by the Orioles. In all honesty when the opposing team gets 13 hits and you’re perfect game’d into the seventh, you ain’t got nothin’ goin’ on. Take the loss and move on. And that’s my advice to you: take the loss and move on. The pitching cavalry is coming, just hold on a little bit longer.
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<th colspan=2>Roll Call Info</th>
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<tr><td width=150>Total comments</td><td>181</tr>
<tr class="alt"><td>Total commenters</td><td>30</tr>
<tr><td>Commenter list</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Ben%20Tumbling">Ben Tumbling</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Brett%20Phillips">Brett Phillips</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Brian%20Andersbot">Brian Andersbot</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Brickhaus">Brickhaus</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/CSG%20BBR">CSG BBR</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/DFAHowell">DFAHowell</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Darby%20Robinson">Darby Robinson</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Dome%20Biscuit">Dome Biscuit</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/EvenLongoria">EvenLongoria</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Hatfield">Hatfield</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Hipster%20Doofus">Hipster Doofus</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/JRTW612">JRTW612</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Jeremy%20Powers">Jeremy Powers</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Mister%20Lizzie">Mister Lizzie</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Mr.Jenkins">Mr.Jenkins</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/MrWizzle21">MrWizzle21</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Rays%20Fan%20in%20NC">Rays Fan in NC</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Rays1118">Rays1118</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SagehenMacGyver47">SagehenMacGyver47</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/budman3">budman3</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/essenpee">essenpee</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/faceforst">faceforst</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/kapaafire">kapaafire</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/kfharlock">kfharlock</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/nomo.red.evil">nomo.red.evil</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/npolackw">npolackw</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/rockyboy1">rockyboy1</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/tampa_edski">tampa_edski</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/the%20dobber">the dobber</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/thedudeofdudes">thedudeofdudes</a></tr>
<tr class="alt"><td>Story URLs</td><td><div><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back">http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back</a></div>
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<th width=60># Recs</th><th>Commenter</th><th>Comment Link</th>
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<td>5</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Brett%20Phillips">Brett Phillips</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313826804">Grady Sizemore will get a hit because Shelton hasn't had the time to talk to him yet.</a></td>
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<td>5</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Brian%20Andersbot">Brian Andersbot</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313827068">[no title]</a></td>
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<td>2</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Rays1118">Rays1118</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313809328">[no title]</a></td>
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<td>2</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/essenpee">essenpee</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313808888">Can you just pick one username?</a></td>
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<td>1</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Jeremy%20Powers">Jeremy Powers</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313827076">Boom</a></td>
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<td>1</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Brian%20Andersbot">Brian Andersbot</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313835126">hahahah Michael Bourn looks like an idiot.</a></td>
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<td>1</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Brett%20Phillips">Brett Phillips</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313833498">No silly there's more than 23 games left in the year</a></td>
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<td>1</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Brett%20Phillips">Brett Phillips</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313827200">I call this meme "le home run face"</a></td>
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<td>1</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/tampa_edski">tampa_edski</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313822726">This is embarrassing to watch</a></td>
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<td>1</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Dome%20Biscuit">Dome Biscuit</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313810616">He is basically Matt Dominguez</a></td>
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<td>1</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Dome%20Biscuit">Dome Biscuit</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313813868">No wonder nobody goes to games.</a></td>
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<td>1</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/kfharlock">kfharlock</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313820512">Watch out dude, I might even sign a petition!</a></td>
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<td>1</td><td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Rays1118">Rays1118</a></td><td><a href="http://www.draysbay.com/2015/6/29/8859053/gdt-when-is-matt-moore-coming-back#313808234">ROFL! WE JUST GOT SO DAMN LUCKY! THANK YOU BASED UMP!</a></td>
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