Game Notes: ErACEmo Ramirez vs Ivan Nova

Yesterday's game sucked, the past two weeks has sucked. Whether it be mismanagement, poor play, or simply bad luck the Rays have struggled as of late. After defeating the Cleveland Indians on June 20th, the Rays were a game up in the AL East but since that time they have lost 11 of 13, yet they somehow are just three games back. Six of those losses have come thanks to their opponents last at bats, and three have been walkoff losses. Yesterday's loss was even more cruel as Steven Souza Jr had miracuously homered off of the Yankees dominant closer, Dallas Betances, to tie the game in the 9th after the Rays had been shutout up to that point. Only for the team to lose in the bottom half due to an error.

Today the Rays will send Erasmo Ramirez to the mound to faceoff against Ivan Nova. So far this year, Er-Ace-Mo Ramirez is 6-3 with a 4.01 ERA and a 3.67 FIP to go along with a 20.9 K% and a 8.0 BB% over the course of 18 games (11 starts) and 67.1 innings pitched. His last time out against Cleveland, he worked into the sixth inning, striking out seven, and only allowed a run on two hits and a walk.

Ivan Nova Scouting Report:

Nove made only a few starts in 2014, before having to undergo Tommy John surgery, but after along rehab he finally made his return on June 24th. He's only made two starts so far this year and is 2-0 and he's only given up two runs in 12 innings on the mound, meanwhile he's struck out eight and walked four. Both runs that have scored off him were solo homers of the bats of Albert Pujols and Erick Aybar.

His arsenal:

Over his career, righties have actually hit slightly better against Nova than lefties as they have slashed .278/.339/.447 with 33 HR in 1,133 trips to the plate, compared to a slash of .261/.336/.406 hit by lefties.

Also over his career, Nova sports a 17.4 K% and a 7.8 BB%. When opponents do make contact, it's hit on the ground half the time as Nova has generated a groundball 50.3% of the time, while line drives are hit 19.8% and flies are hit 29.9% of the time.

Other Rays Notes:

- Richie Shaffer hit another HR at Durham, his 19th overall this season, maintaining his 14 AB/HR rate (technically 13.8 AB/HR). Also, recently promoted to Montgomery, Jake Faria threw seven no-hit innings last night and struck out 14!.

- Jake Odorizzi Update

#Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi will make second (and likely final) rehab start for the #StoneCrabs on Monday vs. Palm Beach.

— Josh Vitale (@JoshVitale) July 5, 2015

- July 5th in team history, of which they are 7-11

• 1966 - Dave Eiland is born, the current Kansas City Royals pitching coach, spent parts of 10 seasons in the majors (including 1998-2000 with Tampa Bay). During those 10 seasons, Eiland was 12-27 with a 5.74 ERA and a 4.82 FIP over the course of 92 games and 373 innings pitched.
• 2002 - After scoring twice in the 8th to force extras, the Devil Rays fall in the bottom of the 10th to the Angels after David Eckstein singled with the bases loaded for a walkoff victory, 6-5.
• 2004 - During a double header against the Orioles, the Devil Rays lose both games (2-4 & 2-8).
• 2006 - During a victory against the Red Sox at the Trop, Carl Crawford stole the show..literally. After singling up the middle, Crawford steals second, advanced to third, and finally steals home scoring Tampa Bay's 5th run of the game.

• 2008 - Andy Sonnanstine, J.P. Howell, and Grant Balfour combine to shutout the Kansas City Royals in a 3-0 victory.

• 2013 - In what would turn out to be his last major league HR, Jose Molina hits a two run shot off of Dylan Axelrod.