:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47256292/usa-today-8812532.0.jpg)
Last night, the Rays won their second game in a row for the first time in over two weeks. The Rays have blown many opportunities to win games these past couple of months, but it is still surprising that have not secured a series victory in over a month. The last time they did so, was back in late August when they took two of three from Oakland.
The Rays certainly could be in position to go for a sweep tonight, but the bullpen imploded in the final couple of innings and costed them a victory. The past two nights however, everything has broken right from the Rays as they've limited the Red Sox offense and put enough runs on the board to maintain a comfortable lead.
TODAY'S STARTING PITCHERS:
| PITCHER | W | L | ERA | FIP | AVG | HR | K% | BB% | GS/G | IP |
| Erasmo Ramirez | 10 | 6 | 3.70 | 3.84 | .231 | 15 | 19.0% | 6.3% | 25/32 | 151 |
| Wade Miley | 11 | 10 | 4.34 | 3.70 | .258 | 15 | 18.2% | 7.6% | 30/30 | 182.1 |
Although he didn't throw a no-hitter his last time out, Ramirez still followed up his near no-no with a solid performance against the Orioles, pitching seven innings and only allowed two runs on nine hits, walking zero and striking out four. Unfortunately, it resulted in his sixth loss of the season as he was only given one run of support.
Wade Miley Scouting Report:
Miley has been very inconsistent for the Red Sox this season as he has stretches where he shows flashes of being a front line starting pitcher, then he hits a rough stretch. So far in September, he's been on a nice little roll allowing three runs or less in the three starts he's made. His last time out, he pitched two outs in the seventh, and allowed two runs on three hits, but struggled mightily with his command, walking five hitters and he struck out seven, coming away with a no-decision.
His arsenal:
| PITCH | VELOCITY | FREQUENCY | vs LHB | vs RHB |
| Fastball | Low 90's |
26% vs LHB *** 26% vs RHB |
Low in the zone, paints the outside corner | Buries it, low and in |
| Sinker | Low 90's |
27% vs LHB *** 31% vs RHB |
Buries it, low and in | Low in the zone, paints the outside corner |
| Cutter | Low 90's |
01% vs LHB *** 01% vs RHB |
Sporadic | Sporadic |
| Slider | Mid 80's |
34% vs LHB *** 10% vs RHB |
Sweeps it and away from the zone | Buries it, low and in |
| Change | Mid 80's |
01% vs LHB *** 24% vs RHB |
Sporadic | Anywhere low in the zone |
| Curve | High 70's |
11% vs LHB *** 08% vs RHB |
Sweeps it and away from the zone | Anywhere low or below the zone |
His splits:
| TBF | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | K% | BB% | |
| vs LHB | 169 | .238 | .281 | .367 | 2 | 18.3% | 4.1% |
| vs RHB | 608 | .264 | .329 | .410 | 13 | 18.1% | 8.6% |
| HOME | 349 | .236 | .280 | .387 | 6 | 19.8% | 4.9% |
| AWAY | 428 | .276 | .351 | .412 | 9 | 16.8% | 9.8% |
September 24th in Rays History:
- They are 8-6 all-time on this date
- 1999 - The Devil Rays led late in New York against the Yankees, but Roberto Hernandez failed to lock down the save in the ninth. A couple of innings later, Norm Charlton faced Alfonso Soriano who was still hitless in his so far week long career. Then, Soriano blasted a walkoff home run, his first of 412 in his career that is now over.
- 2000 - Travis Harper delivers, what was easily the best start of his career as he hurls a complete game, two hit shutout against the Blue Jays as Tampa Bay took a 6-0 victory.
- 2002 - Mike Mussina dominates the Devil Rays, hurling a complete game, two hit shutout, striking out 12 in the process.
- 2010 - Rafael Soriano sets a new team record for saves in a season after recording his 44th save of the year in a 5-3 victory over Seattle. Roberto Hernandez held the record previously with 43, set in 1999.
- 2011 - In the thick of an intense wild card chase, Alex Torres makes an incredible relief appearance after Jeff Niemann laid an egg and was removed for doing so. Torres came on in the second and threw five scoreless innings and earned his first major league victory as the Rays won 6-2.
- 2013 - Matt Moore, along with Jamey Wright and Jake Odorizzi, combined to shutout the Yankees on four hits. The offense provided plenty of support, scratching across seven runs en route to a victory.