SUNDAY GAME NOTES

Today the Rays will play their second game, of three in a row that start at 1:00. After losing the first game of the series on Friday, the Rays were able to secure a 3-2 victory yesterday afternoon, thanks to some timely hitting from Kevin Kiermaier and Asdrubal Cabrera, It did get a little shaky though as Alex Colome struggled to record the final out of the eighth inning, but was able to keep the lead intact, thanks to a well position Logan Forsythe.

Hopefully today, the Rays can avoid needing to use the backend of the bullpen during today's game, as Colome needed a lot pitches to retire the side and I personally do not like the idea of using Brad Boxberger in back to back games. They should be well equipped though, as Chris Archer heads to the mound and he'll be facing Ivan Nova.

Today's Starting Pitchers:

Archer had a decent outing his last time out as held the Orioles scoreless for six innings. Archer was only able to go six due to struggling wit his command as he walked three and only struck out six, but only allowed four hits as well. He was actually bailed out of allowing a homer in that start, thanks to Kevin Kiermaier's insane catch in center. Archer has been inconsistent since the all-star break as he has struggled with his command during some poor starts, where in other he's dominated opposing hitters while racking up strikeouts.

Ivan Nova Scouting Report:

Nova made his return from Tommy John surgery towards late June, like Matt Moore did for the Rays. However, unlike Moore, the Yankees have kept Nova around, probably because his performance has been a lot better than Moore's with the exception of one start.

Nova has pretty much done as well as you could expect of him as he's been going about 5-7 innings a start while allowing 2-4 runs, effectively keeping New York in the game. His worst outing came two weeks ago against Houston where he only four innings and allowed seven, but he rebounded decently in his last start going six innings and only allowing three runs on seven hits, while he struck out three and walked one.

His arsenal:

His splits:

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September 6th in Rays History:

• They are 4-10 all-time on this date
• 2004 - A couple of Devil Ray rookies pull off some career first as Jorge Cantu lifts his first career homer and B.J. Upton swipes his first stolen base.
• 2005 - After falling behind 3-0, early to the Yankees, the Devil Rays begin to rally and before you knew it, the game was tied heading into the 9th. Joe Torre turned to Mariano Rivera to try and keep the game tied, but Sandman failed as with one out, Aubrey Huff singled. Joey Gathright would pinch-run for him and he immediately stole second. Julio Lugo then hit a ground ball up the middle that Robinson Cano misplayed, allowing Gathright to dash around third and score the go-ahead run. The Devil Rays would win, 4-3.

Gathright's Dash [] Hall & Gonzalez's RBI hits off the Big Unit [] Lugo's Ridiculous Play [] Tampa Bay Guns Down Williams

• 2008 - As the Rays were in a tight battle for the division with the Red Sox, they suffer a devastating loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Trailing 3-0 entering the ninth, Tampa Bay strikes for three runs thanks to Rocco Baldelli's two run homer and a timely error from Toronto's defense. The game would go into extras and in the top of the 13th, Tampa Bay took the lead after Dioner Navarro singled home Fernando Perez. Unfortunately for the Rays, Troy Percival took the mound to try and close the game out. Percival started the inning by sandwiching two singles between two outs and followed that by walking Scott Rolen. The very next pitch following the walk was to Greg Zaun who turned on it and sent it over the right field wall for a walkoff grand-slam home run, winning the game, 7-4.

• 2009 - After Wade Davis (making his MLB debut) and Lance Cormier held the Tigers to only one run over the first eight innings, Joe Maddon tried to mix-and-match with his relievers using Grant Balfour, J.P. Howell, and Russ Springer in the ninth. Didn't go too well as Detroit struck for four runs, taking the lead and eventually the victory, 5-3.

• 2011 - C.J. Wilson dominates the Rays lineup pitching a complete game shutout, only allowed five hits. Meanwhile the Rangers struck for eight runs, taking an 8-0 victory.

• 2014 - After Jake McGee allowed the tying run to score in the eighth, the Rays would walkoff in the bottom of the ninth without recording a hit. Yunel Escobar reached on an error, moved to second on a bunt, and advanced to third after a sac-fly. With Ryan Hanigan at the plate, Andrew Miller delivered a pitch that Baltimore catcher, Nick Hundley, just whiffed on allowing Esocbar to scamper home and score the winning run.