Rays vs. Red Sox, game two recap: Start a new streak

One day after breaking their interminable (11 game) losing streak, the Rays are back on the horse (and back on the Dana Eveland, which doesn’t have the same ring to it).

Chris Archer did manage to avoid what has been a string of first-inning problems, but that doesn’t mean he had a great outing. His first pitch of the second inning was belted for a Travis Shaw home run, and he was done in by walks and doubles in for runs in both the third and fifth innings.

Over his six and a third innings of work, Archer did stick out nine Red Sox batters, and his slider—which he threw a whopping 50 times—generated whiffs, but he also struggled with command, walking four batters. This was not the type of outing that has him “back on track.”

Archer was replaced by Enny Romero in the seventh inning, with one out and a man on first, but Romero was unable to shut the door, giving up three hits for three runs (one charged to Archer).

After that, newly-recalled Dana Eveland took over and gave up two runs in the ninth of his own, because, as it turns out, Dana Eveland is not Alex Colome. #Analysis.

Some other notes:

• This was weird. Logan Morrison called for time, and then it didn’t appear to have been granted. Morrison stepped out anyway, and protested. Rick Porcello balked. The umpire nearly called the balk, but then realized that was ridiculous.

• Good play by Desmond Jennings. When he was first moved back to center, I thought DJ looked uncomfortable. Now I think he’s getting his CF feet back under him. Agree, disagree?

• Apologies for the late/short recap. The fault is all mine. There’s a project at work that’s taking all of my time, but my part of it ends July 5th. I’ll be better then. And if you find yourself in NYC this summer, please come see it, and let’s meat up.