The stage was set. Chris Archer vs his former mentor David Price. Willy Adames taking on the pitcher he was traded for. It seemed too perfect.
For a while, it looked like it was going to be a perfect set up. Archer went toe to toe with Price giving the Rays a line of 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB and 6 K. The only run coming on a Hanley Ramirez double play with the bases loaded after a single and two walks.
But the slider. was. FILTHY.
Oh my. pic.twitter.com/a9bABB31dS
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 24, 2018
Former Ray David Price was his classic self, going 6.0 IP, 3H, 1 ER, 3 BB, and 9 K. The Rays did score with C.J. Cron scoring Denard Span on a hard hit double.
Welcome to the Show, Kid.
Adames got to show off the plus arm he’s been known for with an absolute beast of a relay from Johnny Field Throw to nab Nunez at the plate and keep the Rays within 1.
Field ➡️ Adames ➡️ Sucre. pic.twitter.com/iYJ14SjRg3
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 24, 2018
And for those who think Sucre was blocking the plate:
The bullpen for the most part would do its job with Alvarado coming in and firing 1.2 IP of scoreless ball with 4 strikeouts, and Roe working around 2 walks to close out the 8th. Cash would call on Colome to keep the game tied and give the Rays a walkoff chance (Adames anyone?!)
We’ve seen good Colome, and bad, and this one was the latter. After an error on a bad throw by Adames put J.D. Martinez on 2nd with nobody out. Xander Boegarts doubled to put the Sox ahead, and it just snowballed after that. A 5 - pitch walk to Nunez, and a wild pitch, and the Red Sox have a runner on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out. A sac fly and a PASSED ball, makes it 4-1 Red Sox, and Colome’s night would be done with Stanek replacing the “closer” and getting Christian Vazquez to fly out.
Rays would face Kimbrel for the 2nd night in a row, but fate couldn’t be tempted a 2nd time. Kimbrel would sit the Rays down in order, with the last out being a strikeout of Adames on 3 pitches.
The prophecy will have to wait.