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Strong outing from Charlie Morton? Check.
The Rays’ most dependable starter of 2019 hurled 5 innings of one run ball, scattering 3 hits and striking out 9.
Charlie Morton struck out Alex Bregman -- who is not easy to strike out -- by following a 2-seamer that broke 21.0 inches in one direction with a curveball that broke 22.2 inches in the opposite direction. pic.twitter.com/RKuNU1B9QP
— David Adler (@_dadler) October 7, 2019
Offense waking up in a big way? Check.
Kevin Kiermaier opened the scoring for the Rays with a 3 run dinger off Zack Greinke. Soon thereafter, Ji-Man Choi and Brandon Lowe added homers of their own off the Astros vet. Willy Adames also took Wade Miley deep to make it 4 total on the day.
We've never hit four homers in a home postseason game...
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 7, 2019
...until today.#StayHungry pic.twitter.com/puSvRG2YYZ
Shut down bullpen? Check.
Chaz Roe, Brendan McKay, Oliver Drake and Colin Poche combined for the remaining 4 innings and all looked great, sans a few flukey outcomes from Roe who allowed two runs.
For today? With the Twins getting eliminated by the Yankees in last night’s contest, the Rays get the primetime slot (first pitch 7:07) The starters? Verlander gets the ball again for the ‘Stros on short rest while the Rays have plans to turn to reliever Diego Castillo for the open.
Rays links
- Faith, Hope, Etcetera in St, Petersburg - Rachael McDaniel, FanGraphs
- How Charlie Morton’s career represents the history of pitch design - Eno Sarris, The Athletic
- Rays fans played hooky and showed baseball is still alive in Tampa Bay - Joe Smith, The Athletic
- Think you’ve seen it all? Watch this pitch - David Adler, MLB