SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash kept getting the most from his pitching staff, moving reliever Adam Kolarek to first base in a piece of matchup strategy, and the Rays blanked the San Francisco Giants 3-0 Sunday.
Yandy Diaz homered on the second pitch of the game and Yonny Chirinos (2-0) threw five scoreless innings. The Rays have opened the season with three straight series wins for the first time in franchise history.
Kolarek pitched a perfect sixth inning to protect a 2-0 lead, then had two different stints on the mound in the seventh. The left-hander gave up a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Yangervis Solarte before shifting over to play first base — it was his first time in the majors at a position other than pitcher, and allowed the Rays to bring in right-hander reliever Chaz Roe.
Roe struck out righty-hitting Evan Longoria and exited. Kolarek returned to the mound, struck out lefty-swinging Brandon Belt, gave up another single and was replaced for good by Diego Castillo.
Cash used relief pitchers as starters for an inning or two last year with great success. Chirinos made his second strong appearance this season, allowing two hits and a walk and striking out five. On March 31 versus Houston, he gave up one run on two hits in seven innings.
Drew Pomeranz (0-1) lasted four innings, permitting two runs on six hits, walking three and striking out five. But the Giants provided no offensive support, managing five hits, all singles.
The Rays other runs came on Christian Arroyos RBI single in the fourth and when Kevin Kiermaier tripled in the eighth and scored on a balk.
TRAINERS ROOM
Rays: Cash said infielder Joey Wendle, who has been on the 10-day disabled list since April 1, wont be ready to play for a few days even after hes eligible to come off the DL on April 11.
Giants: RHP Read More – Source
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash kept getting the most from his pitching staff, moving reliever Adam Kolarek to first base in a piece of matchup strategy, and the Rays blanked the San Francisco Giants 3-0 Sunday.
Yandy Diaz homered on the second pitch of the game and Yonny Chirinos (2-0) threw five scoreless innings. The Rays have opened the season with three straight series wins for the first time in franchise history.
Kolarek pitched a perfect sixth inning to protect a 2-0 lead, then had two different stints on the mound in the seventh. The left-hander gave up a leadoff single to pinch-hitter Yangervis Solarte before shifting over to play first base — it was his first time in the majors at a position other than pitcher, and allowed the Rays to bring in right-hander reliever Chaz Roe.
Roe struck out righty-hitting Evan Longoria and exited. Kolarek returned to the mound, struck out lefty-swinging Brandon Belt, gave up another single and was replaced for good by Diego Castillo.
Cash used relief pitchers as starters for an inning or two last year with great success. Chirinos made his second strong appearance this season, allowing two hits and a walk and striking out five. On March 31 versus Houston, he gave up one run on two hits in seven innings.
Drew Pomeranz (0-1) lasted four innings, permitting two runs on six hits, walking three and striking out five. But the Giants provided no offensive support, managing five hits, all singles.
The Rays other runs came on Christian Arroyos RBI single in the fourth and when Kevin Kiermaier tripled in the eighth and scored on a balk.
TRAINERS ROOM
Rays: Cash said infielder Joey Wendle, who has been on the 10-day disabled list since April 1, wont be ready to play for a few days even after hes eligible to come off the DL on April 11.
Giants: RHP Read More – Source
