Rays 3, Pirates 4: Jones beats Eflin (and Rays batters) as Pirates take game 2

A scary scene early, a mammoth HR from Cruz, and a late rally that comes up just short.

The Rays had one inning today where it seemed like maybe, just maybe, this offense would actually be able to challenge Jared Jones and his elite arsenal. But much like how the 1st ended with but a whimper, the Rays would mount no serious threat vs Jones at any point the rest of the afternoon.

Adding injury to insult, the Rays quickly suffered a few big losses at the hands of Jones wild fastball command. Brandon Lowe took a fastball directly to the top of his foot. BLowe stayed in the game for a little while, but ultimately was replaced by Paredes a few innings later. Hopefully Lowe will be alright, as his bat has been a huge part of the Rays becoming more competitive as of late.

The really ugly injury from today happened back in the 1st. Jones had already been shaky and wild with his fastball, but his worst miss ended up in a horrific scary place for Amed Rosario.

Stitches in lip, and clean x-rays later, it was very encouraging that Rosario made it back to the dugout later in the game.

Jared Jones would settle in after that. When his command is on, Jones is a tough guy to hit for even the best offenses, and for the Rays they were just unable to work enough counts, string any good at bats, or really mess with the flow of the young flamethrower at all.

On the other side of the mound, Zach Eflin had an up and down start early. After being given a 1 run lead, Eflin quickly surrendered that back in quite impressive fashion.

Cruz became just the 6th Pirate ever to hit a ball into the Allegheny River. Just unreal power on that tank.

Eflin would run into a mess in the 3rd, after a well struck but somewhat misplayed ball in RF ended up with a triple for the ageless Andrew McCutchen. 3 runs later, and the Pirates were cruising 4-1.

To Eflin’s credit, on another blazing hot Pittsburgh day, he was able to lock in and keep the score right there. The Rays pen had been wildly overworked the past few games, so Eflin being able to keep this game close and give the Rays 7 innings was huge.

All in all, Zach Eflin finished his day 7 IP 5 H 4 ER 1 BB 6 K. Not his sharpest, but like a good vet pitcher he stayed calm, and after his messy 3rd Eflin didn’t give the Pirates an inch and allowed the Rays a chance late.

The Rays were able to get the leadoff runner on vs old foe Aroldis Chapman, setting up potentially one more classic Chapman implosion. But it was not to be. After the four pitch walk to start the inning, Chapman was able to overpower Caballero and Walls (getting a weak grounder and a filthy K) before Yandy Diaz stepped to the plate as the final chance for the Rays.

Never one to make things easy, and showing some nice moxie, the Yandy put a ball into the gap just past a diving Bryan Reynolds to drive in Cabby with an RBI double and set up Isaac Paredes for a chance to tie or take the lead. But 4-3 would be as close as they got, and Chapman used the blueprint on how to work the dangerous Paredes: low away in the zone, and then in enough so he can’t elevate.

Pirates hold on to win 4-3. Rays made it a game late, and didn’t fall apart early, and together that showcases a bit more of the classic Rays style games. It’s not always going to go their way, but unlike some of the worst games we have seen this year, they didn’t implode and fall completely apart like they have so many times already. Eflin provided length, the bullpen kept the deficit right where it was, and the offense had a few chances to break through.

This set up a truly the hydrogen bomb vs coughing baby matchup of Paul Skenes vs Aaron Civale rubber game tomorrow.