Rays 16 Astros 3: Could this team be a contender?

Generally when I write a recap I settle on a key storyline. A particular position player with a few clutch hits. An impressive pitching start. A key defensive play that became a turning point.

Today, however, I’m not sure where to start.

Should we talk about the first complete game by a starter since 2021 courtesy of Zack Littell? (And that CG was already an anomaly, the one before that was Matt Andriese in 2016). Well Littell just went nine whole innings. It’s pretty amazing that in a league with so few complete games we’ve just seen two in a row.

Oddly, Littell started out shaky. I thought he was overall sharper in his last start but in that case Cash pulled him relatively early. Today he gave up three runs in the first three innings on two Jeremy Peña home runs and several singles. Double plays helped him out in both the first and the third inning.

Those were the last runs off of him, however, and until the ninth, when Houston loaded the bases, he looked more like the very efficient, pitch to contact guy we enjoy.

No doubt had the game been closer Littell would have been gone sooner, but this time Cash let him pitch until the end. Amazing that watching a starter throw 117 pitches didn’t give Cash a panic attack.

I don’t know how many of you remember, but back when complete games were more common, the Rays starters actually had a little ritual after each one, where all five starter would come to the mound and do a mid-air chest bump.

I guess these are too rare now for pitchers to have a ritual around it, because the end of this game features very little celebration

The milestone of a complete game was nearly overshadowed, however, by 16 runs.

Much like Thursday evening this game seemed close at the start, with the Astros first getting ahead on a solo home run, the Rays taking the lead in the top of the third by stringing together a few hits and a productive out and then getting a two-run opposite field home run from Yandy Diaz. The Astros then tied it in the bottom of the inning, 3-3.

The Rays regained the lead the next inning, but the game remained close until the seventh.

Then came the deluge.

The Rays scored 6 in the seventh inning, 3 in the eighth and 2 in the ninth.

Who, you might ask, was responsible for all these runs? Well, nearly everyone. (Aranda and Misner, both late inning replacements, were the only hitless players).

Let’s start with Junior Caminero, who had two home runs and two doubles, who was responsible for driving in five runs. One of his doubles was hit 112.6 mph.

To show how much power he has, I don’t think either of his home runs was hit with close to full strength. For the first, he went fishing for a low pitch and hit it out. On this one, he goes oppo and seemingly hits off the end of his bat:

We can also call out Josh Lowe and Yandy Diaz, each with “merely” three hits. Each also hit a home run, and together they drove in five runs.

Let’s have a special mention for Jake Mangum, recently returned from the IL. Jake hit his first major league home run, all the better because his parents were in the stands, looking appropriately thrilled. Even more fun: the HR was caught by a Rays fan.

Isn’t baseball a funny game? The Rays score 13 on Thursday, can barely get a hit yesterday, and score 16 today. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?