Rays 5 Angels 4: A home run for everyone

We knew that Tropicana Field East had been modeled after that ballpark in the Bronx, with right field dimensions very friendly to home run hitters, but this is the first game we have really seen it in action.

If you love the long ball, I guess you’ll enjoy this year.

Tonight’s game featured 6 homeruns! Only two belonged to the Rays, but since one of those was a grand slam (off the bat of Jose Caballero) its significance was far greater. And I’ll admit those Rays home runs were basically lucky fly balls, clocking in at 95.1 and 97.8 mph respectively, both traveling a mere 327 feet.

Here’s Jose Caballero with the coveted 1/30 unicorn home run (e.g. this would only be a HR in one ballpark, which happens to be this one):

Rays HR number two, from Yandy Diaz

The Angels homers were more legit (although all to that same spot in right field), but they were all solo shots. Fortunately for the Rays, teams don’t get extra points for hitting the ball farther.

One grand slam + one solo shot is greater than four solo shots, so the Rays came out on top, snapping a five game losing streak.

Ryan Pepiot was not especially sharp, but interestingly his difficulties were not connected to his giving up runs. He loaded the bases in both the first and second inning, but no runners scored. The three runs he gave up were all on those solo home runs, two of which came in innings when he seemed to have settled in.

Given the number of high-stress pitches he had thrown, Kevin Cash pulled him after 5 innings, and Kelly, Rodriguez, Montgomery and Fairbanks followed. Fortunately the bullpen tonight went back to being as effective as we hoped they would be, although Mason Montgomery did give up yet another solo home run.

I’m really impressed by the Angel’s Kyren Paris, who in addition to having a fabulous baseball name is a 23 year old off to a very hot start. He was responsible for two of the Angel’s home runs, and he also went deep yesterday.

The Rays have a day game tomorrow, and a chance to get back to .500.