Hellickson guides the Tampa Rays to victory again
Jeremy Hellickson returned tonight from Triple-A Durham to push the Rays up to the pole position once again; this time after winning a game against the Detroit Tigers. The pitcher, after proving to being instrumental against the Minnesotta Twins on the 2nd of August this year, was called on to lead the team, today.
Coming off a victory from the last game, the Rays had a lot to be happy about as they went into the game dispelling a losing streak. The team called on Jeremy again as management looked to rest the regular start pitchers for the night. Hellickson was walking in with a Major League Baseball win in his debut appearance against the Twins. He was thus given the chance to impress again and that’s what happened as the 23 year old pitched 87 times in his 7 innings start. The player came off with 7 strikeouts, 0 walk offs and 3 hits allowed. The performance was a stellar display of pure athleticism, as the team won the match comprehensively.
The Tigers, on the other hand, brought in Max Scherzer who was coming off 7 wins and 9 losses. The player, in comparison to his rival, did not fare as well as he would have wanted, as the veteran was hit 4 times, giving away 2 runs. The player allowed four walks and threw the ball 111 times in his 7 innings of play. Though his performance was sound in terms of any average pitcher, the team was further blown away by the weak pitches thrown by the Bullpen. Phil Coke, Robbie Weinhardt and Enrique Gonzalez were hit for 6 runs in their 1.2 innings on the mound.
The match began with the Rays batting in the top 1st. The innings following up to the top 5th saw great displays of pitching from both sides. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they couldn't maintain their form down the middle of the game as Scherzer lost his focus, allowing Dan Johnson to walk to the first base. Their performance dimmed even more as B.J. Upton lined out to the third for a single, putting Johnson on the second. The blow was finally dealt with when the second base holder scored off a Jason Bartlett shot to the deep centre and following an error by left fielder, Ryan Raburn, allowed them to go for a double. This brought the first run on the score board for the Tampa Bay side.
Max’s depleted energy was made notice of in horrible fashion as a wild pitch by the Tiger’s strike zone banger, allowed Johnson to score again off a sprint from the third base, in the top 7th. The reliever’s need was made apparent and in came Coke for pitching duties in the top 8th. However, he was put away as well by the experienced Evan Longoria, as the hitter smashed a double down the deep left centre, giving Carl Crawford a scoring opportunity to put the team 3 – 0 up.
However, things didn’t end there as fans were treated to a smash and bash exhibition in the top 9th. Coke was relieved by Weinhardt and the reliever was immediately made an example of as B. J. Upton found himself on the scoring board with a John Jaso’s double to the left, giving him the space to speed home for the run. The scoring session didn’t end there as Jason Bartlett, positioned on the third base, got the run after Ben Zobrist hit the pitcher for a sacrifice fly to the left. The damage was done and Robbie’s focus wavered. He intentionally walked Crawford and Matt Joyce and set the bases up for a trap. That backfired when he walked Willy Aybar and got J Jaso on the score board for the 6th run.
More misery piled up on the Bullpen as reliever, Gonzalez finally made his mark as he walked both, Crawford and Joyce through for the 7th and the 8th runs. This finally closed the onslaught of runs on the Tigers and ended the game on Tampa Bay 8 – Detroit 0.
With a worrisome performance by the Tigers, fans will hope they could get back to their top form soon as the Rays look to close their deficit on the Yankees’ lead in the Eastern division of the American League.
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