NEW YORK — This time, there was little drama and absolutely no debate.
The outcome remained largely the same.
Yet again, the Rays were shut out by Max Fried, who almost achieved a no-hitter during the Yankees’ 3-0 win on Friday.
Sound familiar?
In their previous clash on April 20, Fried pitched seven no-hit innings until a scoring ruling was overturned. Ultimately, he finished with 7 ⅔ innings, allowing just two hits and no runs.
You could debate whether he outdid himself this time.
Fried delivered seven innings of one-hit, shutout baseball, surrendering only a single to Jose Caballero in the fifth inning.
The Rays have now dropped four consecutive games, being blanked in two of them. They’ve faced the shutout five times in their first 32 games, marking this as the first occurrence away from home.
“He has exceptional talent,” Rays manager Kevin Cash stated. “He’s performed against every team, and against us, he’s probably shown his best.”
Remember how the Rays struggled with runners in scoring position while getting swept by the Royals?
They seemingly addressed that problem on Friday by completely avoiding second base.
Tampa Bay didn’t record a hit until Caballero’s single in the fifth. Even when they did manage to get players on base, they were quickly eliminated through pickoffs and double plays.
The Rays mustered only one runner in scoring position the entire night. That even required some luck. Junior Caminero reached first after a fielder’s choice in the first inning and advanced to second on a passed ball, but he ultimately got stranded when Jonathan Aranda struck out.
“Our best strategy is to remain positive and reassure the team that we will recover,” Cash commented. “It’s not just one player or one swing that will change things. We need to come together as a team to get some guys on base and deliver a crucial hit.”
The decisive moment came in the fifth inning, as reliever Mason Montgomery threw a 99 mph fastball to Paul Goldschmidt at the top of the strike zone. Goldschmidt sent it 350 feet into the opposite field for a three-run homer.
As per StatCast, that ball would only have been a home run in three stadiums: Yankee Stadium, Citizens Bank Park, and Steinbrenner Field.
“At the end of the day, I can say I placed the pitch where I intended, and he made solid contact,” Montgomery reflected.
What’s Next: Saturday at Yankees
1:05 PM, Yankee Stadium, New York
Pitchers: Rays —RH Zack Littell (1-5, 5.03); Yankees —RH Clarke Schmidt (0-1, 5.52)
TV/Radio: FanDuel Sports Sun, 95.3-FM, 620-AM, 106.7-FM (Spanish)
For more info: raysbaseball.com
Upcoming Games
Sunday: at Yankees, 1:35 PM – Rays, RH Taj Bradley (2-2, 4.58); Yankees, RH Will Warren (1-1, 5.63)
Monday: Off
Tuesday: vs. Phillies, 7:05 PM – Rays, RH Drew Rasmussen (1-2, 2.64); Phillies, RHP Zack Wheeler (2-1, 3.48)
Wednesday: vs. Phillies, 7:05 PM – Rays, RH Shane Baz (3-1, 3.86); Phillies, TBD
Thursday: vs. Phillies, 7:05 PM – Rays, RH Ryan Pepiot (2-4, 4.23); Phillies, TBD
Friday: vs. Brewers, 7:05 PM – Rays, RH Zack Littell (1-5, 5.03); Brewers, TBD
Conclusion
The Rays faced another tough outing against a dominant pitcher, struggling to put runs on the board. As they look to regroup, the team hopes to turn things around in their upcoming games. It’s essential for them to find the rhythm at the plate to break out of this slump.
FAQs
Q: Why did the Rays struggle so much in this game?
A: The Rays had difficulty making contact against Max Fried, recording only one hit in the entire game and struggling to get runners into scoring positions.
Q: Who is pitching for the Rays in their next game?
A: Zack Littell is scheduled to pitch for the Rays against the Yankees in their next matchup.
Q: When is the next game?
A: The Rays will play at Yankee Stadium on Saturday at 1:05 PM.
