Rays and Ramirez Silence the Braves

By on August 12, 2015

 

 Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) is congratulated by shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (13) after Kiermaier hit a 2-run home run during the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Tropicana Field. (photo Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports)

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) is congratulated by shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (13) after Kiermaier hit a 2-run home run during the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Tropicana Field. (photo Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports)

If Kevin Kiermaier’s thumb was bothering you could not tell by the way he swung the bat tonight.  With 2 outs and a runner on 1st in the bottom of the 7th inning, Kiermaier took a Williams Perez 1-2 pitch deep over the right field wall to give the Rays a 2-0 lead and the games’ first and only runs.  It was Kiermaier’s first full game back since injuring his right thumb on a slide Saturday.  It was also another solid performance from a rising superstar to back up a solid pitching performance from Erasmo Ramirez.

Erasmo Ramirez had another outstanding pitching performance throwing 72 pitches while striking out 4 in 7 innings of work.  “It was all about executing the pitches” said Ramirez. “After the first inning, I saw they (Braves) were going to be aggressive, so I knew I had to be around the strike zone.”

Rays Manager Kevin Cash agreed saying Ramirez’s outstanding command of the strike zone “…forced the Braves hands to be aggressive and allowed for Ramirez to keep his pitch count low.”

(photo Buck Davidson)

(photo Buck Davidson)

Ramirez was never in trouble.  The Braves threatened in the first but a bang bang relay throw from Logan Forsythe to Catcher Curt Casali allowed Casali to tag Cameron Maybin for the 2nd out of the 1st inning.  That was the Braves one and only opportunity to score.  Ramirez allowed three more base runners (none of advanced past 2nd base) before going into cruise control retiring the last 16 out of 17 batters he faced.

The Rays look to go for the sweep Wednesday night and win their 3rd series in a row.  Jake Odorizzi (6-6 2.77 ERA) will get the start for the Rays and be opposed by Matt Wisler (5-2, 4.85 ERA) of the Braves.  Game time 7:10 pm.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Atlanta 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Tampa Bay 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 x 2 4 0

W: E. Ramirez (9-4)

L: W. Perez (4-3)

S: X. Cedeno (1)

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