There is something to be said for one’s “pitch-ability”, especially at the Major League level as the margin for error is so slim. Ryan Yarborough was a pitcher rather than a “thrower”. You could argue that Joe Boyle is more a “thrower” than a pitcher. Drew Rasmussen blends the two together masterfully.
Ian Seymour, much like Yarbs, is a true pitcher. He manages counts, hits his spots, and sets hitters up to fail. Pitching is an art and Ian Seymour’s latest piece was on display Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park. No, it was’t a complete game, or eight innings of one run baseball. And, yes the Nationals capitalized in the fourth inning, but from a pitching perspective the Rays are likely very happy with what they have been seeing out of Seymour.
The crafty southpaw tossed five innings and earned his third win of the season. He struck out eight, walked one, and allowed four hits and four runs, although only one was earned. Across his last two starts he has punched out 16 batters in 10 innings of work, allowing just five total hits and the one earned run. As the Rays completed a sweep of the Nationals, Seymour cemented his spot in the rotation down the stretch.
Despite a messy fourth inning from the Rays defensively which included an error by Caminero at third and a throwing error by Simpson in left, the Rays came away victorious by a score of 7-4 win and earned the series sweep over the Nationals. Brandon Lowe did most of the heavy lifting with a grand slam, the fifth of his career, in a six-run second inning. The six spot was enough this afternoon, and thankfully so as the Rays only scored once more in the third inning, making it a 7-0 game. By the end of the fourth inning the Rays lead had been trimmed to 7-4, and that score would hold. Uceta, Montgomery, and Fairbanks combined four four scoreless innings, striking out eight. Fairbanks earned his 24th save of the season. Josh Lowe remained hot at the plate going 2-for-4 with a double, triple, and two runs scored.
The Rays begin a three game set with the Mariners on Monday that will decide what the rest of this season looks like. Seattle is currently in possession of the third and final Wild Card spot. The Rays are 5.5 games back of that spot with three teams in front of them. The Rays will play three against Seattle and four against Cleveland, all at home. If there was a time to rattle of a ten game winning streak, this is it.
Anything short of a sweep of Seattle and three of four from Cleveland will not get it done. Baz, who has struggled mightily at GMS will face off against Luis Castillo in game one on Monday. Ras will toe the rubber on Tuesday and Houser on Wednesday.
