Milwaukee Showdown: Rays Face Early Season Challenges
After acquiring Griffin Jax in a midseason trade last year, the Rays were hopeful for a turnaround. However, Jax's start to this season has been rocky, echoing past struggles. With two losses, two blown saves, and a staggering 22.50 ERA in the first week, Jax is facing some unwelcome déjà vu.
Wednesday's game was particularly tough, with a six-run eighth inning turning a 2-2 tie into an 8-2 defeat. It all began with misplays from shortstop Carson Williams and a dropped throw by Junior Caminero. A soft single and a grounder through the infield further compounded the inning's woes.
Jax reflected on the inning, noting, “It almost feels like last year - if a ball gets put in play, it finds a hole. I just let the inning get away from me.”
He emphasized the challenge of maintaining focus amidst adversity, stating, “It’s a long season. I’ve got to reset and come back ready.”
On a brighter note, Drew Rasmussen delivered a solid performance, allowing just two runs over five innings and striking out eight. This marks his 40th consecutive start allowing four or fewer runs, a testament to his consistency. Despite this, Rasmussen critiqued his own play, particularly a curveball that led to a two-run homer.
Rasmussen is now headed to Florida for a special occasion: the birth of his second child.
In other team news, infielder Gavin Lux is on the mend, joining Triple-A Durham for some game action as he recovers from a shoulder issue. Meanwhile, reliever Edwin Uceta is making progress after a shoulder setback, with plans to pitch soon at Tropicana Field.
The game saw a brief delay when umpire CB Bucknor was struck by a foul ball. Fortunately, he walked off under his own power, and the game continued without major incident.
Amidst the ups and downs, Chandler Simpson stands out as the only Ray with hits in each of the first six games. Ben Williamson also made his first big-league start at shortstop, stepping in for Carson Williams.
As the Rays navigate these early challenges, the team remains focused on resilience and readiness for the long season ahead.