Griffin Jax's Rocky Start with the Rays: A Closer Look
In St. Louis, the Rays are off to a challenging start, and Griffin Jax finds himself in the spotlight.
Jax, a talented relief pitcher who shone with the Twins and Team USA, has hit a rough patch since donning the Rays uniform. Despite the team's confidence in his abilities, luck hasn't been on his side.
In the Rays' first two games, Jax came in with a slim lead, only to see it slip away. Saturday's matchup was particularly eventful.
The Rays were no-hit for six innings by Cardinals' Michael McGreevy. Starter Joe Boyle, after a shaky start, settled down to retire 16 straight.
The Rays mounted an impressive ninth-inning rally, highlighted by Carson Williams, to tie the game.
The 10th inning saw Yandy Diaz give the Rays a lead with a first-pitch single. But Jax, tasked with closing it out, faced a tough sequence: a walk, a sac bunt, and a single resulted in a 6-5 walk-off loss, marking the Rays' first 0-2 start since 2016.
Jax, reflecting on the situation, acknowledged the challenges of being a reliever. "You’ve just got to keep showing up ready to take the ball the next day," he said.
"It’s hard in these moments. But I’ve been here before."
Thursday's game had its own drama. After the Rays surged ahead with a six-run inning, Jax allowed a sac fly and a homer to Alec Burleson, sealing a 9-7 defeat.
Saturday's frustration was palpable. With a runner on second, Jax's biggest regret was a four-pitch walk to Jordan Walker.
A bunt moved runners to scoring position, and rookie JJ Wetherholt's grounder sealed the game for the Cardinals. Manager Kevin Cash noted that the hit would likely have been successful regardless of the infield's positioning.
Despite the setbacks, Cash remains confident in Jax, alongside Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta, to handle high-pressure situations after losing closer Pete Fairbanks to free agency. "He’s going to pitch a lot of big innings for us," Cash said.
There were bright spots for the Rays. Boyle, recalled from Triple A, impressed after his initial struggles. Cash praised his adjustments and pitch variety, a sentiment echoed by Boyle, who focused on mixing speeds and keeping hitters off-balance.
The Rays' offense showed resilience. Junior Caminero broke up a no-hitter, sparking a ninth-inning rally. Key hits from Chandler Simpson and Williams tied the game, with aggressive base running playing a crucial role.
Though the result wasn't in their favor, Williams emphasized the team's fighting spirit. "I love seeing us in that situation, not giving up and putting together really good at-bats," he said. "It didn’t go our way today."
The Rays are looking to bounce back, and with the talent on their roster, there's every reason to believe they will.