The Tampa Bay Rays’ offense was unreliable until it went off in Monday’s 16-1 blowout of the visiting Boston Red Sox.
Coming off season-high totals in runs and hits (16), the Rays will look to capture a series victory on Tuesday night when they continue their three-game set against the Red Sox.
As Tampa Bay built a mammoth 14-1 lead Monday, all of the Rays’ starting nine had a run and an RBI through three fiery innings.
Kameron Misner went deep twice, marking his first homer since a walk-off blast in a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies in the season opener.
Neither Misner nor fellow breakout player Jake Mangum was supposed to be on the club, but injuries to Richie Palacios and Josh Lowe left two holes in the outfield.
Misner, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs on Monday, got former University of Missouri teammate Tanner Houck for a two-run shot as part of a four-run second inning.
“I’ve looked up to him since the time we got to Columbia (Mo.), and he’s always been a good role model,” Misner said. “It’s how baseball is: I got ahead of him, he made a good pitch, and I put a good swing on it.”
Added Red Sox manager Alex Cora: “I’ll take the blame because it seemed like our team wasn’t ready to go.”
Boston will seek to shut down the Rays’ bats with right-hander Walker Buehler, who was acquired in the offseason to help shore up the rotation.
While Buehler (1-1, 5.74 ERA) has had pinpoint control through his first starts with just two walks, he has allowed 10 runs and 18 hits, including three homers, in 15 2/3 innings. Opposing batters have hit .290 against him.
“I just felt more violent than I have in a long time,” Buehler said after his most recent start, a no-decision in his team’s 4-3, 10-inning victory Thursday over Toronto. “That’s how I play when I’m good. So I’m pretty pleased with it. This week was a big one for me just in terms of workload because I’m trying to figure it out, and I’m kind of tired of (stinking).
“So you know, I kind of pushed my chips a little bit more in the table this week than I typically have. And for that to pay off is kind of a big win for me personally.”
Buehler has yet to face Tampa Bay in his career.
With the rotation pushed back one day with Joe Boyle’s debut on Sunday, the Rays’ staff will turn to the top, where Opening Day starter Ryan Pepiot will get the nod.
Pepiot (1-1, 3.38 ERA) has strung together three solid starts — against the Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Angels.
Despite an 0-1 record and a 3.21 ERA in three career starts against the Red Sox, Pepiot has yielded just six runs (five earned) and eight hits across 14 overpowering innings. He has struck out 20 and walked six.
–Field Level Media
