Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • C5

Tampa Bay Times Thursday, July 8, 2021 5C RAYSREPORT tampabay.com/sports/rays/ Why no no-hitter MLB and its official stat- istician, the Elias Sports Bureau, have offered a cou- ple of explanations for why seven-inning games count as no-hitters: Elias: by teams and individuals shall not be credited in scheduled seven-inning games, unless the game goes to extra innings and the team (or indi- vidual in a complete game) pitches at least nine innings and does not allow a Also, by teams and individuals shall not be credited in scheduled seven-inning games. Any game of fewer than nine innings in which a pitcher or pitchers do not allow a hit should be considered as a There also was a 1991 ruling by a Major League Baseball committee on statistical accuracy that defined a no-hitter as game in which a pitcher, or pitchers, gives up no hits while pitching at least nine innings. A pitcher may give up a run or runs so long as he pitches nine innings or more and does not give up a Today: Off Next game: vs. Blue Jays, 7:10 Friday, Tropicana Field Probable pitchers: Rays, LH Shane McClanahan (3-3, 4.18); Jays, RH Ross Stripling (3-4, 4.06) Rays info: 1-888-326-7297 Up next Saturday: vs. Blue Jays, 1:10.

Rays, LH Ryan Yarbrough (5-3, 4.34) or opener; Jays, LH Robbie Ray (6-4, 3.36) Sunday: vs. Blue Jays, 1:10. Rays, LH Rich Hill (6-3, 3.65); Jays, LH Steven Matz (7-4, 4.72) Monday-15: All-Star break July 16: at Braves, 7:20. Rays, TBA; Braves, TBA July 17: at Braves, 7:20. Rays, TBA; Braves, TBA July 18: at Braves, 1:20.

Rays, TBA; Braves, TBA July 19: vs. Orioles, 7:10. Rays, TBA; Orioles, TBA July 20: vs. Orioles, 7:10. Rays, TBA; Orioles, TBA July 21: vs.

Orioles, 12:10. Rays, TBA; Orioles, TBA Injured list (11) RHP Nick Anderson, elbow sprain, 60-day, eligible May 31, targeting August RHP Chris Archer, forearm tightness, 60-day, eligible June 10, targeting late July RHP Oliver Drake, flexor tendon strain, 60-day, eligible May 31, targeting August RHP Tyler Glasnow, right elbow sprain, 60-day, eligible Aug. 14, targeting late season OF Manuel Margot, left hamstring strain, 10-day, eligible July 16 targeting late July RHP Colin Poche, Tommy John surgery recovery, 60-day, eligible May 31, possibly late season RHP Ryan Thompson, shoulder inflammation, 10-day, July 8, expecting to be ready Likely out for season: LHP Jalen Beeks and RHP Yonny Chirinos, 60-day, Tommy John surgery recovery; LHP Cody Reed, 60-day, thoracic outlet syndrome surgery recovery; RHP Chaz Roe, right shoulder surgery RAYS 8, INDIANS 1, GAME 1 Cleveland AB BI BB SO Avg. Hernandez 2b 3 0 1 0 0 1 .224 Rosario ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 .267 Ramirez 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 .265 Reyes dh 3 1 1 1 0 1 .273 Bradley 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 .228 Ramirez lf 2 0 0 0 1 0 .274 Zimmer cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 .207 Perez 3 0 1 0 0 1 .139 Da.Johnson rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .000 Totals 25 1 4 1 1 8 Tampa Bay AB BI BB SO Avg. Lowe lf 4 1 1 1 0 2 .206 Choi 1b 2 0 0 0 1 1 .265 Wendle 3b 3 2 1 0 0 0 .276 Meadows dh 1 2 1 0 1 0 .245 Brujan 2b 3 1 1 1 0 1 .333 Kiermaier cf 3 1 2 5 0 0 .239 Walls ss 3 0 0 0 0 2 .213 Zunino 3 0 0 0 0 3 .193 Phillips rf 3 1 1 1 0 0 .201 Totals 25 8 7 8 2 9 Cleveland 010 000 0 1 4 0 Tampa Bay 303 101 8 7 0 5, Tampa Bay 2.

(2), Kiermaier (10), Wendle (21). (13), off Wacha. Kiermaier (2), off J.Mejia. Lowe (18), off DJ.Johnson. Phillips (4), off Stephan.

Reyes (35), Brujan (1), Kiermaier 5 (18), Lowe (44), Phillips (19). (1). Runners left in scoring 3 (Ramirez, Rosario). Tampa Bay 1 (Walls). 0 for 4.

Tampa Bay 3 for 5. Runners moved Cleveland IP ER BB SO NP ERA J.Mejia L1-4 2M 4 6 6 2 2 73 7.42 DJ.Johnson 1M 2 1 1 0 3 34 5.40 Stephan 1M 1 1 1 0 4 26 4.36 Tampa Bay IP ER BB SO NP ERA Wacha W2-2 6 4 1 1 0 6 90 4.87 Sherriff 1 0 0 0 1 2 16 9.64 Inherited 1-0. (Meadows), Wacha (Zimmer). Greg Gibson. First, Ryan Wills.

Second, Rob Drake. Third, Dan Merzel. HOW THEY SCORED Rays first. Brandon Lowe grounds out. Ji-Man Choi walks.

Joey Wendle reaches on a choice. Ji-Man Choi out at second. Austin Meadows hit by pitch. Joey Wendle to second. Vidal Brujan singles.

Austin Meadows to third. Joey Wendle scores. Kevin Kiermaier doubles. Vidal Brujan scores. Austin Meadows scores.

Taylor Walls flies out. 3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Rays 3, Indians 0. Indians second. Franmil Reyes homers.

Bobby Bradley grounds out. Harold Ramirez flies out. Bradley Zimmer pops out. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rays 3, Indians 1.

Rays third. Ji-Man Choi grounds out. Joey Wendle doubles. Austin Meadows walks. Vidal Brujan grounds out.

Austin Meadows to second. Joey Wendle to third. Kevin Kiermaier homers. Austin Meadows scores. Joey Wendle scores.

Taylor Walls strikes out. 3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rays 6, Indians 1. Rays fourth. Mike Zunino strikes out.

Brett Phillips grounds out. Brandon Lowe homers. Ji-Man Choi strikes out. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rays 7, Indians 1.

Rays sixth. Taylor Walls strikes out. Mike Zunino strikes out. Brett Phillips homers. Brandon Lowe strikes out.

1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Rays 8, Indians 1. RAYS 4, INDIANS 0, GAME 2 Cleveland AB BI BB SO Avg. Hernandez 2b 2 0 0 0 1 1 .223 Rosario ss 3 0 0 0 0 2 .264 Ramirez dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 .262 Bradley 1b 3 0 0 0 0 3 .221 Ramirez lf-rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .270 Da.Johnson rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000 a-Miller ph-3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 .106 Mercado cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 .190 Hedges 2 0 0 0 0 1 .153 Clement 3b-lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 .205 Totals 21 0 0 0 2 8 Tampa Bay AB BI BB SO Avg. Arozarena dh 2 1 1 0 2 0 .253 Franco 3b 4 1 1 0 0 0 .231 Meadows lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .243 Diaz 1b 3 0 1 2 0 0 .248 Brujan rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 .167 F.Mejia 2 1 1 0 0 0 .254 Brosseau 2b 2 1 1 0 1 1 .182 Walls ss 3 0 2 2 0 0 .228 Phillips cf 3 0 0 0 0 3 .197 Totals 25 4 7 4 3 5 Cleveland 000 000 0 0 0 0 Tampa Bay 010 120 4 7 1 a-walked for Da.Johnson in the 5th.

(4). 2, Tampa Bay 7. (9), Brosseau (8), Arozarena (15). 2 (10), Diaz 2 (30). Runners left in scoring 0.

Tampa Bay 3 (Arozarena, Brosseau, Franco). 0 for 0. Tampa Bay 3 for 8. Runners moved ent. Bay 1 (Walls, Brosseau, Diaz).

Cleveland IP ER BB SO NP ERA Hentges 1-4 4L 5 4 4 3 3 86 8.23 Sandlin 1 0 0 0 1 10 1.90 Parker 1 1 0 0 0 1 21 2.92 Tampa Bay IP ER BB SO NP ERA McHugh 2 0 0 0 0 3 27 1.77 Fleming 7-4 2M 0 0 0 1 2 37 3.26 Castillo 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 3.16 Wisler 1 0 0 0 1 2 18 0.84 Fairbanks 1 0 0 0 0 1 12 3.60 Inherited 2-2, Castillo 1-0. (F.Mejia). Will Little. First, Rob Drake. Second, Dan Merzel.

Third, Ryan Wills. HOW THEY SCORED Rays second. Vidal Brujan grounds out. Francisco Mejia doubles. Mike Brosseau walks.

Taylor Walls singles. Mike Brosseau to second. Francisco Mejia scores. Brett Phillips strikes out. Randy Arozarena grounds out.

1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rays 1, Indians 0. Rays fourth. Vidal Brujan strikes out. Francisco Mejia grounds out.

Mike Brosseau doubles. Taylor Walls singles. Mike Brosseau scores. Brett Phillips strikes out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on.

Rays 2, Indians 0. Rays fifth. Randy Arozarena walks. Wander Franco singles. Randy Arozarena to second.

Austin Meadows grounds out. Wander Franco to second. Randy Arozarena to third. Yandy Diaz singles. Wander Franco scores.

Randy Arozarena scores. Vidal Brujan lines out. Francisco Mejia hit by pitch. Yandy Diaz to second. Mike Brosseau strikes out.

2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Rays 4, Indians 0. BY MARC TOPKIN Times Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG The beam- ing smile from Vidal Brujan showed how happy he was to make his debut for the Rays on Wednesday, having developed physically and skill-wise from the 5-foot-7, 145-pound 16-year- old who signed in 2014 for $15,000 into a major-leaguer. And the performance the now 5-10, muscular 185-pound switch-hitter and versatile defender from the Dominican Republic put on during the doubleheader sweep of the Indians showed why he was there.

Brujan singled in a run with a hit in his first at-bat in Game 1, flashed his speed on the bases and made impressive plays at second base and in rightfield. a dream come said Brujan, via team interpreter Manny Navarro. advantage. And let the fans know that Technically, Brujan, 23, was only with the Rays for the day, as he was added to the roster as the 27th man for the doubleheader, then returned to Triple-A Durham. But the Rays plan to call him back up before game mak- ing room with either a demotion or injury-list move and are count- ing on him to fill a large part of the void caused by outfielder Manuel Margot being out 2-3 weeks due to a left-hamstring strain.

In 49 games at Durham, Brujan hit .259 with 15 steals, 11 doubles, nine homers, 29 RBIs and an .815 OPS. That could mean Brujan play- ing the infield, with Brandon Lowe moving to the outfield, or playing Brujan in the outfield. comfortable with him playing second, short and any- where in the outfield, so going to manager Kevin Cash said. very athletic. probably got as much range as any defen- sive player that we have.

And with the bat, got a knack for find- ing holes, getting on base, creating some havoc once on In addition to bringing in Brujan and placing Margot on the 10-day injured list, the Rays also called up reliever Ryan Sherriff for the opener, then optioned him back to Durham and activated lefty Josh Fleming from the 10-day injured list so he could pitch in the second game. NOTEBOOK Brujan joins run of Rays with impressive debuts BY MARC TOPKIN Times Staff Writer ST. PETERSBURG Collin McHugh was sitting in the clubhouse Wednes- day watching the final outs of the 4-0 victory which followed the 8-1 opening win to complete the doubleheader sweep of the Indians when fel- low reliever Diego Castillo raised a key point to him. papa, I think a McHugh relayed. I looked up and I was like, think it is, So there was a little confusion there on our part, but we had a good time with Their celebration was well-earned.

And their con- fusion was understandable. It was a no-hitter, in the fairly straightforward sense that the five Rays who pitched allow the Indians any hits over the scheduled seven-inning length of the game. But it was not a no-hitter because Major League Base- ball and its official stat- istician, the Elias Sports Bureau, decided and announced earlier this year that no-hitters have to be at least nine innings to count, and anything less than that would be considered notable instead. MLB has come out and said that not going to honor it, then I think what we go manager Kevin Cash said. can still appreciate it and cer- tainly celebrate that the guys pitched really, really well.

But, no, not going to challenge how they view And it might not even be debatable if Indians man- ager Terry Francona is right and the scoring decision on a ball hit by Oscar Mer- cado in the third inning is changed on appeal to a hit. guessing that a cou- ple days from now have to go back and uncele- brate Francona said. The MLB rule first became widely known after the April 25 game when Madison Bumgar- ner held Atlanta hitless, as the league had switched just last year to the sev- en-inning format for dou- bleheaders. The Rays thanks to the quintet of McHugh, Josh Fleming, Castillo, Matt Wis- ler and Pete Fairbanks were the second to do it. They protest too much.

have a whole lot of opinions about McHugh said. prob- ably leave that one to Bumgarner to talk about. But we celebrated like it was, so really, all that matters to us is having a good time with There was the additional layer of confusion due to the bouncing ball hit by Mercado, the Gaither High product. Shortstop Taylor Walls went to his right to grab it, as third baseman Wander Franco cut over and ran into him, knocking the ball loose. Official scorer Tim Clodjeaux initially ruled it a hit.

But after watching sev- eral replays, he changed it an inning later to an error, deciding that Mercado would not have beaten the throw had Walls made the play and that Franco was to blame for forcing the colli- sion. Walls said the play should definitely have been scored an error from the start: a routine play for both of us, whether he makes it or make it. We both make that play 10 out of 10 For now, it was the sec- ond time in 24 seasons the Rays completed a game without allowing a hit, as Matt Garza threw an offi- cial no-hitter on July 26, 2010, against Detroit. If Francona, who noted a similar play in the fifth by his infielders was scored a hit, is right and the scoring decision is overruled, then it matter anyway. The Rays seem con- cerned.

make the rules, and got to follow Fairbanks said. take not giving up any hits and getting a That was what mattered most, as the sweep just their sixth in 35 double- headers; this one caused by postponement related to Hurricane Elsa extended their win streak to four, improved their record to 51-36 and moved them back to within games of the American League East-leading Red Sox. Kevin Kiermaier keyed their victory in the open- er with a career-high five RBIs, doubling in two in a three-run first and hitting a three-run homer his first at home since 2019 in the third. Brandon Lowe, con- tinuing his warming trend, and Brett Phillips also homered, and Vidal Bru- jan made am in impressive debut. As important, Michael Wacha returned to a starting role and returned to form, working six strong innings.

Walls knocked in the first two runs in the sec- ond game, and both he and Franco made several daz- zling defensive plays. Yandy Diaz knocked in the other two runs. got to stay locked in for a long, long day, and it seemed like everybody that was called upon pitcher, hitter they were all ready to do their Cash said us to pull out two wins is really, really Contact Marc Topkin at Follow GAME 1: RAYS 8, INDIANS 1 GAME 2: RAYS 4, INDIANS 0 No-hitter might not count, sweep does STEVE NESIUS Associated Press Collin McHugh, mostly used as a reliever this season, is stellar in his role as the Game 2 opener. He pitches a perfect two innings, gives up no hits, strikes out three and extends his scoreless streak to 21 innings over 10 appear- ances. He has retired 34 of his past 36 batters.

Hamstring sidelines Margot 2-3 weeks The Rays were hoping for better news, but an MRI exam con- firmed that Margot had a Grade 1 left-hamstring strain Monday and likely will miss 2-3 weeks. see how he responds to Cash said have the benefit of the (Monday-July 15) All-Star break that will allow for not too many games missed. I was kind of thinking in my mind right out of the break. Might be a little bit longer than that, but just see. as tough as anybody we got, and very, very in Margot, one of the top all-around players, said he felt something slightly amiss for the previous two days, but the injury occurred when he was hustling down the line for an infield single that started the winning rally.

actually felt a little bit past halfway (to first, but) I knew I was an important runner, so I just wanted to get he said, via Navarro. Quote of the day think going to be a great day for Champa OF Kevin Kiermaier, as the Rays swept the Indians and the Lightning were looking to win the Stanley Cup Miscellany The Rays are 6-14-15 in doubleheaders, and 1-0-4 in the five at the Trop, with three caused by weather-related issues. Reliever Collin McHugh worked two perfect innings, extending his scoreless streak to 21 innings over 10 appearances; he has retired 34 of his past 36 batters. Brandon Lowe hit his career-high 18th homer, giving him four in his past six games and six in his past 13. Wander Franco extended his hitting streak to eight games.

hitting .364 (8-for-22) right-handed, .133 (4-for-30) lefty. The Indians lost their ninth straight, their longest such skid in nine seasons under manager Terry Francona. Contact Marc Topkin at Follow Vidal Brujan.