ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A seven-game homestand to open the 2024 season is in the books, believe it or not. While the starting pitching was mostly outstanding against the Rangers and Blue Jays, there was much unevenness in a 3-4 start for the Tampa Bay Rays.
“I try not to put too much judgement in a seven-game stretch,” said manager Kevin Cash, whose team lost to the Rangers, 4-1, on Thursday afternoon. “I like some things that we did and I think we can improve on some other things.”
Aaron Civale and former Rays’ pitcher Nathan Eovaldi were locked in a dual Thursday at Tropicana Field. Civale allowed only a solo homer by Corey Seager in the sixth inning while Eovaldi threw 103 pitches in seven scoreless innings.
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The Rangers scored three runs in the ninth off Garrett Cleavinger to open a four-run lead before the Rays threatened in their half of the inning, but only plated a single run.
“Aaron was outstanding and gave us every opportunity,” said Cash, of the righthander, who allowed four hits and fanned eight in six innings of work. “The only problem was, their guy, Eovaldi, who we know really, really well, it seems like he dials it up against us. He had great stuff today and kind of gave us fits.”
Hopefully, Brandon Lowe’s health will not give him fits as it often has. Lowe was removed after five innings due to tightness in his left side. Cash said the second baseman wanted to remain in the game, but the skipper decided there is no sense in taking a chance this early in the season and with a day off Thursday.
“He’s too important to kind of push through at this point,” said Cash, whose team hit .232 on the homestand and bullpen turned in a 6.26 ERA.
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The Rays will leave the Sunshine State for the first time in 2024. A six-game trip gets underway Friday afternoon (4:10 ET) in Colorado and concludes with three games in Anaheim against the Angels.
The Rays return to St. Pete next Friday to begin a three-game series against the Giants, who last visited the Trop in 2016 when they swept three games.
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