Advertisement

Chris Archer strikes out 15, tying Rays mark, in 6-1 win

 
ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 02:  Chris Archer #22 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts as he leaves the mound after striking out Erick Aybar #2 of the Los Angeles Angels to end the third inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 2, 2015 in Anaheim, California.  (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 538581573
ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 02: Chris Archer #22 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts as he leaves the mound after striking out Erick Aybar #2 of the Los Angeles Angels to end the third inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 2, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 538581573
Published June 3, 2015

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jake Elmore had a pretty good perspective on just how dominant Rays starter Chris Archer was in tying the team record of 15 strikeouts in Tuesday's 6-1 win over the Angels.

Elmore was playing first base, and the handful of Angels who made it that far during Archer's eight dazzling innings all pretty much were shaking their head and offering some variation of the same theme.

"Every guy that got to first base was talking about, "Man, if this guy doesn't leave one over the middle of the plate, it's going to be near impossible to get a hit right now,' '' Elmore said. "And two guys who got hits, they said, "I closed my eyes, to be honest.' ''

From behind the plate, Rays catcher Rene Rivera didn't need to hear much, though Angels counterpart Chris Iannetta did tell him several times how "nasty" Archer was.

"He was the only guy to say something about it, but you could see they were off-balance all day and they were swinging at Archer's pitches,'' Rivera said. "That was his game. I was just back there suggesting stuff, he was the one making pitches, getting early strikes and putting people away. … Archer looked so great. The stuff he's got, it's unbelievable. I was enjoying it.''

Archer put on quite a show, striking out seven of the first 10 batters including five in a row, and striking out everyone in the Angels lineup but Albert Pujols at least once, and All-Star Mike Trout three times.

He tied the team record set by James Shields in his farewell performance as a Ray on Oct. 2, 2012.

And when you pair Tuesday's six-hit, no-walk performance with Archer's 12-K outing last Wednesday against the Mariners, it is even more impressive.

He is the first pitcher in Rays franchise history — not Shields, not Scott Kazmir, not his idol David Price — to have back-to-back games with 12 or more strikeouts. And, per baseball-reference.com, he joined Tampa native Dwight Gooden as the only modern-day pitchers to have back-to-back 12-K outings with no walks.

And Archer said he had no clue he was accomplishing any of that.

"Longo told me after the eighth, "Congrats on tying the franchise record,' '' Archer said. "If you're out there counting strikeouts either you're really desperate for them or you're just so out-of-this-planet good that the game's easy.

"I was in the moment. I knew that I struck out quite a few people but my focus was on each individual pitch. My focus was 60 feet, 6 inches away.''

That worked, as he mixed his overpowering, 96-97 mph fastball with his typically nasty slider and dropped in a few change-ups, throwing 80 of his 105 pitches for strikes, crediting his defense and his coaches, as he always does.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

Archer allowed six hits – one Pujols' 534th career homer, tying Jimmie Foxx for 17th place overall, but two the result of defensive lapses, Elmore not handling a throw and rightfielder Steven Souza Jr. totally missing a routine fly (when he thought he was being called off), which cost Archer extra pitches.

"It all stems from fastball command,'' Archer said. "They take bad swings at the slider because you're in the zone with the heater so much, and then when they are thinking slider you can go heater.''

Rays manager Kevin Cash, who also didn't know how many Angels had struck out — "just that it was a lot" — offered a similar assessment, saying Archer's improved command is the primary reason for the pair of dominating outings.

"Two really strong performances back to back. I don't know which one was more impressive but we'll take 'em both,'' Cash said.

"He's throwing a strike in the first two pitches and then kind of letting his stuff play, whereas before he had a couple of games where he was 2-0 on a lot of hitters.''

The night started well for Archer, as his mates gave him a 2-0 lead before he took the mound.

Logan Forsythe put the Rays (27-26) ahead with a two-run homer, his sixth of the season, matching his career high.

They added three more in the sixth after loading the bases on a hit batter and two walks. Elmore delivered a two-run single to right, then Asdrubal Cabrera, whose .104 average with runners in scoring position was lowest in the majors, followed with a single for his first RBI since May 19. Rivera singled in a run in the ninth.

But Archer – now 6-4, 2.01 with a major-league leading 97 strikeouts - was the story in both clubhouses, the discussion ranging from what he did Tuesday to what he might do next.

"The way he's pitching right now, I certainly would say he's an ace of just about any staff in baseball,'' Cash said. "You could take his numbers and put them up against anybody.

"Generally when you're talking about the aces, you're talking about a guy that's done it over and over in consecutive years. He just hasn't had the opportunity to do that yet.''

Yet being the key word.

"He should get a lot more notoriety than he does,'' Iannetta said. "Good guy, goes about his business the right way, looks like he has really good work ethic. Great demeanor on the mound, doesn't show anybody up. Very professional out there. It's evident in his ability to execute pitches."

Also?

"He's filthy,'' Iannetta added. "He throws 94 to 98, he throws an 86- to 92-mph slider, and he throws a slider for strikes that you have to chase. And he throws it where he wants to. He's exceptional."

Contact Marc Topkin at mtopkin@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Rays.