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Rays' Beckham owns up to baserunning blunder

 
Tim Beckham gets picked off at third base in the third inning, killing a prime scoring opportunity.
Tim Beckham gets picked off at third base in the third inning, killing a prime scoring opportunity.
Published July 20, 2015

TORONTO — So just what was rookie INF Tim Beckham thinking when he got picked off third to kill the Rays' first, and essentially only, rally in the third inning Sunday?

In theory, that after seeing Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson take a few steps away from the base, it was a good idea to widen his lead to be in better position to score the game's first run if RHP Marco Estrada bounced a pitch.

In reality, after being nabbed on a bulls-eye throw by former Rays C Dioner Navarro, that it was a horrible idea.

"Stupid play," Beckham said. "Being overaggressive. Trying to do too much. It should never happen."

That made two straight days that Beckham's baserunning was a subject of postgame conversation. He was called out for being picked off first Saturday, though the call was reversed on replay, and he surprisingly got thrown out trying to score from second on a two-out hit by John Jaso.

"Tough situations," Beckham said. "Play the game to win, just got to be smart on the bases. Couple stupid mistakes. Trying to make something happen, being overaggressive. It's not an excuse."

Manager Kevin Cash said he understood what Beckham, 25, was thinking Sunday, but it was an unnecessary risk.

"Beck is a young player," Cash said. "He does a lot of things that really excite you and then he'll do some things that you scratch your head a little bit about."

RISING SNELL: Top LHP prospect Blake Snell was promoted from Double-A Montgomery to Triple-A Durham, continuing his impressive rise.

Snell, 22, started the season with advanced Class A Charlotte, then after going 3-0 without allowing a run in four games, moved up to the Biscuits. He extended his scoreless streak to 46 innings there before allowing his first run and was 6-2, 1.57 in 12 Double-A starts. He also pitched an impressive inning in the July 12 All-Star Futures Game, drawing raves from scouts. Overall, he is 9-2, 1.20, allowing only 55 hits in 892/3 innings with 40 walks and 120 strikeouts. He is likely to make his Triple-A debut Friday.

"One step closer," Cash said. "Good for him. I'm pumped. He's had a good year. I think we're all excited."

Snell could be a potential September callup for the Rays.

MATH MAJOR: OF David DeJesus said he wasn't the one who lost track of the count in the second inning, creating an awkward moment as he headed to first after ball three only to have to come back and finish the at-bat (and strike out).

Actually, it was home-plate umpire Ben May.

"He said, 'Ball four,' and I'm like, if you're going to give me a freebie right now, I'm walking away," DeJesus said. "And then he's like, 'Wait,' and I walk (back to home plate) and he's like, 'My bad.' It was hilarious."

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REHAB REPORT: OF Steven Souza Jr. was pain free and had no issues with his lacerated right pinky in Saturday's first rehab game. He went 0-for-3 and played seven innings in rightfield for the Stone Crabs on Sunday and is on track to rejoin the Rays when eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday.

NO MOVES, YET: Sunday was the Rays' season-high seventh straight day without a roster move, though that streak will end with Souza's return, with OFs Joey Butler (5-for-his-last-45) or Grady Sizemore (1-for-his-last-27) the most likely candidates to go.

MISCELLANY: LHP Matt Moore and RHPs Nathan Karns and Jake Odorizzi took batting practice in advance of their NL rules starts at Philadelphia. … 1B coach Rocco Baldelli and 3B coach Charlie Montoyo took in some Pan-Am Games action Saturday night, attending the U.S.-Puerto Rico women's volleyball match. … Dewayne Staats will be back in the TV booth tonight after an extended All-Star break. … Sunday was a "Snow Day in July" promotion, with fans lined up early outside Rogers Centre on a hot day to be among the first 20,000 so they could get Blue Jays mittens.