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Rays journal: Jumbo Diaz falters after getting within a strike of ending rally

 
Rays reliever Jumbo Diaz wipes his face as he walks off the mound after the Orioles score four during the seventh inning to give them a 7-3 lead. Diaz was one strike away from working out of the jam before he allowed a two-run double and a two-run homer on back-to-back pitches.
Rays reliever Jumbo Diaz wipes his face as he walks off the mound after the Orioles score four during the seventh inning to give them a 7-3 lead. Diaz was one strike away from working out of the jam before he allowed a two-run double and a two-run homer on back-to-back pitches.
Published June 25, 2017

ST. PETERSBURG — Saturday's game got away starting with a leadoff walk in the seventh inning by Rays LHP Jose Alvarado, who was brought in exclusively to face Baltimore's lefty-swinging Seth Smith.

"The (decisive inning) starts with a leadoff walk," manager Kevin Cash said. "I sound like a broken record saying that."

Enter RHP Jumbo Diaz, who allowed a hit, retired two and had a 3-and-2 count on DH Mark Trumbo before allowing a two-run single that broke a 3-3 tie. A two-run homer by the next batter, 1B Trey Mancini, put the game out of reach for the Rays, who lost 8-3.

Diaz, who allowed a run for the first time in his five appearances since returning from the disabled list with arm fatigue, said he was trying to be aggressive but hung a pair of sliders at the wrong time.

Mancini "put a good swing on us and he hit the ball out of play," Diaz said.

Diaz gave the Rays two innings but allowed four runs.

Alvarez, the only lefty in the bullpen, has allowed runs in five of his past six games and was tagged with the loss in three of them.

When asked why Diaz struggled, Cash said, "I wish I knew. I'm not really sure. The slider was inconsistent. He's a fastball/slider pitcher. That's his M.O. to attack righties. When he doesn't have that pitch on, I assume it gets tough."

Why Sucre?

The Rays decided to stick with C Jesus Sucre as the backup for C Wilson Ramos when they designated Derek Norris for assignment late Friday night.

The reason?

"I think given where we feel Wilson's workload is and will continue to get and the complement to Sucre to add to our team was the best fit for our team," Cash said. "Sucre does a lot of good things. The pitchers enjoy throwing to him. He can shut down a running game."

Norris struggled defensively, allowing six passed balls and making six errors. Still, the team was 30-22 with him behind the plate.

"Derek Norris did a lot of good things to help us win games the first three months," Cash said. "We wish him nothing but the best, and hopefully he gets an opportunity go back there and play every day because he's earned the right and is certainly capable of doing that."

Where's Boxy?

Apparently, RHP Brad Boxberger's return to the bullpen has one more hurdle.

Boxberger, who has not pitched this season because of a right flexor strain, felt soreness in his left oblique after his 30-plus pitch outing Wednesday at Triple-A Durham. He will put it to the test this morning during a bullpen session.

"Everything feels good right now," Boxberger said before Saturday's game. "Just after that long outing I wasn't feeling the greatest." He said he expects to join the team Tuesday when they begin a three-game series in Pittsburgh.

Back-to-back jacks

3B Evan Longoria followed a two-run homer by DH Corey Dickerson in the third inning to give the Rays a team-record 10 back-to-back home runs this season. Those are also the most by any team in the majors. "(It's) more coincident than anything," Cash said. "When you have a bunch of guys that hit the ball out of the ballpark you're going to run into some back-to-backs."

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Miscellany

. The Rays' Spinner promotion for today was cancelled due to a defect in some of the spinners that did not meet the team's quality standards. Kids 14 and under attending today's game will receive a replacement Rays giveaway and a voucher to redeem for a spinner at a later date.

. Former Gator and Cowboy great Emmitt Smith surprised his sister, Marsha Smith-Hill, on the field after she threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Smith-Hill is a cancer survivor and was the Moffitt Cancer Center's Salute to Survivor honoree.

. Saturday's game included a Kevin Kiermaier Star Wars-themed bobblehead as the Rays celebrated Star Wars Night. It drew 23,902, the largest crowd since opening day.