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How Ryan Yarbrough joined Matt Andriese in Rays’ history

Rays Tales | Five years and 731 games apart, finishing what they started meant a lot. Plus, rumblings.
 
Matt Andriese gets doused by Chris Archer after throwing a complete game against Oakland at Tropicana Field on May 14, 2016.
Matt Andriese gets doused by Chris Archer after throwing a complete game against Oakland at Tropicana Field on May 14, 2016. [ Times (2016) ]
Published June 5, 2021|Updated June 5, 2021

Matt Andriese had no reason to know what he did that May 14, 2016, night would be so historic.

Individually, it was a big deal, the first (and only) complete game of his big-league career — a nine-inning, two-hit, no-walk, five-strikeout gem in a 6-0 win over the A’s.

The Rays had been throwing complete games somewhat regularly. One the year before, three in 2014, eight in 2013. They were so common that the starters had a celebratory routine, circling at the mound and jumping together. The Rays had at least one in each season since they started play in 1998 and 80 nine-inning complete games total to that point.

But after Andriese’s outing, Kevin Cash’s Rays didn’t get — or perhaps more accurately, allow — another complete game until Ryan Yarbrough went the distance Thursday in New York.

That’s five-plus years in between and 731 games — a major-league record by more than 250; the Marlins went 480 games from June 2014-17.

“Happy for Yarbs,” Andriese, now with Boston, said via text. “It’s pretty crazy how the game has evolved in terms of bullpen usage and not letting starters see hitters three-four times a game. Still happy ‘Cashy’ let me continue into the eighth that day with a four-run lead!”

With an increased focus on monitoring workloads and limiting looks at their starters, and a preference to use relievers with favorable matchups in close game, the Rays hadn’t even come close too often to another complete game.

Only twice had pitchers even got into the ninth: Yarbrough working 8 2/3 on Aug. 11, 2019, at Seattle; Alex Cobb giving up a double and a homer to open the ninth and lose a 3-1 lead against Texas on July 21, 2017.

Between the Andriese and Yarbrough outings, the Rays had 11 complete games thrown against them. The Indians threw a majors-most 23. There were 137 pitchers who threw at least one, 59 with two or more.

Also of note: The Rays’ most recent complete game on the road had been Chris Archer’s one-hit shutout in Houston on Aug. 20, 2015. They had thrown two previously at Yankee Stadium: Archer (July 17, 2013) and James Shields (July 10, 2011). The last nine-inning complete game against the Yankees in New York was the White Sox’s Chris Sale on May 13, 2016.

Double dipping

Rays starting pitcher Ryan Yarbrough winds up during the sixth inning Thursday against the Yankees. [ KATHY WILLENS | Associated Press ]

Yarbrough ended another streak Thursday with his first win as a starter since that Aug. 11, 2019, game, having gone 0-10, 5.04 over the 24 games in between. That was four shy of the most in history for standard (non-opener) starts; Matt Keough (A’s, 1978-79) and Jo-Jo Reyes (Braves/Blue Jays, 2008-11) going 28.

It wasn’t all Yarbrough’s fault. He made five scoreless starts in that stretch and 13 allowing three or fewer runs, showing again that wins are not indicative of a pitcher’s performance. (Plus, he got three wins in that stretch working behind an opener, a role in which he has much better numbers overall.)

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Cash seemed pleased to not have to answer questions about either streak: “We’ve talked a lot about Yarbs and whatever role he’s in and wins, getting wins and not getting wins. He’s a winning pitcher. He pitches really well for us. And sometimes, as we all know in this game, you can’t control the outcomes of some of those opportunities that are presented with actually getting that ‘W’ by your name.

“Certainly thrilled that he got the win (Thursday). We can move off that subject, maybe. And with the complete game, we can move off that one and not spend the next five years talking about it.”

The last time …

Ten other Rays marks that have stood for a while:

Last (and only) no-hitter by Rays: Matt Garza, vs. Detroit, July 26, 2010

Last no-hitter (perfect game) vs. Rays: Felix Hernandez, at Seattle, Aug. 15, 2012

Last 15-strikeout game by Rays pitcher: Chris Archer, at Los Angeles Angels, June 2, 2015

Last cycle: Evan Longoria, at Houston, Aug. 1, 2017

Last five-hit game: Tim Beckham, at Colorado, July 20, 2016

Last three-homer game: Travis d’Arnaud, vs. Yankees, July 15, 2019

Last steal of home: Willy Adames, vs. A’s, June 19, 2019

Last inside-the-park home run: Avisail Garcia, vs. Jays, May 28, 2019

Last triple play (by Rays): Sept. 27, 2011, vs. Yankees

Longest hitting streak: 19 games, Jason Bartlett, May 15-June 25, 2009

Rays rumblings

The trade of shortstop Willy Adames caused a reshuffling of the Rays’ All-Star candidates, as Joey Wendle was moved from the third base category to short, Yandy Diaz from first to third and Ji-Man Choi added at first base. … Former Ray Ben Zobrist’s 2016 Cubs World Series champion ring will be available via Heritage Auctions (sports.ha.com) in August; Zobrist reportedly had already sold it. His agent, Scott Puci, says the ring is not for sale. … A Sports Illustrated story on pitchers using sticky substances on their fingertips to increase spin rates on fastballs listed the Rays eighth among team with notable increases, along with the Dodgers, White Sox, Red Sox, Nationals, Yankees, Orioles, Blue Jays, Royals and Mets. MLB officials are planning a crackdown by stepping up in enforcement. ... The New York Times’ Tyler Kepner had a clever description of the Rays: “They play as if trapped in a fun house mirror, wacky and warped and wondrously weird — and always bigger than they appear.” … Triple-A Durham radio man Patrick Kinas got another cool summer gig, calling the swimming competition at the Tokyo Olympics for NBC. … Former Rays/current Angels manager Joe Maddon will be inducted into Sports Club of Tampa Bay Hall of Fame at a June 25 luncheon at the Ybor City Columbia; tickets are $65 via tampasportsclub.org, proceeds benefiting his Respect 90 Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay. … In addition to AL Pitcher of the Month honors, Rich Hill also won MLB Network’s Pitch Hand award — whatever that is. … Friday marked seven years since the passing of Don Zimmer; radio man Neil Solondz has a nice remembrance on This Week in Rays Baseball airing at 1 p.m. Sunday, then posted at raysbaseball.com/podcast. ... Mets TV guy Gary Cohen threw some shade at Cash’s World Series Game Six decision Thursday in noting Yarbrough’s complete game: “But Blake Snell couldn’t go six.” ... Snell, by the way, took a perfect game into the fifth Friday against the Mets, had no-hitter through six and completed seven, allowing just the one hit with 10 strikeouts, all on 101 pitches.

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