The Tampa Bay Rays got what may have been the most dominant performance by a pitcher in half a decade, as Tyler Glasnow struck out a career-high 14 batters while pitching into the eighth, and Willy Adames‘ solo homer in the seventh proved to be the only offense on the night, as the Rays shut out the Texas Rangers 1-0 Monday at Tropicana Field.
Glasnow because the first Rays pitcher to reach 14 strikeouts in an outing since Chris Archer tied the franchise record with a 15 strikeout performance on July 2, 2015 in Anaheim. He struck out the side on three separate occasions, retired 11 in a row to start the game before walking Joey Gallo with two out in the fourth.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay had opportunities with runners in scoring position in the first, second, and fourth innings against Rangers starter Dane Dunning, and in the fifth against reliever Taylor Hearn, but Tampa Bay ended up not getting a hit with runners in scoring position all evening, finishing 0 for 6.
Adames finally broke the scoreless tie with two out in the seventh, taking the first pitch he saw from Hearn and depositing it in the front row of seats in left.
Glasnow (1-0) was able to get the first two outs in the eighth, but with a runner on and at 102 pitches, Kevin Cash decided to bring in Cody Reed to face Anderson Tejada, getting him to ground into a fielder’s choice to get out of the inning.
Diego Castillo allowed a leadoff single to Leody Taveras and a two-out walk to Gallo, but struck out Nate Lowe on three pitches to earn his third save of the season.
Tampa Bay will look to get back above .500 Tuesday, when Ryan Yarbrough (0-1, 5.06 ERA) takes on Kyle Gibson (1-0, 7.11 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
