ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Following Wednesday evening’s 6-2 loss to the Cubs, Ben Williamson noted that innings like the fifth, when the Rays committed three errors, are going to happen. It is all part of what can take place during a game.
For the record, such a mess of an inning is something that had never happened to the Rays at home. Not at Tropicana Field and not at Steinbrenner Field. Indeed, each of the 10 previous instances the Rays were charged with three errors in an inning were on the road. The last time was in 2017 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Such slop in the field seems to be happening to the Rays (5-7) a bit much. How about three times in seven games this month?
“I don’t think any guy in here is concerned,” said Jonny DeLuca, in a remodeled clubhouse. “The numbers may pop out, but I can stand by every single one of these guys and the defensive work that we do. It’s how the game goes. There are some little (stretches) where we struggle and maybe the numbers say this and that, but I’m really confident in the guys we have defensively.”
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DeLuca’s valiant effort against the wall on Michael Conforto’s bases-loaded drive to the right of center – just below the ray tank – commenced a sequence in which right fielder Jake Fraley and first baseman Jonathan Aranda were charged with throwing errors. Two batters later, catcher Hunter Feduccia picked up Michael Busch’s dribbler and proceeded to uncork a wild throw to first that had them scrambling in the bullpen.
The Rays head into this weekend’s three-game series with the Yankees at Tropicana Field having committed an MLB-worst 17 errors. It took 39 games to commit as many gaffes last season with No. 17 taking place May 10 at Steinbrenner Field against the Brewers.
Speaking of the Brewers, Tampa Bay’s first three-error game this season was April 1 in Milwaukee. Junior Caminero committed all three with two errant throws from third base and a drop at first base after crossing the diamond in the eighth, a nightmarish inning in which Milwaukee scored six runs to make the difference in an 8-2 outcome.
Two days after the Milwaukee mess, and in their next game, the Rays had a three-spot in the ‘E’ column in a 10-4 loss at Minnesota.
“We’ve got to clean it up,” said Cash, in the understatement of the season.
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