BALTIMORE — After the Rays fell behind the Orioles 8-0 early in the game June 18 at Steinbrenner Field, manager Kevin Cash asked infielder/outfielder Jose Caballero if he could throw strikes if needed to pitch.
Caballero wasn’t needed that night — the Rays roared back to win 12-8 — but knew then he would be the position player Cash would call on if the situation warranted.
That happened Friday, after the Rays blew an early 6-0 lead over the Orioles and found themselves way behind in the eighth.
Once reliever Paul Gervase gave up a homer to Gunnar Henderson to make the score 16-8, the Rays were down the requisite eight runs to use a position player on the mound and Cash made the switch.
“I wasn’t really prepared for it, but the situation called for it,” Caballero said. “I knew it was me at any point, so I was kind of, like, ready in the back of my head. But you’re never ready for this kind of situation.”
Caballero is one of the most versatile players the Rays have (having appeared at seven positions) and willing to play literally anywhere, though he said he wasn’t keen on pitching. He recalled doing so once as a 12-year-old in a game and maybe a few times in practice sessions.
But when Cash asked, Caballero as usual said he’d do whatever was needed to help the team, which Friday meant saving the bullpen.
He gave up six runs in getting the final three outs, hitting 88.8 mph with his fastball, allowing a walk, three doubles and two homers. The second, with two outs in the eighth, was to Coby Mayo, who put up his hands to celebrate, as it was his first in the majors.
“It’s good for him that it’s his first MLB homer, don’t get me wrong,” Caballero said. “But I don’t think it’s the time to be pimping. It’s his first career homer, so enjoy it.”
Whitley out, Rock added
Having five relievers throw 133 pitches to cover 5 ⅓ innings in Friday’s 22-8 blowout loss had repercussions Saturday for the Rays.
Mainly for right-hander Forrest Whitley, who threw 44 pitches in getting out three of the nine Orioles batters he faced.
Whitley, a recent trade acquisition from Houston who is out of options, was designated for assignment to create space on the active roster to add a fresh arm.
That turned out to be Joe Rock.
The 24-year-old lefty was supposed to start Saturday for Triple-A Durham but instead got the news in a late-night call from Bulls manager Morgan Ensberg. Rock caught a morning flight to Baltimore to be in the bullpen and made his major-league debut, working the final two innings of the 11-3 win. He allowed four hits, including a two-run homer.
“It was awesome,” said Rock, acquired in March 2024 from Colorado (for outfielder Greg Jones). “All the hard work that you put in all through your career — I just remembered out there, like, when I was 14, sitting there wishing that was me. And it was me finally. I mean, it just all felt good.”
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Rock’s wife, Kendra, flew in from Phoenix, where they make their offseason home. His dad and other family members and friends drove down from their Pittsburgh area homes.
“I was texting with them all day, making sure they were here,” he said.
Rock is 3-5 with a 4.81 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) this season for Durham, allowing 79 hits and 30 walks over 73 innings with 63 strikeouts.
“I know this year my walks have been up, but for the most part I’ve been around the zone,” he said. “I think they were good walks, and I think throwing strikes has helped me a lot.”
The Rays will have seven days to either trade Whitley or seek to pass him through waivers. After allowing one hit over three scoreless appearances for the Rays, he has given up 10 runs (eight earned) over his last two.
“Certainly wish him well,” Cash said. “If he clears (waivers), great. I think there’s a lot there for him. We’ll just see how it plays out.”
Defensive shift
In the aftermath of reliever Hunter Bigge being hit in the face by a foul ball June 19 while watching from the dugout, the Rays immediately removed the bench that players sat on that may have put them in a more exposed position above the screened railing. They did the same in the visiting dugout. They have been discussing options such as building a platform on which players/staff can stand to view the action and can better protect themselves.
Miscellany
Brandon Lowe extended his hitting streak to 15 games, and Jonathan Aranda his to 13. Yandy Diaz extended his on-base streak to 22 games. … Ha-Seong Kim (right shoulder surgery recovery) went 0-for-2 with two walks and played second base for Durham in his 19th rehab game. He is hitting .190. … The Rays on Friday became the second team in the modern era (since 1901) to allow 20 or more runs following back-to-back shutouts; only the 1967 Dodgers had done so. … Loosened by the Orioles mascot stomping on an adjacent platform as usual during the seventh-inning stretch, a TV monitor fell from the Rays radio booth Friday night and nearly landed in the print media press box.
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