TAMPA — Manager Kevin Cash had some ideas about what led to Taj Bradley’s rough Saturday at the park, in which he was pulled three batters into the fifth inning and charged with a season-high matching seven runs.
“Probably not as crisp as he wanted to be,” Cash said. “I know he probably came into the game highly motivated to reset himself from his start down in Miami (when he allowed five runs in four innings on May 16), but he had a start or two in between to build off of.
“It looked like the stuff just wasn’t quite as sharp, (velocity) maybe down a tick to start the game. We get him an early lead and have all the confidence that he’s going to be able to hold it. It just didn’t go his way (Saturday).”
The Rays handed Bradley a 4-0 lead in the second, but he gave it right back, allowing two singles around a fielder’s choice grounder, double and three-run homer,
“Not too good,” Bradley said of his day. “I feel like I was getting behind in counts. Pitches weren’t effective as they should be, and that’s what led to a lot of hits and led to the big hit, the home run.”
Bradley, who has allowed 12 earned runs in two starts against the Marlins compared to 26 over 11 others, said the best thing he can do is focus on his next start, likely next weekend against the Mets.
“I mean, (Saturday) is rough, but as soon as I leave here I flush it, just go on about my day,” he said. “But (Sunday), get back to my routine.”
Hot and bothered
As frustrating as Saturday’s loss was, Rays shortstop Taylor Walls said Sunday’s game —with a 12:10 p.m. start — could also be a challenge.
“I think (Sunday) is going to be more of an energy test,” Walls said. “Both teams left a lot out there (Saturday). It’s hot, especially after a day game before, it’s going to be up early in the morning, another hot one (Sunday). So, I think it’s just it comes down to who can reset and who can bring the most energy (Sunday) and not come out dead. I think that’s, to be honest, going to be the name of the game.”
Morel’s big day
Lost in the loss was a two-homer, one double, four RBI day by struggling outfielder Christopher Morel, his first career three extra-base hit game.
His first homer was a 438-foot, three-run, second-inning shot to left that is the farthest by a Ray this season and second to only Texas’ Jake Burger’s 442-footer on Thursday.
“It felt very good,” Morel said via team interpreter Eddie Rodriguez. “Especially in that moment where the team needed some runs, it felt very good.”
Fairbanks makes pitch for Turner Syndrome
For the second straight year, reliever Pete Fairbanks and his wife, Lydia, hosted an event at Saturday’s game to raise awareness and funds for the Turner Syndrome Foundation.
They do so in memory of their daughter, Ellis, who they lost shortly after Christmas in 2023, just before 20 weeks gestation, due to what was believed to be Turner Syndrome. The condition is caused by a missing chromosome that experts estimate results in miscarriage 95-99% of the time.
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The couple arranged for a share of ticket sales to go to the foundation, are donating $100 for every strikeout Pete records, are selling T-shirts and hats (see turnersyndromefoundation.org) and launched an online auction of unique baseball memorabilia (see raysbaseball.auctions.mlb.com).
“It’s kind of finding that silver lining, right?” Fairbanks said. “It’s finding purpose out of something that you know is obviously a hardship for a lot of people out there.
“To be able to find a platform and be able to really promote it and raise awareness, to get the information out there and to spread it for something that affects a lot of people, but a lot of people don’t necessarily have any knowledge of it or might not even until later in life, we’re just trying to do what we can to get that out there. And to support a community of people that we feel strongly towards given our own personal experience.”
Caballero expands his reach
Consider Jose Caballero Mr. Even More Versatile.
On Friday, Caballero made his first career start in leftfield.
It was the sixth different position at which he started a game this season — three across the infield, where he typically plays (second base, shortstop, third base) and all three in the outfield, where he started playing this year.
Doing so put Caballero in rare company.
He became just the fourth player in the majors this season to start at six different positions in the field (not counting DH), joining Texas’ Josh Smith, Houston’s Mauricio Dubón and Cleveland’s Daniel Schneemann.
Also Friday, Caballero stole his 20th base, joining another small group in reaching that milestone: Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong, the White Sox’s Luis Robert Jr. and Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr.
Miscellany
Ace Shane McClanahan, sidelined since late spring with a triceps nerve issue, threw a 12-15-pitch bullpen session Saturday, his first time throwing off the mound at full distance. “All went well, he was fine,” Cash said. … With bullpen options limited Sunday due to usage, the Rays may need a fresh arm. Lefty Ian Seymour, who was slated to start for Triple-A Durham, would seem a likely candidate. … The Rays announced attendance of 10,046, their 35th sellout in 42 home games at Steinbrenner Field. … There was a scary moment in the first inning Saturday, as Marlins starter Ryan Weathers was hit on the side of the head by catcher Nick Fortes’ throw to second base after they completed warmups. Weathers worked three innings, then was removed for what the team said was precautionary reasons and was to undergo further testing.
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