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 Archer took the mound in the first inning with the lead and never
looked back. The 25-year-old right-hander improved to 8-6 after
striking out a career-high 12 batters and allowing four hits in
seven innings.
"He had everything going on," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He
really controlled the evening. That was exactly what the doctor
ordered."
The Rays improved to 59-61 overall and 2-1 in the four-game series
that ends Thursday. Tampa Bay is 5-4 on its current road trip and
4-2 against Texas this season.
The Rangers (47-73) are a season-low 26 games below .500 for the
fourth time this season. Texas' 73 losses are already the most since
the club went 87-75 in 2009.
The Rangers also learned before the game that ace Yu Darvish, who
was Thursday's scheduled starter, was headed to the disabled it.
Texas has used a major league-high 34 pitchers this season, which
included Wednesday's debut of rookie left-hander Alex Claudio.
"For the most part, this isn't something that's normal," Rangers
manager Ron Washington said. "You deal with it. It's been a
necessity for us to make the moves we've had in our pitching staff
and it we'll continue to do that until there's no more baseball to
be played."
Tampa Bay racked up 12 hits, with four starters driving in at least
two runs each. Designated hitter Matt Joyce, second baseman Sean
Rodriguez and left fielder Brandon Guyer each hit home runs off
Texas starter Miles Mikolas.
"He couldn't command the baseball," Washington said. "He couldn't
put it where he wanted to. He left too many fastballs over the
plate. He tried to throw his breaking ball, but wasn't throwing it
to his spot, it was down the middle."
The Rays teed off on Mikolas (1-5) early. Joyce launched a two-out
solo shot in the first inning into the upper deck in right field for
the first home run of the series for either team.
Tampa Bay made it 5-0 in the second after a pair of two-run blasts
to deep left. Rodriguez and Guyer each crushed offerings Mikolas
left over the heart of the plate.
"In that situation I'm looking for a fastball," Guyer said. "This
season it feels like I haven't really turned on a fastball for a
home run. I'm just glad I could help the team get more ahead and get
Archer a little more comfortable."
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The three homers matched Tampa Bay's total from the first eight games of
its road trip.
Archer took advantage of the early edge by working quickly and pounding
the strike zone. He didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning and
enjoyed a stretch of six straight strikeouts.
"I didn't even know that happened," Archer said. "It's just one of those
situations where you get in a zone and you black out, and your hard work
and practice take over, and you get the best possible result you can."
Scoring chances were few and far between for the Rangers. After putting
runners on first and third with two outs in the first inning, Texas
didn't get another runner into scoring position until center fielder
Leonys Martin led off the fifth inning with a double.
Martin scored on left fielder Jim Adduci's sac fly to cut the deficit to
5-1.
NOTES: The Rangers placed RHP Yu Darvish on the 15-day disabled list,
retroactive to Sunday, because of right elbow inflammation. Darvish will
undergo further tests on his elbow. Texas called up LHP Alex Claudio
from Triple-A Round Rock. ... Texas' 3-2, 14-inning win over Tampa Bay
on Tuesday was the longest game ever at Globe Life Park without a home
run. The game lasted 4:49, the longest in Arlington since 2010. ... Rays
CF Desmond Jennings was out of the lineup because of shoulder soreness
after crashing into the wall the night before. ... Tuesday's game was
the first major league game in more than a year in which both teams
committed at least three errors. ... The Rays recalled RHP Brandon Gomes
and optioned 2B Cole Figueroa to Triple-A Durham. ... Texas RF Alex Rios
was back in the lineup after being out Monday and limited to
pinch-hitting Tuesday. He sprained his right ankle Sunday at Houston.
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