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 "Sometimes, he'll throw a breaking ball," Rays manager Kevin Cash
said Sunday afternoon, "and (pitching coach Jim) Hickey and I will
look at each other like, 'How did he do that?'"
Archer was at it again Sunday at Safeco Field, where he pitched
seven solid innings, and made a little history along the way, in a
3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Archer (7-4) allowed one unearned run off six hits, one of which
could have easily been ruled an error. He struck out 11 without
giving up a walk, marking the first time in major league history a
pitcher has had 10 or more strikeouts without allowing a walk in
three consecutive starts.
"I guess he's putting himself in his own class now," Cash said.
"It's pretty impressive; it's very impressive. He keeps doing
things, over and over, to give us a win."
Tampa Bay (31-27) only got five hits, with the key one coming on a
Mikie Mahtook solo home run in seventh inning, to take its third of
the four games in the series. The Rays have now won five of their
past six.
Mahtook, a rookie who was called up in April, recorded his second
career hit with the solo shot. Both of Mahtook's hits have been home
runs.
Seattle starter Mike Montgomery, who was making his second career
start and was with the Rays in spring training, struggled in the
early going against his former team but eventually found a groove.
Montgomery (0-1) allowed five hits and two runs over seven innings.
"I knew I probably didn't have my best stuff, but I wanted to keep
battling and wanted to put up zeroes," Montgomery said.
Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said Montgomery probably was
emotional in the early going since he was pitching against his
former teammates.
"I'm not sure if he was overhyped or what," McClendon said. "But his
fastball command just wasn't there (in the first inning)."
The Rays took a 1-0 lead on second baseman Logan Forsythe's RBI
single in the first inning. Tampa Bay got a leadoff walk and two
singles off Montgomery in that inning but couldn't generate another
run until the seventh.
Seattle (25-32) matched the Mahtook homer with an RBI single from
shortstop Brad Miller in the bottom of the seventh, cutting Tampa
Bay's lead to 2-1.
After a Miller error to lead off the top of the eighth, the Rays
went ahead 3-1 on an RBI sacrifice fly from pinch hitter David
DeJesus.
Reliever Kevin Jepsen earned his fourth save of the season, and his
third of the series, with a scoreless ninth. Jepsen allowed two
two-out runners -- on an error and a hit -- in the ninth before
Seattle shortstop Brad Miller flew out to end the game.
Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano, who was not in the lineup
because of a .167 batting average during the homestand, was in the
on-deck circle as a likely pinch hitter when Miller flew to right
field.
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After the game, Cash said that Tampa Bay closer Brad Boxberger was
battling tightness in his triceps. Cash added that Boxberger should
be available for Tuesday's series opener against the Los Angeles
Angels.
"Jep really picked us up this series," Cash said. "He really made
some big pitches."
It was a comparatively easy win for the Rays, who had played four
consecutive one-run games heading into Sunday.
The Mariners ran themselves out of scoring opportunities in the
fourth and sixth innings, when they got caught stealing to end
threats. On one occasion, rightfielder Nelson Cruz got caught in a
rundown when he took off for second base with two outs and runners
on the corners.
"If I had called for him to do that," McClendon said, "my GM would
have fired me on the spot. Nellie thought he saw something, and it
wasn't there."
Seattle had seven hits and left six runners on base.
The Mariners have now scored three runs or fewer 33 times this
season, the highest total of any major league team.
"Right now, we're snakebit, and we've got to come out of it,"
McClendon said. "The only way to come out of it is to keep grinding.
We're easy pickings right now, but things will get better."
Seattle first baseman Logan Morrison extended his hitting streak to
a career---best 14 games with a two-out single in the ninth.
Both teams were charged with two errors in the game.
NOTES: Rays 3B Evan Longoria (wrist) was not in the lineup again
Sunday, but he came on to pinch-run in the eighth. He didn't have an
at-bat and did not play in the field. Longoria is listed as
day-to-day, and it's likely that the Monday off day will help get
him back on the field in time for the Angels series. ... Mariners 2B
Robinson Cano, who is hitting just .167 during the current homestand
and has stranded 12 runners since Thursday night, was not in the
starting lineup for Sunday's game. ... Tampa Bay still hasn't named
a Thursday starter. RHP Jake Odorizzi would be the choice, if
healthy, but the Rays are awaiting further word on his strained
oblique muscle. Odorizzi is scheduled to meet with a doctor in Tampa
Bay on Monday. ... The Rays and Mariners both have Monday off. Tampa
Bay will host the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, while Seattle
begins an eight-day road trip with a Tuesday game in Cleveland.
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