ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – With the opportunity to clinch a post-season spot in mid-September, Tampa Bay Rays’ manager Kevin Cash handed the ball to right-hander Drew Rasmussen, the titular head of his pitching staff.
Before Junior Caminero’s two-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth sent Tampa Bay into the post-season, Rasmussen slammed the door on the Houston Astros. In going seven innings on Sept. 11, he allowed one run over seven innings and declared, in the celebratory clubhouse, playing October baseball, “is so much fun.”
In the opening game of the ALDS Oct. 3 before an enthusiastic, sell-out crowd of 40,542 at Tropicana Field, Rasmussen took “fun” to another level and showed why the vaunted New York Yankees stepped traitorously into his funhouse. The result was one of the most dominate pitching efforts in recent post-season history and behind Rassmussen’s superb, one hit, 10 strikeouts effort and economy of 101 pitches (69 for strikes),Rays managed a 1-0 victory and opened a 1-0 series lead in this best of five set.
In the first post-season pitching effort since tying Anibal Sanchez of Washington for the longest no-hitter effort for 7.2 innings and the since the Phillies’ Roy Halladay’s no-hitter against Cincinnati in Oct,, 2010, Rassmussen was nearly perfect. Allowing a double into the first field corner to Auston Wells with two out in the eighth, the Yankees catcher tried to stretch into a triple and easily thrown out in a perfect relay from right fielder Victor Mesa, Jr. to shortstop Taylor Walls to third baseman Junior Caminero.
Previously, Rasmussen retired the last 15 hitters before Wells slammed that rocket down the right field line.
Earlier, Rasmussen was the beneficiary of a Jonathan Arnada, third inning home run and given sheer dominance from their starter, that was enough.
Afterward, Rasmussen praised his defense and especially acknowledged the picture perfect relay from Mesa to Walls to Caminero and that cut down Wells. Yet, comments on his effort and that of his teammates can trace back to that playoff-clinching win in Sept 11. That’s when the 31-year-old out of Washington state put the season in perspective.
“Getting to this level does not come year,” Rasmussen said. “You sacrifice, day in and day out and just the opportunity to put yourself in post-season baseball is special.”
Comments generated in the Rays clubhouse after game one settled on individual efforts.
That included Rasmussen gem, the defense by Mesa, Jr and Walls at a most critical time and Aranda’s ability to reach the seats early. The slightest moment for error was established and Rassmussen answered the call. His 10 strikeouts in game one tied Tyler Glasnow‘s franchise record for the most in a postseason game.
The win in game one created a unique opportunity for Tampa Bay. In the format of best three-of five, teams which forged ahead at one game to none captured the series 116 ties in 150 opportunities. That’s a percentage of 73 percent.
If pitching and defense represent the catalyst for success, how the Rays executed in game one of this opening chess match clearly supported the theory. While Rasmussen was dominated, manager Kevin Cash called up closer Bryan Baker to create the endgame. After recording a 1-2-3 ninth, including two strike outs, Baker picked up where he left off. During the regular season, the native of Fort Walton, Fla. converted 41 of 44 saves in the regular season, including his last 30.
Next … In game two, the Yankees will send AL Cy Young candidate Cam Schlitter and Cash counters righty Freddy Peralta to the hill. The series then shifts to Yankee Stadium for game three and, if necessary, game four.
