They Really Ran Themselves Into Trouble
The Rays put plenty of runners on in Game 1, but they unfortunately wasted three of them with boneheaded baserunning.
In the first inning, Jonathan Aranda wandered too far off second base and got doubled off after a soft line drive to third. In the fifth, Victor Mesa Jr. got thrown out trying to steal third with two outs with Yandy Díaz at the plate, no less. Then in the sixth, a botched hit-and-run resulted in a double play when Chandler Simpson struck out and Aranda got thrown out at second.
Making things happen on the basepaths is part of the Rays’ brand, but these lost baserunners really hurt them in a game they ended up losing by the slimmest of margins. If they’re going to keep it up, they at least need to be smarter about it.
Nick Martinez Came Through for Kevin Cash
When Martinez gave up two runs before he had even gotten two outs in the first inning, you had to wonder if Cash had overthought his decision to push back Drew Rasmussen’s first World Series assignment.
Instead, Martinez ended up having a better night than Jacob Misiorowski. Both only went 5.0 innings, but Martinez recorded more strikeouts and only allowed two more hits after giving up three in the first. He also didn’t walk anyone.
He’s not the flashiest pitcher in this series, but he was an All-Star this season for a reason. Dude can pitch, and Cash shouldn’t hesitate to trust him again later in this series*.
*If he gets the chance, of course.