Snell strikes out a career high in Tampa Bay Rays win

The Tampa Bay Rays push their winning streak to four games behind Snell’s dominating start.

Blake Snell got rocked against the Houston Astros on Opening Day, resulting in the lone loss of the Tampa Bay Rays season.

Tonight, against the struggling Colorado Rockies, Blake Snell posted a dazzling performance that allowed the Tampa Bay Rays to clinch their second series of the year.

Blake Snell went seven innings, and had 10 strikeouts through five innings before finishing with 13 punchouts.

Snell did not allow a run, on his way to only giving up two hits, and issuing just a single walk.

The Tampa Bay Rays offense got started in the bottom of the first inning when they worked a bases loaded situation before Mike Zunino grounded into a fielders choice…or so we thought. Rockies Catcher Chris Iannetta was not standing on Home Plate when he fielded the throw from Nolan Arenado, and Kevin Cash’s staff saw that and decided to challenge what looked like a routine play.

That is how the Rays scored their first run of the game, then backup outfielder Gulliermo Heredia singled to left field to plate Daniel Robertson and Avisail Garcia to push the Rays lead to 3-0.

Tampa Bay would eventually chase the Rockies starter, Kyle Freeland, after his 99th pitch, in the fifth inning, which is a credit to the Rays offense for battling at bats, and working counts.

Blake Snell was working his curveball tonight, which he threw 27 times, and it was absolutely disgusting. He looked back to his CY Young form tonight on the bump. It is easy to see why. Not only is the Rockies lineup struggling, but it also is not Opening Day.

Players always talk about how different Opening Day is, and the emotions that go into that, and it is easy to see why Snell did not have it on his first ever Opening Day start.

Christian Arroyo, who was recently called up when Joey Wendle hit the ten day IL, hit an RBI single in the bottom half of the sixth to score Kevin Kiermaier (who do not look now, is raking, as he hit a double to put himself in scoring position ahead of Arroyo) and extend the Tampa Bay lead to 4-0.

An important note for this game is that both Daniel Robertson and Yandy Diaz left the game due to possible injuries. the team is already down Matt Duffy, and Joey Wendle so losing a few more infielders would be less than ideal.

Wilmer Font shut the door on the Rockies pitching the final two frames and kept the shutout intact for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Stiles Star of the Day: Obviously Blake Snell. I mean come on, he was jaw dropping.

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