ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — While Rich Hill surely wants to stay in games longer for the Tampa Bay Rays, the 41-year-old lefty has the big picture in mind.
Hill had his second consecutive start of five scoreless innings before four relievers finished off a 3-0 win for the AL-best Rays over Texas on Saturday, when he came out after 59 pitches.
“You guys have been watching the games,” Hill said with a smile, when asked if he was OK with manager Kevin Cash pulling him that early again.
“Look, I want to win a World Series. ... Whichever which way that path takes us or however that direction is to get us in that position is what we’re trying to do," he said. "Obviously you want to stay in the game and continue to keep pitching. But I’m also here to understand the way the standard operating procedure is here.”
while throwing three more pitches than he did last Monday against the Yankees in New York.
Diego Castillo struck out the side in the ninth for his ninth save in 11 chances, capping the team’s fifth shutout victory this season. Texas, which had four hits, was held scoreless for the seventh time.
“The way he has been on this run of suppressing scoring has been really impressive,” Cash said of Hill. “Just felt like at that point in the game, the score kind of dictated that we had a really healthy, fresh bullpen, that we could go there and kind of match up from that point. But Rich again set the tone.”
Austin Meadows, the third batter of the game, had a two-run single off Kolby Allard (1-2).
With his 10th team in his 17 big league seasons, Hill has been to the World Series twice — on the losing side with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 and 2018. Hill allowed 16 earned runs over 16 1/3 innings in his first four starts for the Rays, including four runs in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision at home against Texas on April 15, but has an 0.98 ERA (five earned runs over his 45 2/3 innings) in his eight starts since.
Adolis Garcia walked in the first against Hill, but was
Allard, a 23-year lefty in his second consecutive start after 10 relief appearances to open the season, allowed two runs and three hits in a season-high five innings.
After Allard walked leadoff hitter Margot, Yandy Diaz had a single before the single by Meadows, who has 46 RBIs overall — 10 in the past six games, and 37 over a 30-game stretch. The Rays were only 1-of-16 after that against Allard, who
Rangers manager Chris Woodward said there is an emphasis made to young starters about treating the first inning almost like it's late in the game.
“Kolby, he’s been pitching so well. You see how he pitched when he mixed his changeup up, and his mixed his curveball in there," Woodward said. "But that first inning he falls behind, and it's like fastball, fastball, fastball, fastball, cutter, fastball, fastball."
NOT STOPPING AT 60 THIS TIME
It was the 60th game for both teams — matching the total number played in the pandemic-shortened 2020 regular season. Tampa Bay was an AL-best 40-20 last year. The Rangers have one more win through 60 games this year than their AL-worst 22-38 last season. They are 5-19 since reaching the .500 mark at 18-18.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: C Jose Trevino took a foul tip off his right (throwing) forearm in the second inning. Trevino stayed in the game after taking a few throws. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eight, but Woodward said Trevino was fine.
UP NEXT
The Rays will go with Michael Wacha (1-1, 4.63 ERA) starting in a bullpen game after deciding to push back workhorse RH Tyler Glasnow (4-2, 2.69) for an extended break, with the team off Monday before he will now pitch Tuesday. Manager Kevin Cash said there are no health issues and that the move “should not raise any questions." Rangers rookie right-hander Dane Dunning (2-4, 4.67) is set to make his 12th start of the season.
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