Archer, Beckham lead Rays to series win over the Rockies
DENVER (AP) -- Chris Archer appreciated Tim Beckham's big day at the plate. He valued the infielder's encouraging words even more.
Archer struck out 11 over six innings for his first win since June 6, Beckham had a career-high five hits and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Colorado Rockies 11-3 on Wednesday.
During the game, Beckham had a little conversation with Archer, who has been in a bit of a funk.
"He kept telling me, `Hey man, we go as you go -- attack, attack,'" Archer recounted. "Out of the five hits he had, that was the nicest thing he did for me, personally."
Archer helped out a cameraman during his postgame interview by informing him his light suddenly went out.
A win and a save. Now that's quite a day.
"I felt like I had good stuff," Archer said. "We put some runs on the board. I was able to breathe."
He also took some inspiration from rookie Blake Snell, who pitched a gem the night before. Archer (5-13) went out and tried to duplicate it.
Nearly did, too.
Archer allowed two runs and four hits to halt a slide in which he had lost six of seven starts.
"Just showed what we're capable of," Archer said. "We're a talented team."
Evan Longoria kept up his hot hitting with two doubles as the Rays took two of three to capture their first road series since June 6-8 at Arizona. Longoria turned in a big series with two doubles, two triples, a homer and five RBIs.
Jorge De La Rosa (6-7) lasted only four innings and gave up nine runs, seven of them earned. He usually fares well at Coors Field -- with a better home ERA (4.27) than on the road (4.38) since joining Colorado.
"Everything was bad," De La Rosa said. "I threw pitches where I don't have to throw them."
Tampa Bay trailed 2-1 before breaking open the game with three runs in third and five more in the fourth.
Former Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson had three hits, including a triple, to increase his career average in this park to .360. He was traded to the Rays last January for reliever Jake McGee.
With two doubles Wednesday, Longoria has 50 extra base hits this season. Only one other Tampa Bay player, Aubrey Huff in 2003, had that many through 94 games.
Longoria is playing well as the Aug. 1 deadline approaches for trades without waivers. Archer doesn't want to picture a lineup missing Longoria at third base and batting third.
"Since the Rays have been relevant, he's been the key guy," Archer said. "That would be missed for sure. I don't think that's a realistic possibility. That's just people floating things out there, just to have some click bait."
Archer allowed two runs in the second but quickly settled into a groove. He struck out the side in the fourth and the sixth -- his last pitch a 96 mph fastball that Mark Reynolds couldn't hit.
The Rockies were outscored 25-11 in a series against a last-place team.
"We understood that we were going to face a team that is having a tough time," outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said. "We are in a situation where we've got to make things happen -- and it didn't happen."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Thursday. ... OF Kevin Kiermaier got the day off.
FEELING PRESIDENTIAL
Rockies manager Walt Weiss is playfully campaigning for his man: Gerardo Parra.
Weiss wore a "Parra for President" T-shirt before the game. The shirts were created as a joke before the season and Parra's teammates constantly wear them.
More pressing than getting Parra into the White House is getting him back on the field. The outfielder is on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle.
THIS & THAT
Rockies hitting coach Blake Doyle was throw out early in the game for something he said from the dugout to home plate umpire Paul Emmel concerning the strike zone. ... There was review over a tag at home plate in the second inning that lasted 6 minutes, 28 seconds, and had players just standing around. Archer threw warmup pitches.
UP NEXT
Rays: Lefty Matt Moore (5-7) starts a four-game series Thursday in Oakland. He's gone at least six innings in eight straight starts.
Rockies: Righty Chad Bettis (7-6) makes his 20th start of the season when Colorado opens a four-game series against Atlanta.
