A little reminder that Rays shortstop Wander Franco can do it all
ST. PETERSBURG — It had been more than a month, but Wander Franco does so many other things for the Rays it’s been easy for manager Kevin Cash to overlook what he hasn’t done lately.
Sunday, Franco lined a homer into the leftfield seats in the fourth inning of Tampa Bay’s 7-3 win over Texas as a reminder that power is part of his repertoire, too.
“I didn’t know that,” Cash said when told the homer was Franco’s first since May 9. “He’s all over the bases all the time. So, good for him. Congrats. He’s a good player. I mean, he squares balls up. He’s hitting in the gaps and stuff. So, for him to get a home run, great. He’s gonna get plenty more.”
Franco’s three RBIs tied a season-high for the 22-year-old. It was his second home run off a left-handed pitcher and eighth homer of the season.
Franco is hitting .296 with a .358 on-base percentage and .831 OPS. He’s driven in 29 runs and scored 39. All while having a defensive runs saved rating of 9.
So, he isn’t worried about his home runs coming slowly.
“I think that home runs just kind of come on their own,” Franco said through team interpreter Manny Navarro. “I don’t try to hit home runs. I think more of my average, my doubles, and just trying to help the team and find a way to get on base.”
Fairbanks’ final hurdle
Pete Fairbanks could be back in the Rays’ bullpen by the end of the week. The closer is scheduled to throw to hitters Monday in the Florida Complex League and then could rejoin the Rays on the road.
“He is still on track,” Cash said. “He’ll throw to hitters (Monday) in Sarasota. And then, hopefully, if that all goes well, look to join us at some point on the trip.”
Fairbanks, 29, has been on the injured list since May 29 with right hip inflammation.
The right-hander has made just 13 appearances this season. He spent time on the injured list with right forearm inflammation and continues to deal with Raynaud’s syndrome, which affects him in cold weather. He’s been dominant when available, with a 1.54 ERA and 10 strikeouts over 11⅔ innings.
Time for Thompson
Ryan Thompson was back in the bullpen Sunday but wasn’t used. The 30-year-old right-hander had been demoted to Triple-A Durham last month to work on his mechanics after posting a 6.60 ERA in 16 appearances with the Rays earlier this year.
“Fine-tuning his mechanics a little bit. … Good to have him back,” Cash said. “Right now, we’re on a stretch where (there are) not many off days and the bullpen’s been heavily used, kind of like we anticipated coming into this series. …. So, we’ll get him in the mix.”
Thompson allowed 11 earned runs over his 15 innings, while striking out nine. Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder said Thompson had struggled with the pitch clock, which was part of what they had him working on in the minors.
Miscellany
Rays broadcasts will sound a little different on this road trip. Radio broadcaster Andy Freed will be switching over to the Bally television broadcast as part of Dewayne Staats’ scheduled time off. Bally pre- and postgame analyst Doug Waechter will join Neil Solondz for the radio broadcasts. … The Rays are the sixth team since 1901 to win 31 of their first 38 home games and first since the 1998 Yankees. …Taylor Walls snapped a six-game hitless streak with a second-inning, RBI double.
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