After rough playoff opener, Rays still hoping to see October Randy
CLEVELAND — Randy Arozarena seemed dressed for his typical postseason success when he strode into the Rays clubhouse Friday morning wearing a pair of cream-colored cowboy boots.
As Arozarena has swung his way into becoming something of an October sensation the past two years, the boots have become a notable accessory.
But that wasn’t enough to help him Friday, as he took his miserable regular season-ending slump to the postseason stage, striking out three times against Guardians starter Shane Bieber and going 0-for-4 in the Rays’ 2-1 loss.
“Give credit to him. He did a great job,” Arozarena said via team interpreter Manny Navarro. “We all want to hit. I think that’s the first time I’ve gotten three strikeouts in a postseason game.”
Actually, he did so twice previously, during his 2020 record-breaking postseason, when he hit .371 with 10 homers and 14 RBIs in 20 games.
Which is part of the reason the Rays remain confident Arozarena will step up, as they need their best players to perform that way as they battle to keep their season alive.
“I trust Randy will get going,” manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s highly motivated. (Friday), you’ve really got to just compliment Shane Bieber. It wasn’t just Randy. A couple guys need to contribute.
“We look at their team (Friday). You could argue that their three stars did everything that was needed, Shane Bieber and José (Ramirez, who hit a two-run homer) and then (closer Emmanuel) Clase at the end.”
A concern, though, is that Arozarena has been struggling for a while, finishing the season 1-for-his last-14 and 2-for-30.
He said Wednesday there shouldn’t be a carryover, because he approaches the postseason differently.
“I don’t focus as much, because I know in the playoffs there’s less games to play in order to get to that ring in the World Series, so I try not to really think about it too much,” he said. “I just try to live in the moment and have fun with it.”
The Rays could use some Arozarena fun.
Roster changes
Javy Guerra, a mid-September call-up, got the final spot in the Rays bullpen and on the 26-man Wild Card Series roster over JT Chargois based on his ability to match up with Cleveland’s lefty hitters. That was the only remaining decision, essentially to take the place of injured lefty Colin Poche. Corey Kluber slid into a long relief role, and reliever Jalen Beeks and catcher Francisco Mejia were reinstated from the injured and paternity lists, respectively. ... Chargois, catcher Rene Pinto and outfielder Josh Lowe, who spent most of the season at Triple-A Durham around two unsuccessful stints with the Rays, are on the taxi squad. Another group of players is working out in Durham to provide potential depth. … Three of the Rays sidelined by injury made the trip to root on the team: Kevin Kiermaier, Andrew Kittredge and Ryan Thompson.
Miscellany
The game was played in 2:17, the shortest postseason game since 1999, when Houston and Atlanta played Game 2 of the NL Division Series in 2:13. … The Rays challenged whether Amed Rosario missed second base scoring ahead of Ramirez on the sixth-inning homer, but the call stood. Had they been right, only Ramirez’s run would have counted. … With the 12:07 p.m. start, players and staff had to adjust their schedules, some, like Cash, getting up around 6:30 a.m., when it was still dark. ... The Rays have lost their last six games this season, as well as their last four postseason games.
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