Shane McClanahan, Rays finish off Rangers to take three-game series
ST. PETERSBURG — Shane McClanahan did not want to leave like that. The Rays left-hander had a rough third inning Sunday, with Rangers hitters jumping on him early in counts. He was in a real battle just to hold on to a lead.
That is when he showed what has given him an edge throughout this season.
“It’s baseball, you’re not going to be perfect every time you take the ball, and that’s a really good — really, really good-hitting team,” McClanahan said. “They’ve got a lot of guys with a hell of a year so far. ... So, I had to keep battling and trust the guys behind me.”
McClanahan fought back, retiring the final 15 batters he faced as the Rays beat the Rangers 7-3 in front of 23,069 at Tropicana Field.
The Rays chased Rangers left-hander Martin Perez after just 3-1/3 innings with 10 hits, the most he has given up this season, and a season high-tying seven runs allowed. Wander Franco hit a three-run homer in the fourth, his first since May 9, and Harold Ramirez had career high-tying three hits and an RBI.
The Rays’ streak of 35 consecutive stolen bases came to an end when Jose Siri was thrown out trying to swipe second in the fifth, but the team’s run of dominance with McClanahan rolled on.
The Rays are undefeated (7-0) at Tropicana Field when he starts. They improved to a major league-leading 48-20 overall, while the Rangers dropped to 41-23.
McClanahan (10-1) became the first pitcher in the majors to reach 10 wins this season, and he worked hard for it Sunday.
The Rays ace gave up three runs, the most he has allowed at home this season, on four hits. He walked one and struck out five. He generated 20 swings-and-misses, nine coming on his changeup.
But what was most impressive about the 26-year-old was the way he righted himself against a lineup that has scored the most runs in the majors this season.
“They’ve scored a lot of runs for good reason, bunch of good hitters,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Mac really competed well (Sunday) and made some big pitches. The glitch in the third inning, they just got to him kind of quick, but he’s just showing so much poise on the mound, that it doesn’t faze him, doesn’t rattle him. He gets through the inning, and then he just kicks it to another level.”
The Rays used the same approach to chase Perez, jumping on him early for two runs in the first and building a 4-0 lead after two innings.
The Rangers answered in the third, with Robbie Grossman leading off the inning with a home run and McClanahan walking No. 9 hitter Leody Taveras. Marcus Semien then doubled off the wall to center, scoring Taveras. Jose Siri misread Semien’s ball, allowing the Rangers second baseman to reach third. Semien scored easily on Corey Seager’s single, cutting the Rays’ lead to 4-3.
“They got me quick in the third there,” McClanahan said. “They just poured it on, and it was up to me to fight back, ultimately. I looked at some stuff on the iPad and made some adjustments.”
After allowing the RBI single to Seager in the third, McClanahan retired the next 15 hitters he faced, striking out three. The changeup was effective, but what really impressed Cash was McClanahan’s presence.
“I think just watching him not get overly frustrated, be able to flush a bad inning, flush a pitch that he didn’t like. ... It doesn’t carry over, and that’s a sign of a really good pitcher,” Cash said. “Your best pitchers, they release the ball, (and) once it’s gone they’re on to the next pitch.”
That is going to be even more important as the hype for next month’s All-Star Game heats up. McClanahan started last season’s Midsummer Classic, and already he’s being asked about this year’s.
“We’re a good ballclub, and my only thought right now is to help this team continue to win ballgames and put my best foot forward every single day,” he said. “Whether it’s pitching, whether I’m running, whether I’m throwing, whatever it is, I’m being the best cheerleader I can be and whatever happens, happens.
“I do feel like I’m in a better position this year in regards to handling all that stuff and whatnot, but my only my mindset is very simple: It’s just help this team win games.”
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