ST PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- Alex Cobb hadn’t started a game in the opening week of the season since 2014. That changed in a big way on Wednesday night. Cobb was the definition of solid in 5 ⅔ innings of work. The right hander allowed only 1 run and struck out 4. He got some instant offense as well when Corey Dickerson led off the Rays half of the 1st with a solo homer. Tampa Bay would take the lead for good in the 2nd where they scored 3-runs thanks to RBI base hits from Dickerson and Derek Norris. The Rays bullpen did their job as well. Erasmo Ramirez worked a scoreless 7th and 8th and Alex Colome shut it down in the 9th to complete the 4-1 victory.
Things got off to a great start for the Rays when Alex Cobb struck out 2 batters in a 1-2-3 1st inning and then he got some instant offensive support. Corey Dickerson hit his 1st homerun of the season and his 1st as a leadoff man to give the Rays an early 1-0 lead. The Yankees came back in the 2nd and tied the game with a solo shot from Jacoby Ellsbury. The Rays offensive success continued in the 2nd. Derek Norris drove in 2 runs with an RBI single after Tampa Bay was kept off the board with a controversial call at the plate. Norris then stole 2nd and then was driven home by Dickerson to make it a 3-run inning for the good guys.
The Rays would force Pineda out after just 3 ⅔ innings, allowing 4 ER and 8 hits. Alex Cobb’s night would end after a very solid 5 ⅔ innings of work allowing just 1 ER, 4 hits, and striking out 4. The Rays bullpen then went to work. Jumbo Diaz got the final out of the 6th and then Erasmo Ramirez worked 2 scoreless innings in the 7th and 8th. The Rays couldn’t get their bullpen any more insurance, but the 4-1 lead would be all they would need.
The Rays will begin their 2nd series of 2017 on Thursday. It will be a 4 game set against another divisional opponent in the Toronto Blue Jays. The starting pitchers are scheduled to be Blake Snell and Marcus Stroman. The 1st pitch at the Trop is scheduled for 7:10 with pregame coverage beginning at 6 pm sharp with The Inside Pitch on WDAE.