TAMPA -- And just like that, the Rays¡¯ first homestand at George M. Steinbrenner Field is over.
Tampa Bay lost Wednesday afternoon¡¯s series finale to Pittsburgh, 4-2, but won both series to begin the season.
Here are five takeaways from the first week.
1. They made a smooth transition.
In the grand scheme of things, this was the highlight of the homestand for manager Kevin Cash. All winter and spring, the Rays faced questions about how they¡¯d handle the quick move to Steinbrenner Field and the challenges of playing outdoors, making the ballpark their own and so on.
Within the span of a week, they moved in, got to know the park and how it plays, and won four of six games. They¡¯ll have to adapt as the season progresses, but Cash said he was most pleased with how the team ¡°eliminated the noise of the transition¡± this past week.
¡°We just got to it and played baseball, so I'm proud of the guys for that,¡± Cash said. ¡°Now, we can get on the road for three days, come back, and I'm guessing it¡¯ll feel that much more like home when we get back here.¡±
2. Their rotation looks great.
Ryan Pepiot fell behind 13 of the 23 batters he faced on Wednesday and had to battle through five innings without his best stuff, but he still gave Tampa Bay a chance to win by allowing only two runs.
The Rays thought pitching would be their strength, and after a brilliant first turn through the rotation, it looks like it will be.
As a staff, the Rays have allowed 12 earned runs and only six walks. The six walks are the fewest in franchise history through the first six games of a season, and the 12 earned runs are tied for the second-fewest.
¡°The goal is to win series. The goal is to win series as we continue and not let tough days snowball,¡± Pepiot said. ¡°We¡¯ll take it to Texas this weekend and hopefully win another one.¡±
3. The rookie outfielders delivered in big ways.
The performance of Kameron Misner and Jake Mangum was certainly the most unexpected development of the Rays¡¯ first homestand. Both outfielders were sent down during Spring Training, but the Rays needed Misner to replace the injured Richie Palacios then summoned Mangum when Josh Lowe went down with a right oblique injury during the first game.
Misner had an unforgettable season debut, becoming the first player to ever hit a walk-off homer on Opening Day for his first Major League home run, and he¡¯s gone 5-for-14 with four RBIs overall. And Mangum, the 29-year-old ¡°Mayor¡± who waited his turn in Triple-A for years, has gone 8-for-15 with two doubles, four RBIs and three stolen bases.
Mangum¡¯s eight hits are tied with Akinori Iwamura (April 2-7, 2007) and Delmon Young (Aug. 29-Sept. 1, 2006) for the most in club history through a player¡¯s first four career games.
¡°Huge. I think they've played extremely well,¡± Cash said. ¡°They've come up at some huge points in the game where they're at bat ¡ with guys on base, and they've come through. I'm really, really impressed by both of them.¡±
4. Paul Skenes was as advertised.
Skenes kept the Rays off the board -- and off second base, in fact -- for five innings before they scratched across a run in the sixth without hitting a ball out of the infield. The reigning National League Rookie of the Year simply overpowered the Rays, allowing only three hits and striking out six while throwing 102 pitches over seven innings.
Throughout this homestand, the Rays found ways to score by putting the ball in play and putting pressure on the defense. They only struck out once in Skenes¡¯ first three innings, but nothing came easy against the likely NL Cy Young candidate.
¡°He was throwing strikes. He was mixing well. We know he has good stuff,¡± center fielder Jonny DeLuca said. ¡°Just another quality start from a quality pitcher.¡±
5. Now comes a rare road series.
The Rays are set to play 19 of their first 22 games at Steinbrenner Field. But the next three are on the road, as they will face the Rangers at Globe Life Field in a three-game series beginning Friday night.
As nice as the front-loaded home schedule is, both to avoid tougher weather and give the Rays a chance to settle in, there¡¯s always a fair amount of anticipation to hit the road after spending a long spring and a full homestand in Florida.
¡°The first road trip's always kind of weird. You pack your bag, and you feel like you're forgetting something, no matter what. But it'll be good,¡± said Zack Littell, Friday's scheduled starter. ¡°The short one's kind of nice, just to get your feet wet on the road, but not be gone for a week, 10 days or whatever. I think everybody's excited.¡±