TAMPA -- Joe Boyle came and went without allowing a hit.
As expected, the Rays optioned Boyle back to Triple-A Durham on Monday after his electric spot start in an 8-3 win over the Braves on Sunday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out seven and walked two while carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his Tampa Bay debut.
But Boyle¡¯s outing was only a brief cameo, for now. The Rays accomplished their goals of getting a look at the 25-year-old starter while also giving their five starters an extra day of rest heading into a stretch of seven straight home games against the Red Sox and Yankees.
¡°Congratulated the heck out of him. We had that planned for quite some time. He really picked us up in a big way,¡± manager Kevin Cash said Monday afternoon. ¡°Just want to see him continue working on what the messages are that him and [pitching coach Kyle Snyder] discussed throughout the spring.¡±
As planned, the Rays sent Boyle back to Triple-A and summoned a fresh arm for the bullpen: right-hander Eric Orze.
Right-handers Shane Baz, Ryan Pepiot and Zack Littell are set to face the Red Sox in this week¡¯s three-game series at Steinbrenner Field. If they stay on turn, the Rays will send Taj Bradley, Drew Rasmussen, Baz and Pepiot to the mound against the Yankees to finish this 13-game homestand.
It was a short stay for Boyle, who arrived Saturday after being told in advance about his first big league assignment of the season. But it was a reassuring start for himself and everyone in the organization who hoped the elite stuff and improved strike-throwing he displayed in Spring Training would carry over into the regular season.
¡°Certainly with that performance and even what he did in Spring Training, we feel pretty excited about where he¡¯s at and where he¡¯s going to continue to get,¡± Cash said.
Whenever the Rays need to dip into their rotation depth again, Boyle showed they can count on him.
¡°First time back in the big leagues this year, definitely, yeah, you feel it. You feel excited. You feel anxious, everything. I¡¯m a human being, so I¡¯m feeling that,¡± Boyle said after his outing. ¡°I¡¯m glad I was able to do it, though, and work through it and focus on the things that I could control. It was a good opportunity to focus on that.¡±
Orze, 27, made his Major League debut for the Mets last July 8 and pitched one more time for New York on July 26. The Rays acquired the right-hander in a November trade for center fielder Jose Siri, part of their effort to load up on multiple-inning relievers with Minor League options.
A two-time cancer survivor, Orze made a strong impression on the Rays in Spring Training, as he struck out 10 while allowing only two hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings over six appearances.
Cash said it was a ¡°really tough decision¡± to option Orze at the end of camp, as the Rays ultimately picked Hunter Bigge and Mason Englert to fill out their bullpen.
Orze has gotten off to a great start in Triple-A, having allowed just one hit -- a home run -- while striking out half of the 18 batters he¡¯s faced in five appearances for Durham.
¡°Pitch to his strengths, I think that was kind of the message given to him early on in spring,¡± Cash said. "He took to that, and I¡¯m assuming he¡¯s been doing that really well.¡±