Video summary
Boone reflects on the team's hard-fought victory in extra innings, highlighting a pitchers' duel that lasted for most of the game before the Rays finally broke through. He praised both Cam and Detmers for their strong performances, noting that while the offense struggled to score early against Detmers due to defensive plays like Goldy's double, they managed to get some good at-bats in later situations. The turning point came in the tenth inning when Welsey stepped up with a long at-bat against a left-handed pitcher, eventually outlasting him to drive in runs and turn what could have been a light offensive day into a significant win that helped end the series on a high note.
A major focus of the recap was Welsey's exceptional readiness, particularly his ability to come off the bench and deliver crucial hits when called upon in the eighth and tenth innings. Boone emphasized that every player must be prepared for any role at all times, as injuries or lineup changes can place anyone in the most important spot of the game unexpectedly. This sentiment extended to Austin, who has been steadily improving since returning from the injured list; although his progress was slow, he has evolved into a capable offensive threat with better load management and hitting positions, proving that patience pays off as he continues to contribute effectively to the lineup.
The discussion also touched on Vavra's quiet but effective series performance, where he went eight for fourteen, showcasing a consistent bat path that keeps his hits in the zone and generates classic line drives. Boone noted that this consistency makes him a strength for the team as they head down the stretch, especially with other players returning to the mix to add depth and length to their offense. The conversation briefly shifted to an on-field incident where a photographer was struck by a line drive in the sixth inning; while it was a scary sight, Boone expressed hope that the player walked away unharmed after seeing him move toward the cart immediately following the impact.
Looking ahead, Boone acknowledged the importance of controlling what the team can control rather than worrying about opponents like the Rays losing their games. With an off day scheduled to reset and recharge, the team aims to face a tough Padres squad this weekend with renewed energy and confidence. He concluded by stressing that as more players return and start swinging the bat effectively, the lineup will gain the necessary length to avoid easy innings for opponents, ultimately allowing them to become the formidable offensive unit they believe they can be throughout the rest of the season.
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Hearing that one of pitchers duel for
the majority of the game, just how much
are you able to exhale now that you've
been able to walk out of here with a
win?
>> Yeah, uh big. Um
Yeah, I thought [snorts] both pitchers
were really good. Uh obviously Cam was
great. I thought Detmers was good. I
thought we had some good at bats going
against Detmers. We just couldn't break
through, you know. Ramos hits the ball.
We uh we get the first and second,
whatever that third or fourth inning,
and he scalds the ball, and
and they double off um Goldy there. I
thought Benny had a good at bat later on
with runners in scoring position. So, I
thought we were having some okay at bats
against him, but you know, he [snorts]
was tough. And you know, obviously Cam
was great tonight, and then just a lot
of
really great at bats in the 10th inning
there, highlighted by Welsey. You know,
that guy's tough on lefties,
and Welsey has a long at bat, and and
eventually outlasts him. And I think to
do all the damage that we did there with
two outs, um was massive. And um you
know,
turned a light day offensively into, you
know, a a really good way to to end this
series and and head into an off day.
>> You mentioned Wells. I mean, the fact
that he comes in in the eighth, gets a
hit there, and then gets the big hit in
the 10th. Just what does that say about
him and the way he's able to prepare for
those situations?
>> Obviously a great
day the other day coming off the bench,
and then today,
um two really good at bats coming off
the bench, especially the one that that
obviously um
ends up being the difference maker. So,
big time, you know, that's where we're
at in the season. Everyone's got to be
ready every single day, um because even
if you're not in the lineup, as we've
seen a lot here lately, you may be up in
the in the most important spot in the
game. And uh credit to him for being
ready, and and really really happy for
him to to get rewarded with some good at
bats.
>> And Austin over this like month and a
half now.
>> Um
Yeah, I mean, I'd I'd go back to I mean,
you've asked me this a lot, and you
know,
I felt like
when he came back off the IL, like, it
wasn't good yet, but I could see the
move evolving and getting better.
Um then he started to get a little bit
of results, slowly but surely, but I
think it was it was a process of of
getting to a point where he's getting a
better load, getting into better hitting
positions
ultimately to get a swing off and and we
know he's a very capable offensive
player.
Um
and so it took took a while, but I felt
like the
the the seeds of this were when he came
off the IL where it started to evolve a
little bit, even though he wasn't
getting results yet, it looked
different. It looked better.
And he's continued to get better and
he's been he's been really good for us.
>> All right, um seems like quietly Vavra
had a very good series. I believe he was
eight for 14. Just what do you see as
the difference for him here on the road?
>> Yeah, I feel like his bat path been in
in a really good spot, you know, he's
he's getting his bat in the zone for a
long time. That's what I noticed with
him. Brad and I have been talking about
that the last couple days. Just seems
like his path is in a really good place
and he's kind of got that classic
belly line drive thing going and
love where he's at right now.
>> As a whole, can be one of the strengths
you have going down the stretch. They
came through again tonight.
>> Yes, absolutely. They've been they've
been terrific all year.
>> Were you arguing a check swing, Anthony?
What was what was going on there? I
didn't really watch it.
>> I I'm like that in the right field
spots. I didn't think
>> Yeah, I was arguing the the check swing.
Well, if you want to call that a check
swing.
>> Well.
And then what was going on around your
bench in the sixth inning there when
they brought the cart over?
>> Uh uh
somebody one of the photograph in the
photographers well, they got hit hit
with the line drive.
>> Oh
>> Yeah.
>> Is there any update on him?
>> I have not. He he you know
I I don't want to over like it seemed
like he was up and conscious right away.
Um
I didn't, you know, see his face. I have
not heard. It seemed you know, he was
able to walk over to the
to the cart. So, hopefully, you know,
that's a good sign and it's not anything
that's too serious.
>> Obviously.
>> Scary scary sight cuz I actually I
followed the line drive and through the
dugout saw it hit the top top of his
head. So,
you know, I'm hoping the good thing is
it wasn't completely scalded and and he
was moving with it to hopefully, you
know, kind of
take some of the force of the blow
um away from him.
>> Aaron, the Rays lose today. You guys win
today just to be able to gain a little
bit of ground here.
>> That's always a good thing. Um you know,
we got to
you know, boring answer, but we got to
just control what we can do. So,
uh can't worry about that. We're trying
to be at our very best and we got an off
day here to re- kind of reset. Um
hopefully, recharge and go face a tough
Padre team this weekend and hopefully
keep it going.
>> When Austin's having the quality at bats
he's had over this past month now, what
what does it mean just for the overall
lineup, especially at the bottom?
>> Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you feel
like
he's that threat again down there.
Um
and and that's massive, you know,
especially as you get other people back
in the mix. You know, one of the things
that that's plagued us at times this
year when we've gone through some
struggles offensively is just not having
that length and and too many easy
innings, you know, in the
in the nine. So, hopefully, as we get
get more guys back, more guys starting
to swing it and get going,
that that can change and we can become
the offense we believe we can be.