Jordan Montgomery scattered six hits over seven innings, helping the Texas Rangers beat the sloppy Tampa Bay Rays 4-0 Tuesday in their AL Wild Card Series opener.
The Rangers benefitted from four errors by the Rays, who also fizzled offensively.
“We didn't hit, pitch or defend,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “When you're up against a good team, they're going to capitalize, and they eventually really did.”
The game drew an announced crowd of just 19,704 to Tropicana Field, the lowest for a postseason game since the 1919 World Series other than during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Texas moved within a victory of a AL Division Series matchup against Baltimore.
Game 2 of the best-of-three series is Wednesday at 3:08 p.m. at Tropicana Field and ABC will televise the game nationally. Texas right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (12-5, 3.63 ERA) starts and the Rays will counter with AL wins co-leader Zach Eflin (16-8).
Tickets are available through the Rays' website, the Major League Baseball Ballpark app or through MLB’s fan-to-fan ticket seller SeatGeek. Tickets are mobile-only; paper tickets, including print-at-home, PDFs or screenshots are not available or accepted.
Tampa Bay, wearing throwback Devil Rays jerseys in the style of 1998-2000, lost its sixth straight postseason game since winning its 2021 Division Series opener against Boston. The Rays have reached the postseason for the fifth straight season but have one run in their last three playoff defeats, hitting .133.
Corey Seager and Josh Jung drove in runs for Texas and Montgomery was exceptional pitching - and even better when he lumbered off the mound to make a diving catch.
“It's good to do your job and help the team win,” Montgomery said.
Texas rebounded from a weekend collapse that cost the Rangers the AL West title and a first-round playoff bye. The Rays dropped a club-record sixth straight postseason game dating to Game 2 of the 2021 AL Division Series against Boston.
Montgomery's pitching set the tone as the best-of-three series began. The Rangers also drew inspiration from the 6-foot-6 left-hander's defensive gem on a bunt that Jose Siri popped into the air along the first-base line with runners at the corners.
Montgomery dove to make the catch and landed awkwardly.
“I saw it high enough in the air, kind of made two quick steps at it, and then just blacked out and went for it,” Montgomery said.
“That was electric. I was fired up,” said rookie left fielder Evan Carter, who doubled twice and drew a pair of walks in his postseason debut.
“It wasn't a soft landing was it? He's a big fellow,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “Great catch by him. We were in a tight situation there. ... Just shows you how competitive he is to go out there and dive for that ball.”
Bochy and Rangers athletic trainers went to the mound to check on Montgomery, who was not injured.
“I think I was just as shocked as everybody in the stands. I had to backhand it. ... It just was something I've never done before,” the pitcher said. “I don't know if I've done that since I was 12. Just kind of a heat-of-the-moment competitive thing.”
Game 3, if necessary, is at 3:08 p.m. Thursday at the Trop.
Smallest playoff crowd since 1919 'Black Sox' for non-pandemic game
The crowd was roughly 5,300 below the listed stadium capacity, and the Rays even opened a portion of the third level, which is typically closed during the regular season.
The game began at 3:07 p.m. and the start time was not scheduled by Major League Baseball until Sunday evening.
Game 7 of the 1919 World Series drew 13,923 at Redland Field in Cincinnati; the Reds won the best-of-nine series against the Chicago White Sox in eight games, but Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned eight players on the “Black Sox” for life for throwing games.
The Rays routinely rank among baseball’s lowest in home attendance and drew 1.44 million this season, The team averaged 17,781 for 81 home dates this season, 27th among 30 major league teams.
Tampa Bay announced plans last month to build a 30,000-seat ballpark to replace Tropicana Field, the domed stadium where they’ve played since the club’s inaugural season in 1998.
Family affair
The mother of Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena joined her son on the field to throw a ceremonial first pitch before the game.
Sandra Gonzalez made the trip to Tropicana Field from Mexico to watch Arozarena play in person for the first time as a major leaguer. She only recently obtained a visa and arrived in Florida on Monday.
Gonzalez played catch with the All-Star outfielder near the home dugout before taking the mound and tossing a strike to Arozarena, who was squatting in a catcher’s position behind the plate.
The Rays-Rangers series is a family affair in more ways than one, with brothers Josh Lowe of Tampa Bay and Nathaniel Lowe of Texas facing off in October for the first time. Their mother, Wendy, was unable to attend because she is battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy.
“It hurts her that she’s not going to be here today. She’s entering her third week of chemo and radiation, and she’s got brain cancer, so yeah, it’s a lot to go through,” Nathaniel said before the game.
“It’s a pretty heavy toll,” the Texas first baseman added. “I know Josh has done a pretty good job of putting it aside and compartmentalizing it and performing. But it’s something that we’re all learning to deal with and go forward with.”
