Baz's TJ comeback comes full-circle in 2-ER outing at GABP

CINCINNATI -- Sunday afternoon’s game represented a full-circle moment for Rays right-hander Shane Baz.

The last time he was on the mound at Great American Ball Park, things didn’t go well. And they would only get worse.

On July 10, 2022, Baz allowed seven runs on eight hits in just 2 1/3 innings during a 10-5 loss to the Reds. He didn’t know at the time that it would be his final big league appearance until July 5, 2024.

The 26-year-old had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in March 2022, made six starts and then was shut down for Tommy John surgery that September.

On Sunday, Baz (8-7) allowed only two runs on five hits, with little hard contact through five innings, walked two and struck out five over 100 pitches.

“Obviously, a lot better outing today,” Baz said. “It means a lot. Kind of symbolic. I’m really glad I put in all the work to get back here, and just going to try to take the ball every five days and give us a chance to win.”

Baz allowed two runs in the first inning, both on ground balls that didn’t leave the infield.

“Kind of a weird first inning,” Baz said. “Give [the Reds] credit, they came out swinging in the first. I thought I did a good job of keeping them from driving the ball, honestly. Tried to stay in it the best I could.”

He created trouble for himself with two two-out walks in the second, but pitched out of the jam.

In the third, he allowed a pair of two-out singles, but Tristan Gray made a nice overhead catch on Jake Fraley’s pop fly to end the inning.

Most importantly, he kept the Rays within striking distance during the 2-1 loss.

“I was really proud of Shane. Said that to him,” manager Kevin Cash said. “That was a gutsy outing. He didn’t have his best stuff. He wasn’t executing pitches at the rate he wants to. But man, he committed to every pitch to keep it there, 2-0.”

It was a vast improvement from Baz’s last outing on July 21, when he allowed eight earned runs in four innings of an 8-3 loss to the White Sox.

Unfortunately, Tampa Bay’s offense didn’t provide much support for Baz on Sunday against Reds right-hander Brady Singer, who took a shutout into the eighth inning.

Yandy Díaz said it was the best he’d seen Singer, but that only masks the recent struggles for the Rays’ offense. Injuries haven’t helped.

“We’re missing Brandon Lowe,” Cash said. “It’s a different lineup when he’s in it, and how other guys are pitched. Same with Ha-Seong Kim when he gets going and he’s healthy. But we have enough offense here that can work around that and put pressure on starters and get big hits late.”

Tampa Bay got a big hit late when Taylor Walls’ fourth home run of the season cut the deficit to one run in the eighth. But Reds closer Emilio Pagán slammed the door in the ninth.

Meanwhile, the tough days are mounting for the Rays, especially away from home.

Sunday marked the club’s 13th loss in the past 16 road games, including seven straight, nearing Thursday's Trade Deadline. The Reds swept the Rays for the first time since July 8-10, 2022, marking Tampa Bay’s fifth consecutive series loss on the road.

The Rays are back to .500 (53-53) for the first time since May 28, when they were 27-27.

“This is baseball. We’re going to have our ups and downs, and that’s what is happening right now,” Díaz said via an interpreter. “Everybody’s going out there giving their all. When things go bad, everything goes bad. Hopefully, next series with the Yankees will be better.”