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TAMPA — Ryan Pepiot is excited to pitch Friday for the first time at Yankee Stadium, which he considers “one of the cool ballparks in the league.”
But also, just to have a better experience than his previous visit following last year’s All-Star break, when he ended up hospitalized for several days due to what team and medical personnel determined was an infection from a spider bite he incurred while playing golf in the Tampa Bay area before the trip.
“So hopefully,” Pepiot said, “this one goes a little bit better.”
Pepiot wasn’t scheduled to pitch in the four-game series last July. He felt some soreness in his knee as the team headed to New York on the Thursday in advance of the opener, and by early Saturday morning he was sweating profusely, unable to walk and being helped into a Columbia University Medical Center by head athletic trainer Joe Benge.
“It’s one of the more weird (injuries), I’m sure,” Pepiot said. “But if you’re going to get hurt with something and miss some time, at least it’s not something to do with my arm. It was something just kind of a fluke thing.”
Pepiot ended up missing nearly a full month, and took plenty of abuse.
“My wife (Lilia) made a whole big joke out of it — she got me a Spider-Man cake for my birthday a couple weeks later,” Pepiot said. “My father-in-law sent spider web gun shooter things to my locker. One of the security ladies at the Trop tossed me down during batting practice a Spider-Man baseball.
”So, yeah, I got it all."
Pepiot is coming off a strong April 26 outing at San Diego, allowing one run over six innings. The start before that was against the Yankees, when he allowed three runs over six innings.
Pepiot said seeing the same team again can work to his benefit and detriment.
“I think it’s a combination of both,” Pepiot said. “Obviously they saw everything I threw, and then at the same time I also saw how they wanted to attack. So I’ll kind of try to use that to my advantage.”
Also of note, he has allowed eight homers in 34 innings; last year he allowed 17 over 130 innings.
Maikel Garcia’s fourth-inning double Wednesday ended an unusual and historic streak by Rays starter Shane Baz. He hadn’t allowed a double or a triple over his 12 previous starts, the longest such steak in modern history (since 1901). Overall, his streak covered 79 1/3 innings.
The last hitter to get a double or triple off Baz had been Alex Bregman, then of Houston, on Aug. 13, 2024.
Only two other traditional starters had streaks as long as 10 games: Milwaukee’s Bill Parsons (1973) and Cleveland’s Steve Hargan (1969-70).
Baz also entered Thursday’s game as the only major-leaguer with at least 20 innings pitched who hadn’t allowed a double or triple. Along with Bobby Witt Jr.’s homer, Baz allowed a career high-tying five extra-base hits.
For the first 21 home games, even though there appeared to be unsold seats, the Rays announced sellouts at Steinbrenner Field, with a capacity of 10,046. That streak ended Thursday — perhaps understandably in a midweek matinee game against a non-marquee opponent — with an announced attendance of 8,794.
Yandy Diaz is one of the few hot Rays at the plate, having hit in seven of his last eight games. … Jonathan Aranda picked up his first RBI after nine games without. … The Rays were swept by the Royals for the first time since 2016, and at home since the 1998 inaugural season. … Rays pitchers allowed a season high-tying 15 hits, while Rays hitters didn’t draw a walk for the second time this season. … Manager Kevin Cash was running late Thursday morning, so bench coach Rodney Linares handled the pre-game workout and media duties. … Rookie outfielder Chandler Simpson will tour MLB headquarters in New York on Friday morning, and first baseman Aranda will visit MLB Network’s studios and appear on MLB Central in the 11 a.m. hour.
• • •
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But also, just to have a better experience than his previous visit following last year’s All-Star break, when he ended up hospitalized for several days due to what team and medical personnel determined was an infection from a spider bite he incurred while playing golf in the Tampa Bay area before the trip.
“So hopefully,” Pepiot said, “this one goes a little bit better.”
Pepiot wasn’t scheduled to pitch in the four-game series last July. He felt some soreness in his knee as the team headed to New York on the Thursday in advance of the opener, and by early Saturday morning he was sweating profusely, unable to walk and being helped into a Columbia University Medical Center by head athletic trainer Joe Benge.
“It’s one of the more weird (injuries), I’m sure,” Pepiot said. “But if you’re going to get hurt with something and miss some time, at least it’s not something to do with my arm. It was something just kind of a fluke thing.”
Pepiot ended up missing nearly a full month, and took plenty of abuse.
“My wife (Lilia) made a whole big joke out of it — she got me a Spider-Man cake for my birthday a couple weeks later,” Pepiot said. “My father-in-law sent spider web gun shooter things to my locker. One of the security ladies at the Trop tossed me down during batting practice a Spider-Man baseball.
”So, yeah, I got it all."
Pepiot is coming off a strong April 26 outing at San Diego, allowing one run over six innings. The start before that was against the Yankees, when he allowed three runs over six innings.
Pepiot said seeing the same team again can work to his benefit and detriment.
“I think it’s a combination of both,” Pepiot said. “Obviously they saw everything I threw, and then at the same time I also saw how they wanted to attack. So I’ll kind of try to use that to my advantage.”
Also of note, he has allowed eight homers in 34 innings; last year he allowed 17 over 130 innings.
Extra special
Maikel Garcia’s fourth-inning double Wednesday ended an unusual and historic streak by Rays starter Shane Baz. He hadn’t allowed a double or a triple over his 12 previous starts, the longest such steak in modern history (since 1901). Overall, his streak covered 79 1/3 innings.
The last hitter to get a double or triple off Baz had been Alex Bregman, then of Houston, on Aug. 13, 2024.
Only two other traditional starters had streaks as long as 10 games: Milwaukee’s Bill Parsons (1973) and Cleveland’s Steve Hargan (1969-70).
Baz also entered Thursday’s game as the only major-leaguer with at least 20 innings pitched who hadn’t allowed a double or triple. Along with Bobby Witt Jr.’s homer, Baz allowed a career high-tying five extra-base hits.
Crowd control
For the first 21 home games, even though there appeared to be unsold seats, the Rays announced sellouts at Steinbrenner Field, with a capacity of 10,046. That streak ended Thursday — perhaps understandably in a midweek matinee game against a non-marquee opponent — with an announced attendance of 8,794.
Miscellany
Yandy Diaz is one of the few hot Rays at the plate, having hit in seven of his last eight games. … Jonathan Aranda picked up his first RBI after nine games without. … The Rays were swept by the Royals for the first time since 2016, and at home since the 1998 inaugural season. … Rays pitchers allowed a season high-tying 15 hits, while Rays hitters didn’t draw a walk for the second time this season. … Manager Kevin Cash was running late Thursday morning, so bench coach Rodney Linares handled the pre-game workout and media duties. … Rookie outfielder Chandler Simpson will tour MLB headquarters in New York on Friday morning, and first baseman Aranda will visit MLB Network’s studios and appear on MLB Central in the 11 a.m. hour.
• • •
Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X and Facebook.
Continue reading...
