SEATTLE — Drew Rasmussen never takes it for granted when given the opportunity to pitch at T-Mobile Park.
But as the Puyallup, Wash., native prepared to make his fourth career start in his home state, the subtle haze in the horizon around the Puget Sound said much more about this particular start for the Rays All-Star.
Friday’s 2-1 win over the Mariners carried further significance for Rasmussen, a graduate of Mt. Spokane High School, not far from the wildfires that have torched large parts of northern Spokane, destroyed an estimated 900 structures and forced an evacuation of around 67,000 people since it erupted on Aug. 1.
On Friday, he said just under 50 familymembers and friends came to watch.
“We have friends and family who are going through a lot right now. Some of them are even able to escape it for today and get over here and watch,” Rasmussen said. “I’m really appreciative of it. What’s going on in Spokane right now is tragic.”
Regardless, there’s just something about pitching in Seattle for Rasmussen, who’s now allowed just one run over 21 2/3 innings. Against the struggling Mariners offense, Rasmussen continued his tradition of dominance against the club. He threw seven scoreless frames — his third straight scoreless outing — allowing just two hits and two walks along with eight strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 2.75.
“He might be a little comfortable here,” said Bryan Baker, who closed out the night with his AL-leading 33rd save.
He rarely ran into trouble, but did evade a bases-loaded jam in the second inning, throwing three straight high heaters — the latter reaching 97 mph — to strike out swinging Colt Emerson. That started a run of 16 straight batters retired to end his outing.
Rasmussen made a mechanical adjustment after a mound visit from pitching coach Kyle Snyder after a walk to Josh Naylor in that second inning to put two runners on with one out. It took him 27 pitches to get through the second, but only 26 to get through the next three frames.
“I thought from there on we were able to settle in a little bit and start commanding,” Rasmussen said.
That second inning, particularly, is why he ramped up his fastball more often than he’s used to. Rasmussen has leaned on his cutter at a 30% rate this season, but threw it only 18 times of his 91 pitches. Instead, his fastball was utilized 45% of the time – up from his season average of 28%.
“It’s generated a lot of swing and miss and a lot of soft contact for me this year,” Rasmussen said of the fastball. “It’s just one of those things — if we can lean on it, why not?”
And with Friday’s dominance, Rasmussen didn’t need much support from the AL leading Rays, as both Jonny DeLuca and Jonathan Aranda hit solo homers early off Logan Gilbert to give Tampa Bay its fifth win in its last six.
Since making the All-Star team for the second straight season, the Rays’ ace is 4-0, allowing two runs over 25 innings.
“I know he gets dialed up a little extra to come back to his hometown area,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
“It’s just automatic at this point,” DeLuca added. “It’s like every single outing. … I’m able to watch in center, so glad I don’t have to chase him.”
