Hicks’ historic slam helps Rays survive Peralta’s shaky debut

DENVER — Every little thing was new for Liam Hicks on his first day with the Rays.

He walked into the guests’ clubhouse at Coors Discipline on Tuesday afternoon to discover a new No. 34 uniform. New teammates and coaches. A brand new alternative, with common work behind the plate and a pure match within the cleanup spot. A brand new place within the standings, having been dealt Monday from the Marlins to Tampa Bay’s American League-leading squad. So many new pitchers to study.

The thought even crossed his thoughts that he’d need to study a brand new dwelling run celebration, however he was hesitant to ask about it earlier than taking the sector for his first recreation. Didn’t need to jinx something, you understand?

Hicks needed to study lots in regards to the Rays on Day 1, they usually bought to study lots about him. Tampa Bay’s latest catcher launched his first profession grand slam, guided starter Freddy Peralta by way of a shaky Rays debut then dealt with 7 1/3 sensible innings from the bullpen in a 9-7, 11-inning win over the Rockies on Tuesday night time.

“I imply, it went fairly properly, yeah,” Hicks mentioned, grinning. “Not precisely how I in all probability drew it up, however I imply, I am actually pleased with the way it went and excited we bought the win.”

Batting cleanup, Hicks stepped in in opposition to Rockies starter Gabriel Hughes with the bases loaded within the third inning. He turned on a fastball and blasted it a Statcast-projected 402 ft out to proper discipline for his first profession grand slam and the Rays’ first of the season.

It additionally made him the primary participant in franchise historical past to hit a slam in his group debut. In any case he’d been by way of during the last 24 hours, what was going by way of his head in that second?

“Simply relieved,” he mentioned, smiling. “You’re feeling the strain, regardless that you are not making an attempt to place strain on your self [in the] first recreation, however it’s very nice to get that one out of the way in which and simply type of have the ability to breathe somewhat bit.”

Positive sufficient, Hicks bought to study in regards to the Rays’ dwelling run celebration. Junior Caminero instructed him to take his helmet off and run by way of the road of teammates assembled within the dugout, though the primary run wasn’t fairly so easy.

“I did not know what to anticipate, however glad I discovered that one early on,” Hicks mentioned. “I used to be type of strolling by way of, they usually’re like, ‘No, come on, like, hurry up.’”

Hicks’ huge hit gave the Rays a 5-1 lead, however his batterymate’s first recreation along with his new group didn’t go so easily. Peralta gave up seven runs on 9 hits, together with two homers, and left the sport after 3 2/3 innings in line for a loss.

It wasn’t what Peralta hoped for, given a contemporary begin with the Rays after a tough stretch with the Mets, however neither he nor supervisor Kevin Money appeared involved or discouraged.

“I do know that it is a new alternative, and folks have been serving to me very well right here,” Peralta mentioned. “I do know I am gonna get higher, as a result of we’re gonna work for that.”

Peralta may additionally discover solace in the whole lot that occurred after he left the sport.

They tied the sport within the ninth on a two-run single by Jonathan Aranda. They scratched throughout two runs within the eleventh, capitalizing on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Partitions, a wild pitch and hits from Yandy Díaz and Caminero.

Nevertheless it was Tampa Bay’s bullpen that wound up stealing the present ultimately. Six relievers mixed to work 7 1/3 scoreless innings with solely two hits allowed, a outstanding efficiency in any context — however particularly in a ballpark constructed for offensive outbursts.

Cam Booser, Casey Legumina, Steven Matz, Kevin Kelly and Garrett Cleavinger held the road between Peralta’s exit and the eleventh, then Bryan Baker delivered as he so typically has for the Rays, retiring all three batters he confronted to safe his Main League-leading thirty second save.

“It is spectacular,” Partitions mentioned. “They got here up enormous once we actually wanted them.”

So did Hicks. It’d take a while for him to study the whole lot in regards to the pitchers he’s working with, however with some assist from Nick Fortes and the teaching workers, he bought what Money referred to as a “crash course” in only one night time.

“The way in which he navigated that was fairly superior,” Baker mentioned. “I gave him props for the homer, however I instructed him the catching was what did it for me as we speak. It was a terrific debut.”

“He made a number of new associates actual fast,” Money added.

Not dangerous for a primary impression, proper?

“I do not know if you can also make a greater one,” Money mentioned, laughing. “He made a extremely good first impression. You aren’t getting a second probability at it, so good for him.”