ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rays right-hander Chris Archer insisted he wouldn’t be affected by any sort of pressure to justify the six-year contract extension he signed with Tampa Bay on Wednesday. He said Thursday he had gone all day without thinking about his new deal.
And Thursday night, with the ink barely dry on the contract that could keep him in Tampa Bay until 2021, Archer looked like the same pitcher who finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting last year, the same one the Rays believe will pitch atop their rotation some time soon.
Backed by a big three-run homer from third baseman Evan Longoria, Archer led the Rays (2-2) to a 7-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night at Tropicana Field.
“I’ve never thought about it, so having it or not having a contract or money didn’t affect me because it’s never been a thought in my mind when I was in between the lines,” Archer said. “Outside the lines, obviously I thought about it during spring training, but I think that’s a part of me trying to strengthen myself mentally so the outside factors don’t affect me when I’m in between the lines. … It’s just baseball. I’m here to have fun. I’m here to execute, and I was able to do that tonight with no other thought.”
Beginning his first full season in the majors, Archer gave up two runs on four hits and struck out seven over six innings Thursday.
If anyone could understand the pressure to perform after making a career-defining decision like Archer did, it’s Longoria. The Rays’ All-Star third baseman has signed two long-term extensions with the club and was impressed with the way Archer handled himself on the mound a day after signing a pact that could be worth up to $43.75 million if his 2020 and ’21 club options are exercised.
“That was good to see. I know both of the ones that I’ve been able to sign, I went out there a little bit more nervous the next couple days,” Longoria said. “I think it really just speaks to his maturity as an individual and why the organization was so eager to make a deal happen with him and ultimately why it happened. I think he went out there and proved that tonight.”
With the win, the Rays (2-2) split their season-opening series with the Blue Jays (2-2). Toronto, meanwhile, once again fell short of winning its first series at Tropicana Field since April 6-8, 2007.
“We wanted to win tonight, but against those four starters they threw at us, to get two wins, we’ve got to feel good,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “So we’re going home feeling good.”
After being stymied by Blue Jays left-hander Mark Buehrle on Wednesday night, the Rays jumped out to a four-run lead against Toronto right-hander Brandon Morrow. They put up one run in the second inning and three more in the third.
“I still thought I made some good pitches,” said Morrow (0-1), who gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings. “They did their job. They weren’t trying to do too much.”
The Jays got two of those runs back in the fourth, as catcher Dioner Navarro drove in right fielder Jose Bautista with a sacrifice fly and third baseman Brett Lawrie’s infield single scored first baseman Adam Lind.
But Longoria put the game away in the seventh when he launched a towering three-run home run to left field off Jays right-hander Esmil Rogers. It was Tampa Bay’s first homer of the season and the 163rd of Longoria’s career, tying former first baseman Carlos Pena’s franchise record.
“This has been my home for so long, and obviously I’ve made a significant commitment, I made it knowing that I have a love for this franchise and for this community,” Longoria said. “It’s just one home run in the grand scheme of things, but for what it means to this organization and what they’ve meant to me, it’s big.”
NOTES: Rays OF Wil Myers was scratched from the starting lineup due to flu-like symptoms. … Tampa Bay’s David DeJesus, nursing a bruised right foot, was moved from left field to designated hitter before the game. … Tampa Bay placed UT Sean Rodriguez on paternity leave following the birth of he and his wife Giselle’s fourth child, a boy, and recalled INF Vince Belnome from Triple-A Durham. Belnome, wearing No. 30, arrived in the Rays’ dugout during Thursday’s game and was optioned back to Durham after the game. Rodriguez is expected to rejoin the Rays on Friday. … Blue Jays closer Casey Janssen (lower-back strain) threw long toss Thursday for the first time since being placed on the 15-day disabled list. … Jays INF Maicer Izturis has recorded three consecutive multi-hit games for the first time since Aug. 21-27, 2011. … The Rays’ bullpen has compiled a 0.75 ERA over the team’s first four games. … The Blue Jays will head home for a six-game homestand at Rogers Centre, beginning Friday against RHP Masahiro Tanaka and the New York Yankees. … The Rays will host the Texas Rangers this weekend at Tropicana Field.