ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With the bullpen taxed for 11 1/3 innings in a span of three games, the Tampa Bay Rays called for reinforcements.
Three pitchers were promoted from Triple-A Durham after Tampa Bay’s 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday.
The Rays had to use five relievers a total of 3 2/3 innings Thursday, this after getting four scoreless innings from the bullpen the night before and 3 2/3 innings Tuesday. As a result, left-handers Enny Romero and C.J. Riefenhauser will join the Rays, who also called up right-hander Matt Andriese for an emergency start Friday in the series opener against the Chicago White Sox.
“You’ll have some rough games throughout the season,” said reliever Kevin Jepsen, who took the loss Thursday, allowing two runs in the seventh inning. “We play so many games. It’s tough for us because (starter Alex) Colome pitched such a great game. … It’s a tough loss, but we’ll get right back there tomorrow.”
To make room for the pitching changes, the Rays placed right-hander Andrew Bellatti on the disabled list due to right shoulder tendinitis, and they optioned right-hander Preston Guilmet, who threw two innings of two-run ball Thursday, one day after he was called up from Durham. The bigger blow was designating Bobby Wilson, the team’s 32-year-old backup catcher, for assignment.
“I understand it’s part of the game,” said Wilson, who hit just .145 with four total RBIs in 24 games. “You kind of wish it doesn’t happen to you, but it did. I’m just grateful for the opportunity that they gave me here.”
Manager Kevin Cash will go with one catcher, Rene Rivera, for the short term, with versatile Jake Elmore as an emergency backup.
“It’s extremely difficult, what Bobby was to our team, our clubhouse and our pitching staff,” Cash said. “He’s a big part of why we’re having so much success from a pitching standpoint.”