Snell focused, 'determined to be better'

BOSTON -- Blake Snell is ready to get his next start underway.

After allowing six runs (including a grand slam) over 4 1/3 innings in a loss to the Tigers on Tuesday, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner wants to put his last outing behind him and get to work against the Red Sox on Sunday.

“It definitely sucks, and that whole week going into that next start; you don’t want to feel that again,” Snell said Saturday. “It just makes you work harder, it makes you focus harder, it makes you do everything you can to make sure that that doesn’t happen.”

Snell said after a loss, he watches the game “like a hundred times.” He felt he threw too many curveballs, and he wants to go to his fastball and changeup more often.

“I think the biggest thing that people succeed in is failing,” Snell said. “Even when you’re at your best, I had two games this year where I’ve felt really good and I got terrible outcomes. But that’s what makes me more motivated, and I’m already really motivated. But it really makes me a lot more determined to be better out there, and a lot more focused than I already am.”

Manager Kevin Cash would like to see the Rays provide Snell (3-5, 3.68 ERA) with more run support. They scored six in the Tuesday loss to the Tigers, but they scored two runs or fewer in his previous four losses.

“Pitches have been magnified because we’re not getting him runs,” Cash said. “We’ve got to do a better job as an offensive team to somehow find a way to give him some wiggle room and let Blake go out there and control whatever he can control. … Find a way to separate a game, and if you don’t, then Blake needs to recognize that his only job is to continue making quality pitches. He doesn’t walk up there with a bat in his hand.”

Over three career starts at Fenway Park, Snell is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA. Snell will look to improve upon that record in Boston as the Rays wrap up a four-game, three-day series against their AL East competition.

“Opening, closing, the middle, [the mindset is] always to win,” Snell said. “We always say, ‘Happy flight.’ So let’s just do whatever it takes to win so when we get on the plane, we can get on the plane and enjoy each other.”

Wendle gets look at shortstop
Joey Wendle played shortstop on Saturday in his Triple-A rehab game as he works his way back from a right wrist fracture. He started one game at shortstop this season and 11 over his career. The Rays would like to have that flexibility when he rejoins the team.

“We certainly want to have that option,” Cash said. “Joey’s done it enough, played enough shortstop in Spring Training. Excited that we’re getting closer to seeing him back.”