'A lot of work to do': Springs beginning to feel like himself again

ST. PETERSBURG -- Jeffrey Springs knew not to expect too much of himself too soon after coming back from Tommy John surgery. He realized it would take time and a lot of work to return to form, and he understood he made progress in each of his first two starts with the Rays.

But the competitor within Springs isn’t content with figuring it out on the mound. He wants to pitch like he has before, like he knows he can, like the key part of the Rays’ rotation he expects to be.

“That's where the extra being hard on myself comes from,” Springs said Saturday. “I want to win. I want to help us win.”

He did exactly that Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field, allowing just one run while striking out eight over five innings before the Rays staged an unusual comeback to beat the Orioles, 2-1.

With their 28th come-from-behind win, the Rays avoided a sweep, beat Baltimore for just the second time this season (and the first time at home since July 21, 2023) and climbed back above .500, at 59-58.

“If you ask him, he's gonna say there's still things to work on, and it's not perfect,” Brandon Lowe said. “But for him to come out there, give us what he's got and battle through some of the adversity early on, that was pretty classic Springs.

“He always wants to improve, so you always know there's that chance for improvement and this isn't the best we're going to get. So I'm excited that he came out there and gave us what he did today, but I'm ready to see what he does next time.”

Sure enough, Springs was pleased with the way he handled a tough Baltimore lineup -- but not totally satisfied.

“It’s improving. I feel like each bullpen, each day, getting back to moving how I need to move down the mound, the stuff's starting to catch up,” Springs said. “A lot of work to do, but I'm pretty happy with where I'm at.”

Springs surrendered six hits and didn’t walk anyone, and the only run he permitted came on Anthony Santander’s 35th homer, a solo shot in the fourth inning. It was his second career start with eight strikeouts and no walks, and it came with swing-and-miss stuff reminiscent of Springs’ electric start last season.

Springs forced the Orioles to whiff on 19 of their 45 swings against him, tied for the second-highest swinging strike total of his career. Ten of those whiffs came against his changeup, an encouraging sign after opponents went 7-for-14 against Springs’ best pitch in his previous two starts.

Springs’ average fastball velocity was 90.3 mph, in line with his first two outings but down from 91.7 mph last year and 91.4 in 2022. But he used his heater well, moving it up and down and around the strike zone to keep the O’s lefty-mashing lineup off-balance.

“He competed really, really well,” manager Kevin Cash said. “I thought today's stuff was probably the best that we've seen, most consistent, between the fastball carry and the changeup location.”

Springs kept Tampa Bay’s struggling lineup within striking distance, and the bats eventually stirred after being shut out by right-hander Albert Suárez for 6 2/3 innings.

Pinch-hitting against lefty reliever Cionel Pérez with two outs in the seventh inning, José Caballero doubled and scored the tying run on a single by Dylan Carlson.

Caballero ripped the first pitch he saw from Pérez to left field, and it should come as no surprise he was ready to hit: Pérez threw him almost the exact same pitch he just missed with the bases loaded in the eighth inning of Saturday’s frustrating loss.

“I wanted to face him again, and I wanted that pitch back, and I got it,” Caballero said. “”I wish I got it last night as well, but it's good to do it at least today.”

The Rays pulled ahead in the eighth when Lowe worked a leadoff walk against Craig Kimbrel, stole second and third base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Curtis Mead. It was Lowe’s third career multi-steal game and first multi-steal inning.

“We won that game because B-Lowe was ready to go off Kimbrel once he got to first, and then got to second, picked the pitch to get to third,” Cash said. “When you're pitched tough and hits are tough to come by, like they are right now, sometimes you've got to do those things.”

As starved as the Rays have been for runs lately, they couldn’t find any fault after the game in a winning rally that included no hits, one ball in play, three walks (one intentional) and four stolen bases.

“It's August,” Lowe said. “I'll take any win we can get.”