ST. PETERSBURG — Left-hander Shane McClanahan returned from the injured list and struck out three batters across 3 1/3 innings as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-6 at Tropicana Field on Monday night.
McClanahan had not pitched in the Majors since July 30, when he exited an outing against the Rangers in the fourth inning due to left mid-back tightness. He was placed on the 15-day injured list the following day. A rehab start last Tuesday for Triple-A Durham — three perfect innings — cleared the way for his activation. His fastball averaged 95.6 mph, identical to his season average.
“Having him back is huge. He’s one of our best competitors,” starter Nick Martinez said before the game. “I love watching him pitch. Excited to let go of the reins and let him do his thing.”
McClanahan worked a clean first inning before Coby Mayo launched a 468-foot home run to lead off the second. He retired the next four batters in order and pitched a scoreless third around an infield single. In the fourth, he surrendered a single to Jackson Holliday and a double to Mayo before striking out Gunnar Henderson. Manager Kevin Cash pulled McClanahan after 57 pitches, handing the ball to right-hander Casey Legumina. Both inherited runners scored on a ground-ball single by Christian Encarnacion-Strand. McClanahan’s final line: three runs on four hits with three strikeouts.
Right-hander Joe Boyle, who threw 84 pitches over 3 1/3 innings out of the bullpen in Sunday’s 10-2 loss to Baltimore after being called up from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, was optioned back to Durham to make room on the roster.
McClanahan slots into a rotation that includes Drew Rasmussen, Martinez, Freddy Peralta and Ian Seymour. The only missing arm is right-hander Griffin Jax, sidelined with right elbow discomfort. Jax received an injection to “calm the back of the elbow down” after undergoing testing with Dr. Keith Meister last week, but he has resumed playing catch and should soon make plans for his return to the mound.