Uceta allowed a hit and struck out one batter in a scoreless inning while earning a save against Boston on Friday.
Uceta worked around a one-out single by Vaughn Grissom in the ninth inning to preserve the 2-1 win. It was Uceta's fifth save of the year, with all of them coming during his last 12 appearances. During that span, he's converted each of his five save chances while tallying three holds alongside a 2.77 ERA. For the season, Uceta has produced a terrific 1.51 ERA and 57:8 K:BB through 41.2 innings.
Uceta allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out one in the ninth inning to earn the save Sunday against the Blue Jays.
Uceta was called upon to protect a two-run lead and allowed the tying run to reach third base with only one out. However, he recorded the final two outs without allowing the ball out of the infield to record his fourth save of the season. Uceta remains one of the most skilled pitchers in the Rays' bullpen, but a different reliever has now converted each of the team's four save chances.
Uceta picked up the save in Friday's 3-1 victory over Cleveland, pitching 1.2 perfect innings with two strikeouts.
Activated in advance of Friday's contest after serving a two-game suspension for intentionally throwing at the Phillies' Nick Castellanos on Tuesday, Uceta immediately stepped back into a high-leverage spot for Tampa Bay. He relieved Mason Montgomery with one out in the eighth after the latter allowed two hits to his three batters faced. Uceta efficiently retired five straight batters on only 18 pitches to lock down the win for Tampa Bay. He has now pitched to a 1.42 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 53:6 K:BB with three saves across 38 innings this season. The 26-year-old has been an elite reliever and is in the fluid mix for Tampa Bay save opportunities while Pete Fairbanks (lat) remains on the injured list.
Uceta won't appeal the three-game suspension issued by Major League Baseball and will begin serving the ban in Wednesday's series finale in Philadelphia, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Uceta was issued the suspension after he was ejected in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 9-4 loss to the Phillies when umpires determined that he intentionally hit Nick Castellanos with a pitch. In addition to sitting out Wednesday, Uceta will miss games Thursday and Friday in Cleveland before he's eligible to return for the penultimate game of the series Saturday.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Edwin Uceta: Suspension reduced to two games
Rotowire
Uceta's suspension was reduced Wednesday from three games to two games plus a fine, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The reliever's suspension comes after umpires determined he intentionally hit Nick Castellanos with a pitch during Tuesday's loss to Philadelphia. Uceta will begin serving the suspension Wednesday, but the Rays will now be able to add him to their bullpen a day earlier than initially expected.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Edwin Uceta: Suspended three games for HBP
Rotowire
Major League Baseball issued a three-game suspension to Uceta on Wednesday after he was ejected from Tuesday's game against the Phillies in the eighth inning when he hit Nick Castellanos with a pitch, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rays manager Kevin Cash was also handed a one-game suspension. Uceta was charged with three runs while retiring just one batter before getting tossed from the contest after umpires determined he intentionally hit Castellanos with a pitch. Uceta is one of four different Rays relievers to pick up at least one save since Pete Fairbanks (lat) went on the injured list last month.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Edwin Uceta: Struggles in high-leverage spot
Rotowire
Uceta allowed three earned runs on four hits while recording only one out Tuesday against the Phillies.
Uceta entered the game in the eighth inning with the score knotted at 4-4 and runners on second and third. He allowed three of the next four batters he faced to reach base on a double, single and homer, pushing the game out of reach for the Rays. Uceta avoided a loss because Richard Lovelady allowed the inherited runners on base, but it was still a disastrous outing. Even factoring in Tuesday's results, Uceta has a 1.62 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with a 27:3 K:BB in 16.2 innings since Aug. 1.
Uceta notched his second save of the season Sunday against Baltimore, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four in 1.2 innings.
Called upon to preserve a 2-0 lead with two runners on and one out in the eighth, Uceta promptly struck out the next two batters to escape the jam. Uceta then worked around a single and a walk in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season. Save opportunities have been few and far between, but Uceta has been dominant since Pete Fairbanks (lat) landed on the injured list on Aug. 19, throwing 7.1 scoreless innings with a sparkling 15:2 K:BB during that stretch. The 26-year-old Uceta hasn't allowed a run since July 31 and owns an impressive 0.75 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 50:6 K:BB in 36 innings this season.
... See More... See Less
Player Bio
HT/WT: 6-0, 155 lbs
Birthplace: Villa Los Almacigos, Dominican Republic
