When Andrew Kittredge threw his first pitch for the Rays Tuesday night in Boston, he earned a historical notation as just the seventh pitcher to get a save in one game and then, with no day off, start his team's next game.
Unfortunately for the Rays, when he threw his fifth pitch and felt something hurt enough in his right elbow to force him from the game, he delivered another notification of the mounting injury issues disrupting their pitching staff.
That they won the game, 8-2 over the Red Sox, was a credit, as much as anything, to the job the relievers _ some familiar, some needing introduction _ did once again stepping into the void.
Tuesday, it was John Curtiss, Ryan Thompson and Aaron Loup, three of the new guys, teaming with Jose Alvarado, Diego Castillo and Nick Anderson, to cover 26 outs.
It helped that Mike Brosseau, batting leadoff for the first time, hit Martin Perez's sixth pitch over the right-centerfield fence to give them a rare early lead. And that after the Sox tied it, Brosseau doubled and scored on Yandy Diaz's single to make it 2-1 in the third.
Even more so that the Rays broke it open with a six-run seventh, Manuel Margot, Brandon Lowe and Hunter Renfroe all doubling in runs.
It was the fourth straight win for the Rays (10-8) after a 2-7 stretch. It was also their second straight victory facing a lefty starter after losing their first five, and the 11th in their last 12 games at Fenway Park, which the Rays media notes referenced as "Tropicana North."
The Rays were using Kittredge as an opener because starters Yonny Chirinos (triceps) and Charlie Morton (shoulder) are on the injured list. Two others, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, have covered limited innings the first three times through the rotation due to planned slow buildups. And one of their top backup options, Brendan McKay, is sidelined with a shoulder issue that seems concerning.
That has put an even greater burden on their bullpen, which isn't exactly ideal as they are missing a couple of key relievers as well _ Oliver Drake sidelined with a biceps issue, Colin Poche out for the season after Tommy John surgery.
All of which has led to a test of their depth, as well as introductions for Curtiss and Sean Gilmartin, who signed as minor-league free agents, and Thompson, who hadn't pitched above Double-A.
"We're equipped, but it's never comfortable," manager Kevin Cash said before Tuesday's game via a Zoom call from Boston. "You're kind of living inning-by-inning, game-by-game trying to not only piece together that night's game and win the game, but how does that take a toll moving forward for the rest of the trip, the next game?
"There's definitely a lot of uncertainty right now. We know we're going to have to rely heavily on the bullpen, and whatever length we can get out of our upcoming starters in Blake and Tyler would be huge."
At least going into Tuesday's game, the bullpen had pretty much handled the challenge, even if the pitchers didn't know each other's names.
"It's crazy," Snell said. "Two of our starters ... (are) going through fatigue issues, which is expected. I was kind of going through that with the buildup.
"This is going to be a tough season. We're going to need everybody. With COVID(-19), with injuries, with the three weeks we had to get ready, no one is used to that."
"These guys are doing a heck of a job," said Chaz Roe, the senior member of the bullpen. "We've used some pieces that we didn't have last year, and they've stepped up in big situations and got the job done for us. ... It's been amazing what these guys have done. We've stepped up in roles that we're usually not used to."
Kittredge threw the final 16 pitches of Monday's 4{ hour marathon that ended just before midnight, facing three batters to earn his first big-league save.
Since saves became an official stat in 1969, only six pitchers got a save and then were the starting pitcher for their team the next day, per Stats LLC.
One, no surprise, was a Ray: Erasmo Ramirez, on May 28-29, 2017, and it didn't go well, as he allowed three runs in the first inning.
Others were Noe Ramirez, Angels, Aug. 27-28, 2018; Andy McGaffigan, Giants, July 24-25, 1983; Andy Messersmith, Dodgers, May 30-31, 1975; Jim Lonborg, Brewers, May 12-13, 1972; Rich Robertson, Giants, April 30-May 1, 1971.
Cash said before the game they felt good handing Kittredge that assignment.
"Kitt is one of the best in our bullpen in kind of bouncing back and showing that resiliency in his arm, in his body, and not losing stuff," Cash said.
"We're fortunate to have him. It's no secret we're kind of beat up. We're banged up a little bit. We're going to try to piece together (Tuesday night) with a bunch of options. But Kitt has been in that role before, he's done well in that role. We asked him to just keep his arm loose all night long to carry over to (Tuesday) so he could open for us."
