HOUSTON -- Give Chandler Simpson an inch, and he’ll take 90 feet.
Maybe even 270.
After drawing a leadoff walk against Astros starter Ryan Gusto in the fourth inning of the Rays’ 13-3 romp Thursday night at Daikin Park, Simpson stole second, swiped third and scored on a throwing error by Houston catcher Yainer Diaz, all within the span of one at-bat by Kameron Misner.
“It's not really a guy that you can prep for, because it's so unique,” Rays starter Shane Baz said. “He knows the game he's trying to play, and he's good at it.”
The two stolen bases were Simpson’s 17th and 18th of the season, and he added another during Tampa Bay’s five-run seventh inning. His 19 steals lead the Rays, as he’s one ahead of teammate José Caballero, and are the third-most in the Majors behind Luis Robert Jr. and Bobby Witt Jr.
And the 24-year-old has put himself in that company in only 35 big league games.
“I was actually sitting next to [catcher] Danny [Jansen] in the dugout later in the game ... and I said, 'You know, he stole 100 bases last year. Like, that's attainable here,’” Rays right fielder Josh Lowe said. “Watching his game, it's been incredible to see him do that and wreak havoc like he did there on the bases that one inning. Creating that run himself, that was huge.”
Simpson often uses those words when talking about what he wants to do on the basepaths: wreak havoc. There might not be a better display of it than what he did against the Astros.
“It’s a perfect example,” Simpson said. “Just able to work a walk, get on base, see my chances, take second, take third, and I was grateful for the error so I was able to score.”
Recognizing Simpson’s game-changing impact on the bases, how little he chases pitches outside the strike zone and his limited power at the plate, opposing pitchers don’t often walk the speedy outfielder. He fully capitalized on his sixth free pass of the season.
“I'm grateful for it, because it doesn't happen a lot. I know pitchers are not trying to walk me a lot … he said. “The fact that I am able to work a walk is -- I mean, it's like a free throw.”
“I love seeing him on base,” Junior Caminero added through interpreter Eddie Rodriguez, “because I know we have a chance to score.”
After stealing second, Simpson took off for third on a 2-2 pitch from Gusto to Misner and slid into the bag safely. Diaz’s throw sailed past diving third baseman Isaac Paredes and into left field. But Simpson got up and quickly dashed home, easily beating the throw from left fielder Zach Dezenzo.
"I did everything I thought I reasonably could. I was slide-stepping, trying to be quick to the plate, trying to mix my holds a little bit. The guy just is really fast,” Gusto said. “We're aware of that. He picked a couple of really good pitches to run on when I was trying to strike the guy at the plate out. It was [an] offspeed pitch, down in the dirt, a lot tougher for Yainer [Diaz] to handle. Again, he's fast."
The Astros entered the night having allowed 64 stolen bases on the season, second most in the Majors behind the Marlins’ 82. After swiping five bags in the series opener, the Rays lead the Majors with 81 stolen bases, seven more than the second-place Brewers.
"We've got to do a better job controlling that aspect, you know? We have been working on it and we have been doing a better job,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “But when you have that kind of speed, that's what happens. He can do those things."
That is a product of their speed, certainly, especially since the addition of the rookie Simpson. But manager Kevin Cash has been most pleased with Tampa Bay’s patience and decision-making on the basepaths this season.
“It's been dynamic, and I like the way that we've used the speed in our favor and the basestealing opportunities. I feel like the best part about it is we've made good decisions,” Cash said Thursday afternoon. “We hit points last year -- we had similar speed, and there were month, 30-day, 45-game stretches where we went into a rut with our decision-making and our thought process.
“I give all the guys a lot of credit, certainly by Cabby and Chandler, for knowing what they're capable of and trying to execute that and not doing too much every night.”