The Tampa Bay Rays are mired in an offensive slump rolling into the mid season break. They were swept by the NY Yankees this afternoon 2-1 in 10 innings. Edwin Jackson pitched a great game today. He pitched 6 1/3 scattering 6 hits, 1 ER, 2BB and 3 K’s over that span. He deserved a victory today but the offense was virtually non existent. Grant Balfour got tagged with the loss when Bobby Abreu went after a good pitcher’s pitch and knocked a double in the gap to score Jeter from 1st with the game ending run.

The Rays have been struggling the last 3 games with their offense. Carlos Pena hit a HR to tie the game at 1 all in the 6th inning, the first run the Rays had scored in 16 innings. Today they were only able to rack up 5 hits and 3 BB while giving up 11 K’s. We did have opportunities again to score runs but the situational hitting was not there.

With this loss and the Red Sox victory the margin has closed to a mere 2 games. Hopefully the Rays will turn this ship around heading to Cleveland for a final 4 games before the All Star break. The Indians have been struggling all season and currently sit at the bottom of the AL Central with record of 37-52. This should be an easy series victory for the Rays with the possibility of a road sweep. That is a great way to go into the break!

Go Rays!!