How do you hit 5 HR, score 8 runs and lose a game in MLB? I’ll tell you how – bad pitching! The Tampa Bay Rays gave the Twins the first game of this 4 game set by letting them off the hook in the 9th inning. But, we really should start at the beginning with our SP James Shields. Shieldsy was not sharp and pitched into and out of trouble through 6 1/3 innings. He gave up 8 hits, one of which was a first inning 3-run bomb, and 2 free passes that equated 6 ER. David Price made his second appearance of the season giving up a 2 run single to Joe Mauer before striking out the final 2 batters to complete the 7th inning. Troy Percival looked good in his return to the bump by pitching a solid 8th inning.

The big hurt came in the 9th inning when Dan Wheeler gave up a 2 run blast to tie the game at 8. Wheels then allowed the next 2 runners on base while garnering no outs. Those runs eventually came around to score giving the Twins a total of 5 runs scored in the 9th inning for a well earned victory. This is what the Rays usually do – it has not been done to us!

Evan Longoria lit up the Twins pitching staff blasting 3, that’s right 3, home runs! He clearly has recovered the eye he had before his stint on the DL and that was GREAT to see! Dioner Navarro and Carlos Pena chipped in with taters of their own giving the Rays a total of 5 for the game. As a matter of fact, the Rays were swinging the bats really well! They added doubles by Ben Zobrist and Gabe Gross to give them a total of 7 extra base hits out of their 9 hit total!

Great offense was derailed by poor pitching in this game. It is a bit of a concern that bad pitching has found its way to The Trop for the 2nd time this week. The first game of the Boston series being the other bad pitching performance this week. I have to also question the Price move. Here are the facts. Price is LHP, Mauer hits better off LHP and the pitch called was thrown right into an optimal location for Mauer to take full advantage, which he did by hitting a 2 run single and breaking the tie in the 9th. It is clear this was a questionable decision to bring Price into the game. Even if Price had elicited an out from Mauer the move must be questioned. Wonder who was reading what charts? Why would Navi call for a pitch right in his wheel house?

Oh well, a loss, no matter how painful to watch, is still a mere loss to this team. They will come out firing on all cylinders tonight. Edwin Jackson is due for an outstanding performance and tonight is the night!

See you at The Trop!

Hey Ray fans…..I’m back!!  Want to thank Cliff for posting for our Rays in my absence!  Now, on to our Rays!!!

Wow!  What a great series victory over those hated northern rivals!  The Rays again showed the resilience that has kept them atop the AL East for most of the 2^nd half of this season.  After a horrible opening game, giving up 6 HRs and losing 13-5, the Rays bounced right back as they have done time and time again this season.  The Rays took game 2 after a GREAT pitching match up led to the Rays 11^th walk off victory of the season, 2-1.  Game 3 started much like game 1, a 2 run 1^st inning bomb by Big Papi.  But this game had a much different ending!  Willy Aybar, Gabe Gross and Fernando Perez banged out dingers, Gross and Perez going back to back.  The Rays chased Boston SP Wakefield early and lit up the bull pen.  The final score of game 3 was Rays 10-3 over the Sox. 

This series had a ton of significance.  First, the Rays have won the season series 10-8 over the Red Sox.  This would come very important in the event of a tie between the clubs at the end of the regular season.  Second, talk about a confidence builder!  The Rays stormed into Fenway and took 2 of 3 then invited the Red Sox to try the same in The Trop.  The Rays teased their northern rivals by giving away game 1.  Then they slammed the door shut by running off the next 2 victories.  The Rays now know they can win in Fenway should they need to during the post season.  Third, only 4 games to go to guarantee the first post season in Tampa Bay Ray’s history!!   I have my postseason tickets – do you?

One of the nicest surprises over the past few weeks has been Fernando Perez.  What a great addition to this roster at just the right time.  He has proven he can field, run, hit, steal bases, and on and on.  The guy doesn’t seem to get rattled under the pressure of the pennant chase.  Great addition!  David Price has pitched only once since his call up BUT it was an ice outing for him to get his feet wet.  In a big yard against some big bats he did a really nice job!  I expect to see both of these guys on the 25 man roster at the beginning of 2009. 

Well Ray fans…..only 7 more hours to kick off the Twins series.  I will be at The Trop for the final 3 games of this series.  You should grab your tickets now and be in that building when the Rays clinch their first ever postseason spot! 

See you at The Trop!       

The Tampa Bay Rays have optioned David Price, Justin Ruggiano, and Jae Kuk Ryu to Triple-A Durham.

Price is a good prospect that the Rays really like but they don’t want to rush him to the big leagues so he will either start the 2008 season at Double-A or Triple-A.

Some people think that Ruggiano being sent down was a big suprise since they thought he might have a shot at making the opening day roster with the status of Rocco Baldelli.  We could see Ruggiano on the big league roster before the end of the season the way Baldelli is always injured.

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