The emotions of the Rays ran high in the series finale against Texas.  Matt Garza was obviously frustrated after another poor outing and took that frustration out on his catcher.  Dioner Navarro was sent back to the dish by pitching coach Jim Hickey as he walked out to talk with Garza.  The frustration pored over into the dugout between innings as Garza and Navarro had a bit of a shoving match.  Garza was pulled after the 4^th inning after giving up 6 hits, 3 earned runs and 2 homeruns.  Jason Hammel came into relieve Garza and gave up 5 hits, 3 earned runs and 1 home run in 3.1 innings.  Grant Balfour took over for Hammel and promptly gave up a 2 BB but managed to wriggle out of it.

The emotions continued to the offensive side of the ball.  Eric Hinske was ejected in the 6^th inning for vehemently arguing balls and strikes with the home plate umpire.  Once again the strike zone moved for each hitter at each at bat.  The particular strike 3 call Hinske argued was CLEARLY outside.  Akinori Iwamura was called out with tying runs in scoring position in the 7^th on a ball that was CLEARLY outside and low.  I’m not sure when the strike zone changed officially but someone forgot to tell the rest of the baseball community!  The umpires now have their own zone and it DOES NOT fit into the current zone as written.

Pitching was poor, offensive production when opportunities presented was poor and emotions got the best of a few players.  This will be the biggest test for this team, recovering from internal strife.  Internal dissention can rip a team apart if not dealt with promptly and permanently.  Matt Garza needs to get a grip on his emotions.  He may have the ability physically but if he cannot hold it together during the tough times mentally he will not succeed in MLB.   

Like Yogi said “90% of baseball is half mental.”

See you in LA!

It appeared as though the Tampa Bay Rays rolled into Texas with a chip on their shoulder.  They hit very well and Scott Kazmir pitched lights out once again.  He earned his 6^th straight victory — first time a Tampa Bay Ray pitcher has ever done that.  Kazmir pitched a strong 8 innings allowing only 2 runs with 6 strike outs and 0 BB.  He also picked a runner off first base.

The bats backed up the excellent starting pitching performance from Kaz by scoring 12 runs on 13 hits and only 5 Ks and no one player had multiple Ks – a big change from the previous series!  Home runs were also a large part of their offense with Eric Hinske, BJ Upton, Evan Longoria and Dioner Navarro all connecting.  Upton also stole 2 bases off the starter. 

This offensive explosion is well overdue.  Great to see them score runs when they had runners on base.  Kaz improves his record to 6-1 and we have picked up a full game on Boston as they were shut out at home by Seattle 8-0.  Maybe they need a team brawl more often?!

Speaking of the brawl here is the suspension list as handed out buy the league front office:

James Shields – 6 games to have begun Friday (appealing)

Jonny Gomes – 5 games to have begun Friday (appealing)

Edwin Jackson – 5 games to begin June 13

Carl Crawford – 4 games to begin Wednesday

Akinori Iwamura – 3 games to begin June 17^th

What ever happens with the appeals the Rays have said they will take their licks and move forward.  They began that process last night having a great night of recovery while walloping the Texas Rangers.  Great way to put the past behind and focus on now!

Go Rays!! 

The Tampa Bay Rays lost Game 2 of this 3 game series the Boston Red Sox 5-1 vaulting them ½ games over the Rays and into first place in the AL East.  More importantly may be the 8^th inning of the game when the feisty Rays showed the gumption that has tempered their rise from the cellar of the AL East.   BJ Upton was ejected and Joe Maddon was throwing profanity from the pitching mound into the Red Sox dugout at centerfielder Coco Crisp.  

Upton was tossed for arguing a third strike call with umpire Paul Emmel.  Upton was 0 for 4 with 3 strike outs.  I think BJ should stop arguing calls and start swinging the wood that seems to sit atop his shoulders all too frequently.  Joe Maddon even commented that the team is striking out far too often as the team has been fanned 19 times in the first 2 games of this 3 game series.  Swing the bats boys!

Maddon took exception to a slide by Coco Crisp into 2^nd that was obviously meant to hurt the defensive player, who in this case turned out to be Aki.  Crisp claims that earlier in the game Jason Bartlett had placed his knee in a position to hurt Crisp on his steal of 2^nd.   Crisp went into 2^nd base spikes up as if he were breaking up a double play right into Aki’s knee.  Maddon threw a few profane remarks at Crisp from the pitching mound during a pitching change.  

Speaking of throwing, the remarks thrown by Maddon were the best pitches of the night.  Edwin Jackson struggled mightily allowing 6 H, 4 runs and 3 BB in 5 innings.  It seems to this fan as though the mystique of Fenway is getting the better of the Rays young pitchers.  Both Garza in game 1 and Jackson in game 2 seemed to be very uncomfortable standing on that mound. 

On the offensive side, Eric Hinske had a productive game.  He was 2 for 4 with a 2B, the only RBI of the game and a SB.  Evan Longoria also had a nice day at the plate going 2 for 3 with a 2B, BB and the only Ray run scored. 

My home run of the game goes to:  Eric Hinske for being the only Ray to actually knock in a run (LOB – 7).  Keep it up!

My strike out of the game goes to:  Edwin Jackson for allowing the pressure to affect him so badly.  Shake it off and move on!

 Tonight is the last game of this series and the Rays then move on to face the red hot Texas Rangers.  This fan’s hope is the feistiness we saw last night carries over.  These Rays need to be more aggressive at the plate and on the base path when

The Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics played thirteen innings on Monday night and it was the Rays who came out on top with a 7-6 victory.  Evan Longoria hit a two run home run in the top of the 13th inning to provide the game winning runs for the Rays.

Longoria finished the game with the rbi as he also had a rbi double in the sixth inning.  Eric Hinske had a two run home run in the fifth inning to finish with two rbi.  Akinori Iwamura and Cliff Floyd both had a rbi in the game as well.

Jason Hammel pitched three innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win.  Hammel is now 3-2 on the season.  It was the first time in the last 11 games that Hammel got to see action in a game and he responded very well.  Troy Percival recorded his 12th save of the season as he gave up one run before recording all three outs in the 13th inning.

Starting pitcher James Shields pitched 7 2/3 innings as he gave up eight hits and five runs.  Shields ended up getting a no decision in the game.

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Troy Percival gave up a home run to Hideki Matsui in the bottom of the ninth inning to blow the save, but the Rays were still able to come away with a win over the Yankees by the score of 2-1.  Gabe Gross singled in Jonny Gomes for the winning in the bottom of the eleventh inning.

The Rays first run of the game came in the fourth inning when Eric Hinske had a rbi single.

J.P. Howell improved to 3-0 on the season as he pitched in extra innings.  Edwin Jackson the starting pitcher for the Rays tossed seven innings of five hit baseball to take the no decision in the game.  Dan Wheeler pitched a scoreless inning of relief as well.

It was nice to see th Rays come back after Percival blew the game.  That is how you pick up your teammates!  Rays Blog

The Tampa Bay Rays won their fifth straight game as they beat the New York Yankees 7-1 on Monday night.  What a way to open up a four game series against the Yankees!

Matt Garza tossed seven innings of shutout ball.  Garza only allowed five hits in the game as he struck out three batters and only walked one to pick up the win and improve his record to 2-1.

Gary Glover and Trever Miller both pitched a inning of relief after Garza left the game.  Glover gave up one run but Miller pitched a scoreless inning.

Dioner Navarro and Jason Bartlett both had two rbi in the game.  Akinori Iwamura, Jonny Gomes, and Eric Hinske all had one rbi each in the game.  Great production by the Rays at the plate donight as it just wasn’t one player doing all the damage.

The Rays are now six games over .500 with a 22-16 record.  Rays Blog

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 5-4 on Tuesday night.  It was a really good win for the Rays who picked up a win against a divsional opponent on the road.

Akinori Iwamura led the Rays at the plate with two RBI.  Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, and Eric Hinske all had one RBI each in the game.  Hinske’s RBI came off of a solo home run in the sixth inning.

Andy Sonnanstine pitched six innings to pick up his fifth win of the season.  Sonnanstine is now 5-1 on the season as he has been throwing the ball very good so far this season.  Troy Percival pitched the ninth inning to pick up his seventh save of the season.

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The Tampa Bay Rays completed a three game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 5-3 win on Thursday night.  With the three game sweep, the Rays are now back to .500 with a 11-11 record on the season.

Andy Sonnanstine pitched 6.1 innings to pick up his third win of the season.  Sonnanstine gave up three runs on six hits.  He did strikeout three batters and walked two others in the game.  Troy Percival picked up his fourth save of the season as he shut down the Blue Jays in the ninth inning.

Eric Hinske led the Blue Jays at the plate with two RBI.  Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria, and Dioner Navarro all finished the game with one RBI each.

The Rays will try to continue playing good baseball as they start a series with the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

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The Tampa Bay Rays got up on the Toronto Blue Jays early and then held on for the 6-4 victory Tuesday night.  The Rays got out of gates quickly as they pounded Blue Jays starter Jesse Litsch for five earned runs in the first four innings of the game.

Eric Hinske and Dioner Navarro both had two RBI in the game.  Hinske and Evan Longoria both had solo home runs in the game.  Jason Bartlett also picked up a RBI in the fourth inning.

James Shields picked up the win as he tossed seven inning.  Shields gave up four runs but only two of them were earned.  Dan Wheeler and Troy Percival pitched the final two innings.  Percival picked up the save which was is second of the season.

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The Tampa Bay Rays improved their record to 7-9 as they beat the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.

Nathan Haynes led the Rays with two RBI while Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria, Eric Hinske, and Jonny Gomes all had one RBI each.  Hinske’s RBI came on a solo home run in the second inning.

Jason Hammel earned the victory for the Blue Jays.  He pitched six innings and gave up six hits and three earned runs.  With the victory, Hammel’s record improved to 1-1 on the season.  J.P. Howell pitched the final three innings to earn the save for the Rays.

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