Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Blog » Justin Ruggiano http://www.rayshomeplate.com A blog about Tampa Bay Rays Baseball Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:47:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 Rays fall to the Red Sox 13-5 http://www.rayshomeplate.com/rays-fall-to-the-red-sox-13-5/ http://www.rayshomeplate.com/rays-fall-to-the-red-sox-13-5/#comments Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:52:57 +0000 TBRays01 http://www.rayshomeplate.com/?p=134 It was an old fashioned butt kicking by the Boston Red Sox on Monday night. In the first game of a huge three game series against the Red Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays did not come to play and were hammered by the score of 13-5. This is not the way the Rays wanted to kick off the big series.

Starting pitcher Scott Kazmir was rocked as gave up four home runs, six hits, and nine runs in just three innings of action. It was one of those outings that Kazmir will just have to forget as it was simply bad. Mitch Talbot wasn’t much better after he came in for Kazmit. Talbot gave up two more runs and and four runs. In total the Red Sox hit six home runs off of the Rays pitching staff.

The Rays hit home runs of their own, however it was just three compared to the Red Sox six. Justin Ruggiano and Dan Johnson both hit two-run home runs late in the game while Akinori Iwamura hit a solo home run in the third inning. There just wasn’t any other offense besides those three home runs.

The Rays now need to bounce back and pick up a victory on Tuesday to regain their lead in the division.

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]]> http://www.rayshomeplate.com/rays-fall-to-the-red-sox-13-5/feed/ 0 Garza Pitches Another Gem in 1-0 Victory http://www.rayshomeplate.com/garza-pitches-another-gem-in-1-0-victory/ http://www.rayshomeplate.com/garza-pitches-another-gem-in-1-0-victory/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:45:03 +0000 Rays6 http://www.rayshomeplate.com/?p=126 Wow! What a game it was! Matt Garza pitched another GREAT game holding the, as of late, potent Blue Jay lineup to 0 run in 7 2/3 innings pitched. He surrendered 6 hits and 3 free passes but earned 5 K’s en route to his 11th victory. Blue Jay SP Purcey was equally impressive. He gave up only 5 hits in a CG but one of those hits was a towering blast by Carlos Pena (27) to put the only score of the night on the board. It was an impressive game by both SP.

Dan Wheeler earned his 9th save of the season with the help of LF Justin Ruggiano. Ruggiano tracked a blast to the LF wall in the top of the 9th. He leapt high and snatched the ball off the top of the wall preserving the save. It was awesome! With 2 out Barajas stepped to the plate and the Ray fans stood to cheer on the final out. When he hit that ball The Trop went silent. You could hear a pin drop! It seemed like the ball was in slow motion to the wall as we all gasped. It took Ruggiano rolling off the wall and holding up his glove indicating the catch for The Trop to explode! It was an awesome play.

This was the type of win that championship teams have! The only disappointment this entire night was the crowd — a measly 12,600. Are you kidding me! To see the first place Rays only 12,600 people could find their way to The Trop??!! The players are now calling our fans an embarrassment (Kaz on Rome is Burning). He is absolutely right! For years everyone yelled about having a winning team. Guess what – YOU HAVE ONE! So what is the excuse now……..gas is too expensive (it just went down), too expensive to go (you can get an $11 ticket – eat before you go), don’t want to drive over the bridge (there are cabs now offering FREE rides back and forth to the game from Tampa), go to the Rays message board (raysbaseball.com > fans message boards) and hook up with other fans in your area to share rides, on and on. There is no good excuse! This “fan base” is a disgrace to this team! Get over yourselves and get to The Trop – this is what you have been waiting for!

]]> http://www.rayshomeplate.com/garza-pitches-another-gem-in-1-0-victory/feed/ 1 Garza Shines in 4-1 Victory http://www.rayshomeplate.com/garza-shines-in-4-1-victory/ http://www.rayshomeplate.com/garza-shines-in-4-1-victory/#comments Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:58:48 +0000 Rays6 http://www.rayshomeplate.com/garza-shines-in-4-1-victory/ Matt Garza pitched a gem scattering 3 hits and allowing only 1 run in 7 innings pitched.  Garza contained his emotions and located each pitch perfectly throughout the evening.  Wheeler and Percival finished the 8th and 9th respectively each allowing no hits and no walks.  The most impressive stat in the last 2 games for this pitching staff has been the lack of free passes allowed – only 1 walk issued in 18 innings pitched.  Nice job!!

Johnny Gomes started the coring for the Rays in the 2nd inning with a first pitch home run.  Jason Bartlett added to the scoring count by knocking in 2.  The Rays were on the run once again on the base paths with BJ Upton swiping 2, Justin Ruggiano took 1 and Willy Aybar took a base as well.

This was a well rounded effort from all sides of the ball!  The Fish held our offense to only 5 hits but we made them count.  A GREAT pitching effort and some outstanding defensive plays once again led the Rays to victory.

Rays finish this Citrus Series today at 1:40 — see you at The Trop!

]]> http://www.rayshomeplate.com/garza-shines-in-4-1-victory/feed/ 0 On the Injury Front http://www.rayshomeplate.com/on-the-injury-front/ http://www.rayshomeplate.com/on-the-injury-front/#comments Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:56:00 +0000 Rays6 http://www.rayshomeplate.com/on-the-injury-front/ The Tampa Bay Rays placed 1st baseman Carlos Pena on the 15 day DL with a fractured finger. The finger was fractured when he was hit by a pitch by Red Sox Starter J. Masterson in the opening game of a 3 game series last night. After Pena was hit by the pitch he remained in the game to hit a run scoring 2B and a 2-run homerun.

The Rays recalled outfielder Justin Ruggiano from Durham. Ruggiano was hitting .325 with five homers, 27 RBIs and 12 stolen bases for Durham. Ruggiano has played in 3 games this season for the Rays going 3 for 12.

The good news is Carl Crawford is scheduled to start tonight in game 2 at Boston. The line up will be solid even with the absence of Pena. Hinske or Aybar will get the start at 1st and Gomes will probably get the start in right.

Go Rays!

]]> http://www.rayshomeplate.com/on-the-injury-front/feed/ 0 The Rays send David Price and two others down to the minor leagues http://www.rayshomeplate.com/the-rays-send-david-price-and-two-others-down-to-the-minor-leagues/ http://www.rayshomeplate.com/the-rays-send-david-price-and-two-others-down-to-the-minor-leagues/#comments Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:26:14 +0000 TBRays01 http://www.rayshomeplate.com/the-rays-send-david-price-and-two-others-down-to-the-minor-leagues/ 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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