Tampa Bay Rays Win Another Series (8-0-1 since All Star Break)
The Rays began the game tonight with yet again a different lineup (when was the last time the team used the same lineup twice in a row?). Akinori Iwamura is out of the lineup (given the day off) and Ben Zobrist fills in at second base while BJ Upton assumes the leadoff role. Additionally, the lefties are all back in the lineup (most notably, Cliff Floyd and Eric Hinske). Scott Kazmir took the mound for the Rays opposite Dustin Nippert from the Texas Rangers.
The Rays first two at bats began with an eerie similarity to last night with 3 up and 3 down for the Rays in the first (3 quick outs on 11 pitches) followed by 3 outs in 4 batters in 11 pitches in the 2nd. Kazmir also looked pretty sharp in the first 2 innings, although he did run up some pitches in the second inning (35 total after 2).
However, things changed in the 3rd inning for the Rays. Gabe Gross led off the inning with a hard line drive down double the left field line. He nearly ruined his great hit by stopping at first (he thought it was foul). He still managed to get a double, but it would have been a triple if he’d run hard (the ball was mishandled in left field). Ironically, after being advanced from 2nd to 3rd by Jason Bartlett’s soft ground ball (he would have scored easily from 3rd on the soft ground ball) BJ Upton smoked a double down the left field line making the game 1-0 Rays, which bailed Gross out of his base running mistake. Ben Zobrist hit a hard single to right field setting the stage for Carlos Pena (1st and 3rd with 1 out). Carlos very quickly blasted a 3-run HOME RUN to right field on a hanging changeup making the game 4-0 Rays. Carlos is getting hot at the right time having now hit 6 home runs in the last 12 games.
Scott Kazmir struggled a bit in the bottom of the 3rd and gave up a run on a bloop double down the left field line. Plays like that one show how much this team misses Carl Crawford. Carl would likely have caught that ball and, even if he didn’t, the threat of him catching it would likely have held the runner. Later in the inning, Carlos Pena made a spectacular leaping “snow cone” catch to end the inning with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Chalk Carlos up for generating 3 runs on his homerun while also preventing 2 more runs on the great catch.
Eric Hinske hit a double off of the left field wall to lead off the 4th and he was driven in on Jason Bartlett’s base hit. BJ Upton followed Jason’s hit with a 2-run HOMERUN to the opposite field giving the Rays a 7-1 lead in the 4th inning. BJ appears to be atoning for his base running issues and I am happy to see it. The Rangers added a run in the bottom of the 5th off the solo home run from Travis Metcalf making the game 7-2.
The highlight of the 6th inning is that Scott Kazmir came back out to pitch despite racking up nearly 100 pitches in the first 5 innings. He looked very sharp taking down all three hitters faced including 2 strikeouts. Kazmir finished the day having pitched 6 innings and allowing 2 runs on 4 hits while walking 4 and collecting 7 strikeouts.
The 7th and 8th innings were clean on both fronts with no real action. Juan Salas, who made his 2008 debut tonight, made things a little exciting in the 9th by giving up a single and a walk with nobody out. He then struck out Travis Metcalf before Maddon called on Grant Balfour. Balfour did not look sharp getting only 1 out while giving up 3 walks (including a rarely witnessed bases loaded intentional walk 7-4) before being replaced. Dan Wheeler was called on with 2 outs remaining in the 9th and the bases loaded (winning run at the plate). Wheels looked very strong striking out Marlon Byrd and collecting a save. The Rays thus completed their longest road trip of the year with a 7-3 record and 4 ½ games ahead of the Boston Red Sox.
Other notes: BJ Upton asserted himself today after being benched for a game. He went 3-5 with 3 RBIs including a 2-run home run. The Rays defense continues to play very well even with the loss of Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria and Jason Bartlett over the last few weeks. Willy Aybar, in particular continues to play a strong 3rd base for the Rays as Evan Longoria is recovering from his broken wrist. In fact, the Rays have not missed much of a beat since Evan went on the DL. He’s hitting .275 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs and 7 RBIs over 10 games. Juan Salas also made his 2008 debut tonight. He entered the 8th with 1 out and struck out the first hitter he faced.
The Rays first two at bats began with an eerie similarity to last night with 3 up and 3 down for the Rays in the first (3 quick outs on 11 pitches) followed by 3 outs in 4 batters in 11 pitches in the 2nd. Kazmir also looked pretty sharp in the first 2 innings, although he did run up some pitches in the second inning (35 total after 2).
However, things changed in the 3rd inning for the Rays. Gabe Gross led off the inning with a hard line drive down double the left field line. He nearly ruined his great hit by stopping at first (he thought it was foul). He still managed to get a double, but it would have been a triple if he’d run hard (the ball was mishandled in left field). Ironically, after being advanced from 2nd to 3rd by Jason Bartlett’s soft ground ball (he would have scored easily from 3rd on the soft ground ball) BJ Upton smoked a double down the left field line making the game 1-0 Rays, which bailed Gross out of his base running mistake. Ben Zobrist hit a hard single to right field setting the stage for Carlos Pena (1st and 3rd with 1 out). Carlos very quickly blasted a 3-run HOME RUN to right field on a hanging changeup making the game 4-0 Rays. Carlos is getting hot at the right time having now hit 6 home runs in the last 12 games.
Scott Kazmir struggled a bit in the bottom of the 3rd and gave up a run on a bloop double down the left field line. Plays like that one show how much this team misses Carl Crawford. Carl would likely have caught that ball and, even if he didn’t, the threat of him catching it would likely have held the runner. Later in the inning, Carlos Pena made a spectacular leaping “snow cone” catch to end the inning with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Chalk Carlos up for generating 3 runs on his homerun while also preventing 2 more runs on the great catch.
Eric Hinske hit a double off of the left field wall to lead off the 4th and he was driven in on Jason Bartlett’s base hit. BJ Upton followed Jason’s hit with a 2-run HOMERUN to the opposite field giving the Rays a 7-1 lead in the 4th inning. BJ appears to be atoning for his base running issues and I am happy to see it. The Rangers added a run in the bottom of the 5th off the solo home run from Travis Metcalf making the game 7-2.
The highlight of the 6th inning is that Scott Kazmir came back out to pitch despite racking up nearly 100 pitches in the first 5 innings. He looked very sharp taking down all three hitters faced including 2 strikeouts. Kazmir finished the day having pitched 6 innings and allowing 2 runs on 4 hits while walking 4 and collecting 7 strikeouts.
The 7th and 8th innings were clean on both fronts with no real action. Juan Salas, who made his 2008 debut tonight, made things a little exciting in the 9th by giving up a single and a walk with nobody out. He then struck out Travis Metcalf before Maddon called on Grant Balfour. Balfour did not look sharp getting only 1 out while giving up 3 walks (including a rarely witnessed bases loaded intentional walk 7-4) before being replaced. Dan Wheeler was called on with 2 outs remaining in the 9th and the bases loaded (winning run at the plate). Wheels looked very strong striking out Marlon Byrd and collecting a save. The Rays thus completed their longest road trip of the year with a 7-3 record and 4 ½ games ahead of the Boston Red Sox.
Other notes: BJ Upton asserted himself today after being benched for a game. He went 3-5 with 3 RBIs including a 2-run home run. The Rays defense continues to play very well even with the loss of Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria and Jason Bartlett over the last few weeks. Willy Aybar, in particular continues to play a strong 3rd base for the Rays as Evan Longoria is recovering from his broken wrist. In fact, the Rays have not missed much of a beat since Evan went on the DL. He’s hitting .275 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs and 7 RBIs over 10 games. Juan Salas also made his 2008 debut tonight. He entered the 8th with 1 out and struck out the first hitter he faced.
posted by Blogging Man at
11:36 PM
3 Comments:
What a gutsy call by maddon on the walk in the 9th. I loved it!
First time in 10 years that a bases loaded walk has been issued (the last one was against Barry Bonds). Really glad it worked out. Amazing!
Oh, and only the 5th time it's happened in major league history (at least as far as ESPN could find). I think it just further puts a stamp on this season as being one that is against all the odds.
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