skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Rays 6, Blue Jays 4 (Game #20) [9-11]
After a zany second inning that featured two walks and two errors which led to two unearned runs, the Rays bounced backed in the bottom of the second inning with two runs of their own, an Evan Longoria home run to deep center and a RBI single from Dioner Navarro, who returned from the 15-day disabled list tonight, scoring Eric Hinske. The Jays grabbed the lead in the fourth inning with a Marco Scutaro RBI single, scoring Shannon Stewart from second base. The lead was short-lived as Tampa Bay erupted in the bottom of the fourth inning with three runs by Hinske, Longoria and Navarro. Vernon Wells got one back in the sixth inning with a home run to deep left. But, again, the scoring was contagious as Hinske blasted a solo shot to deep right for the final run of the game. Hinske finished the game with a double, one dinger and a triple with two RBIs. Yes, he missed the single to complete the cycle. Hinske's batting .327 with five homers and 10 RBIs in 17 games so far. James Shields allowed four runs and six hits over seven innings, striking out five and walking two. Dan Wheeler and Troy Percival pitched the last two perfect innings, the latter getting the save, his second of the season in as many opportunities. It's Percival's 326th career save, tying Roberto Hernandez for 11th on the all-time list. Surprisingly, both B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena were 0 for 4. Pena ended the game with four strikeouts. The Rays improved to 4-0 in regular-season games played in Orlando at Disney’s Champion Stadium, the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves. They swept a three-game series from Texas last season. On the trade front, the Rays acquired outfielder Gabe Gross from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for minor league pitcher Josh Butler. Gross is currently hitting .179 this season. The Rays seem likely to part ways with Nathan Haynes or Justin Ruggiano to make room for Gross, who may report on Wednesday. I don't want to see either guy go, but if I had to make a choice, I would drop Ruggiano. Tomorrow, Tampa Bay is looking to win consecutive games for the third time this season. They haven’t won more than two straight all season. Jason Hammel takes the mound on Wednesday for the Rays, coming off his first win of the season. Hammel allowed three runs and six hits in six innings on Thursday in a 7-3 win over Minnesota. Hammel is 1-0 with a 5.14 ERA in three career starts against Toronto. Tampa Bay is 3-0 in those starts. Scott Kazmir makes a second minor league rehab start Wednesday for Class A Vero. As long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks, he will make another start for Triple-A Durham on Monday and then rejoin the Rays to start May 3rd in Boston. Hammel, whose job could be in jeopardy with the pending return of Kazmir, needs to pitch well against Toronto to bolster his position within the rotation. Good luck, Jason... I didn't think they would drop Jeff Niemann, but in a blink of an eye, he was gone. Hammel will tussle with Roy Halladay, who is 9-4 with a 3.66 ERA in 20 career starts and three relief appearances against the Rays. He’s won his last five decisions against them, and Toronto is 7-0 in those starts. God bless first baseman Dan Johnson for selecting No. 26 instead of 29. I've been worried about it. Time to get a Johnson jersey now! It's Halladay versus Hammel. Are you ready to rumble?
After a zany second inning that featured two walks and two errors which led to two unearned runs, the Rays bounced backed in the bottom of the second inning with two runs of their own, an Evan Longoria home run to deep center and a RBI single from Dioner Navarro, who returned from the 15-day disabled list tonight, scoring Eric Hinske. The Jays grabbed the lead in the fourth inning with a Marco Scutaro RBI single, scoring Shannon Stewart from second base. The lead was short-lived as Tampa Bay erupted in the bottom of the fourth inning with three runs by Hinske, Longoria and Navarro. Vernon Wells got one back in the sixth inning with a home run to deep left. But, again, the scoring was contagious as Hinske blasted a solo shot to deep right for the final run of the game. Hinske finished the game with a double, one dinger and a triple with two RBIs. Yes, he missed the single to complete the cycle. Hinske's batting .327 with five homers and 10 RBIs in 17 games so far. James Shields allowed four runs and six hits over seven innings, striking out five and walking two. Dan Wheeler and Troy Percival pitched the last two perfect innings, the latter getting the save, his second of the season in as many opportunities. It's Percival's 326th career save, tying Roberto Hernandez for 11th on the all-time list. Surprisingly, both B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena were 0 for 4. Pena ended the game with four strikeouts. The Rays improved to 4-0 in regular-season games played in Orlando at Disney’s Champion Stadium, the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves. They swept a three-game series from Texas last season. On the trade front, the Rays acquired outfielder Gabe Gross from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for minor league pitcher Josh Butler. Gross is currently hitting .179 this season. The Rays seem likely to part ways with Nathan Haynes or Justin Ruggiano to make room for Gross, who may report on Wednesday. I don't want to see either guy go, but if I had to make a choice, I would drop Ruggiano. Tomorrow, Tampa Bay is looking to win consecutive games for the third time this season. They haven’t won more than two straight all season. Jason Hammel takes the mound on Wednesday for the Rays, coming off his first win of the season. Hammel allowed three runs and six hits in six innings on Thursday in a 7-3 win over Minnesota. Hammel is 1-0 with a 5.14 ERA in three career starts against Toronto. Tampa Bay is 3-0 in those starts. Scott Kazmir makes a second minor league rehab start Wednesday for Class A Vero. As long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks, he will make another start for Triple-A Durham on Monday and then rejoin the Rays to start May 3rd in Boston. Hammel, whose job could be in jeopardy with the pending return of Kazmir, needs to pitch well against Toronto to bolster his position within the rotation. Good luck, Jason... I didn't think they would drop Jeff Niemann, but in a blink of an eye, he was gone. Hammel will tussle with Roy Halladay, who is 9-4 with a 3.66 ERA in 20 career starts and three relief appearances against the Rays. He’s won his last five decisions against them, and Toronto is 7-0 in those starts. God bless first baseman Dan Johnson for selecting No. 26 instead of 29. I've been worried about it. Time to get a Johnson jersey now! It's Halladay versus Hammel. Are you ready to rumble?
