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Rays 5, Blue Jays 3 (Game #21) [10-11]
A four-run sixth inning proved to be the difference as the Rays clinched another series win against Toronto. Jason Hammel allowed four hits and three runs, struck out two and walked four in six innings and Evan Longoria drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single. Tampa Bay improved to 5-0 at Disney’s Champions Stadium in Orlando. Matt Stairs drove in the first three runs with a homer to deep right center in the second inning and a two-run home run in the sixth inning, scoring Vernon Wells. The Rays only had singles by Carlos Pena, Jonny Gomes and Akinori Iwamura before the sixth inning. Dioner Navarro doubled to left to start the sixth followed by a single to right by Jason Bartlett. After an Iwamura strikeout, Carl Crawford singled to center scoring Navarro for the Rays' first run. B.J. Upton was walked. Evan Longoria had the big hit of the night with a two-run single to right and Eric Hinske had the game-winning RBI with a single to right scoring Upton. Crawford, who has a ten-game hitting streak, tripled and scored on B.J. Upton’s sacrifice fly in the eighth for the final insurance run in the eighth inning. Shockingly, the Blue Jays had men on base every inning except the ninth, but they were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Dan Wheeler handled the seventh and eighth innings, giving up two hits and closer Troy Percival pitched a perfect ninth for the second straight night, earning his third save in as many opportunities and his 327th career save, putting him alone in 11th place on the all-time list. Nathan Haynes and Justin Ruggiano stay, Dan Johnson goes. Are you kidding me? One day after joining the active roster, Johnson was designated for assignment Wednesday as the Rays made room for newly acquired outfielder Gabe Gross. The Rays would be “surprised” if Johnson wasn’t claimed, but executive vice president Andrew Friedman said that if he wasn’t it was “certainly conceivable” he’d end up at Triple-A Durham. Andy Sonnanstine will pitch tomorrow, coming off his three-hitter performance on Saturday in a 5-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. He will face Dustin McGowan (1-1, 3.38), who won his first decision on Saturday, when he held Detroit to two runs over seven innings in a 3-2 victory. McGowan is 2-0 with a 3.58 ERA in four career starts against Tampa Bay. A three-game sweep would be nice as the Rays attempt to get back to .500 for the first time since the beginning of the Chicago White Sox series.
A four-run sixth inning proved to be the difference as the Rays clinched another series win against Toronto. Jason Hammel allowed four hits and three runs, struck out two and walked four in six innings and Evan Longoria drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single. Tampa Bay improved to 5-0 at Disney’s Champions Stadium in Orlando. Matt Stairs drove in the first three runs with a homer to deep right center in the second inning and a two-run home run in the sixth inning, scoring Vernon Wells. The Rays only had singles by Carlos Pena, Jonny Gomes and Akinori Iwamura before the sixth inning. Dioner Navarro doubled to left to start the sixth followed by a single to right by Jason Bartlett. After an Iwamura strikeout, Carl Crawford singled to center scoring Navarro for the Rays' first run. B.J. Upton was walked. Evan Longoria had the big hit of the night with a two-run single to right and Eric Hinske had the game-winning RBI with a single to right scoring Upton. Crawford, who has a ten-game hitting streak, tripled and scored on B.J. Upton’s sacrifice fly in the eighth for the final insurance run in the eighth inning. Shockingly, the Blue Jays had men on base every inning except the ninth, but they were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Dan Wheeler handled the seventh and eighth innings, giving up two hits and closer Troy Percival pitched a perfect ninth for the second straight night, earning his third save in as many opportunities and his 327th career save, putting him alone in 11th place on the all-time list. Nathan Haynes and Justin Ruggiano stay, Dan Johnson goes. Are you kidding me? One day after joining the active roster, Johnson was designated for assignment Wednesday as the Rays made room for newly acquired outfielder Gabe Gross. The Rays would be “surprised” if Johnson wasn’t claimed, but executive vice president Andrew Friedman said that if he wasn’t it was “certainly conceivable” he’d end up at Triple-A Durham. Andy Sonnanstine will pitch tomorrow, coming off his three-hitter performance on Saturday in a 5-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. He will face Dustin McGowan (1-1, 3.38), who won his first decision on Saturday, when he held Detroit to two runs over seven innings in a 3-2 victory. McGowan is 2-0 with a 3.58 ERA in four career starts against Tampa Bay. A three-game sweep would be nice as the Rays attempt to get back to .500 for the first time since the beginning of the Chicago White Sox series.
