Tampa Bay Rays 2014 Season time to "Rays Up!"

[Tobywan]

.500 didn't last long as the Yankees won the second game on Saturday 3-2, Derek Jeter hit the game winning RBI in the ninth. The Yankees took the Sunday game 4-2. Solid performance by Kuroda and 2 RBIs for Booby... er Brett Gardner.

So, Maddon wasn't happy that there was such a huge crowd (86, 389 weekend attendance) cheering on the Yankees.......uh duh......there always is, Joe! Geez, let's see, Jeter getting chanted every at bat...hmmmmmmmm, HIS LAST SEASON EVEEEEEER?!?!? That might have something to do with it, not to mention the Yanks spring training venue is just a hop, skip and a jump from downtown Tampa, Steinbrenner built or donated just about every playground and little league field in Tampa Bay and that Jeter has made Tampa Bay his off season home since he was a baby Yankee. Gee, I can't even fathom how they have so many fans here, besides us being one of the retirement havens of the country for northerners. GET OVER IT!! There will always be Yankees fans at Yankees/Rays games. At least someone paid to get into the Trop, I bet they bought a lot of $10 beers, too. Just wait 'til September.


So, now we get the Detroit Tigers tonight, probables are Archer VS Scherzer, Porcello VS Odorizzi and Price VS Cobb.

[Tobywan]

The Rays got an early lead 4-0 then the Tigers went ahead 5-4 in the 8th, but Rays scored in their 8th to tie, went into the 11th when Detroit scored 3 runs, Rays could come back with one run for the 8-6 loss. Loney wen 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs including a home run. Archer went 5.2 giving up 4 runs, Scherzer gave up 4 runs in 7.0 IP.

[Tobywan]

Wil Myers activated will DH tonight, Vince Belnome optioned to Durham.

David DeJesus will play a rehab game with the Charlotte Stone Crabs tonight.

Jerry Sands transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

[Tobywan]

Porcello pitched a complete game shut out as Odorizzi gave up 3 runs in 6.2 and then Kirby Yates was rocked for 3 runs in under an inning. Porcello allowed just 3 hits while striking out 4. Victor Martinez (who held a .382 BA at the Trop) hit a grand slam in the seventh, he also had an RBI double in the first. Tigers 6 Rays 0.

[Tobywan]

A real pitcher's duel, Price went 8 innings gave up one hit and one run, Cobb went 7 innings giving up 2 hits and two walks in a 1-0 shutout win
for the Rays in the final match after losing the series. Brandon Guyer hit an RBI triple in the first scoring Ben Zobrist for the only run. After Outlaw Kiermaier failed to make a successful dive to foil the winning run in the 11th on Tuesday night, he made a successful web gem in the 8th to rob Rajai Davis of a tying RBI on Wednesday afternoon.

On deck Rays at Blue Jays.

[Tobywan]

Tonight's probables are Drew Smyly and Marcus Stroman


Stroman is coming off his worst and shortest start of the season giving up 5 runs in two-thirds of an inning last week against the Chisox and has gotten extra rest.
Smyly's last outing against the Yankees was a no-decision when he gave up 2 runs.

Ryan Hanigan has been sent for a rehab assignment to the Charlotte Stone Crabs.

[Tobywan]

First career shut out and complete game for Smyly, allowed 2 hits struck out four.

Home runs from Longo and Myers, 3 RBIs from Longoria and Kiermaier, 2 fom Casali.

Rays take first game 8-0.

[Tobywan]

Jays won a close game in the 10th on a walk off single by Jose Reyes for a 5-4 win, he and Dioner Navarro with 2 RBIs for the Jays.
Sean Rodriguez and Ben Zobrist with 2 RBIs, one of which was Ben's 500th in his career.

The game was played under protest after Maddon felt the Blue Jays violated rule II.D of Major League Baseball's replay review regulations.
Manager John Gibbons challenged a safe call on a pick-off attempt at first on Wil Myers and it was overturned. However, Beuhrle was already on the mound
and Esobar was in the batter's box, which constitutes beginning of the next play.

[Tobywan]

Rays take the final game 2-1.

Both RBIs from Longoria, the second was the winner in the 10th. Archer went 7 innings, gave up 1 run, 1 walk and 6 hits while striking out 6. Drew Hutchinson went 6 innings allowing 1 run on 6 hits, 2 walks and stuck out 7.

Jose Bautista was ejected in the 6th inning arguing over a third strike call.

On deck...Baltimore Orioles.

Saturday's game is under review, Maddon argues start of play had begun before Jays manager John Gibbons made the challenge, umpire Bob Davidson thought he got out there in time. The rules do state that the crew chief has the final say on the time of the challenge. MLB felt though that Maddon had a case so Joe Torre will have the final say.

Just last Wednesday the Giants won the first protest since 1986 after their game with the Cubs was ruled a 2-0 loss in a rain called game. MLB ruled the tarp used earlier hadn't been but pack properly. The game was replayed and the Giants turned a 2-0 loss into a 5-3 win.

[Tobywan]

Yunel Escobar was claimed off revocable waivers by the Oakland Athletics, deadline to work out a trade is 1pm Tuesday. Hmmm, I'd be fine with this is it means we keep Zobrist in the infield full time.

[Tobywan]

Rays got blown out 9-1.

Markickusintheass launched a 2 run homer in the third, followed by a solo from Steve Pearce off Jake Odorizzi, after a 3 run shot to Delmon
Young followed by a solo to J.J. Hardy in the fifth, Odorizzi's night was done. Kirby Yates then let another home run to Chris Davis to make it three in
row.


Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman went seven giving up 1 run, three hits, 2 walks and stuck out 2. Odorizzi gave up 8 runs n 11 hits, 1 walk and stuck
out three in 4 IP.

Alex Cobb Goes up against Wei-Yin Chen tomorrow night.

[Tobywan]

MLB denied the Rays protest, but no details on the ruling, haven't seen the team's reaction, yet.

Ryan Hanigan has been activated Curt Casali was optioned to Class A Advanced Charlotte.

[Tobywan]

Alex Cobb only lasted 4 innings, he was pulled when he threw 33 pitches in the fourth.

Rays had two runners thrown out at the plate in the first, then Loney was out in the 6th on a bases load force at home.

Orioles win 4-2. Longoria brought in both runs. Caleb Joseph, had two RBIs for the O's.

Tonight's pitchers are Drew Smyly and Kevin Gausman


The Durham Bulls won their 7th division title in 8 seasons.

[Tobywan]

Rays take the win tonight 3-1.

Smyly went 7 giving up one run on two hits, walked one ad struck out 6. Gausman was gone in just 4 innings after giving up 3 runs. Adam Jones brought
in two of the O's runs, Wil Myers had a hit a and RBI in the DH spot.

There was no trade deal between the Rays and A's fr Escobar, he was in the line up went 2-for-4.

Series finale will have Jeremy Hellickson against Bud Norris.

[Tobywan]

Orioles take the series. They won last night 5-4. Solo homers for each team, Longoria and Steve Pearce. Hellickson only went 4.1 innings, giving up 4 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out two. The Rays lost the lead twice, Escobar committed two errors. JJ Hardy knocked in the winning run in the 7th.


The sweet swing that got Wil Myers to the big leagues has now become another in a long line of casualties at the hands of hitting coach Derek Shelton.