Game 1: Josh Hanna was dazzling as the Rays took a 6-1 win over Detroit at Publix Park. Hanna went 7 2 1 1 1 8 to improve to 14-4, 3.93 with Mike Wherry and Willie Bertone each striking out 3 in their innings of work. Danny Ayala had the big bat today, going 2-4 with HR #36 and 2 RBI while Will Quintana was 2-4 with HR #6.
NOTE: That win clinched the AL East for us. I wasn't paying attention to the magic number but there it is.
Game 2: The ball was flying out of Publix Park today as the teams combined for 8 homers in a 16-9 Rays win. The Rays jumped out to leads of 12-1 and 14-3 behind Alfredo Vega, who went 6 6 3 2 0 9 in one of his typical performances to improve to 10-1, 3.60 as a Ray, but Ron Adams crapped the bed in the 7th, allowing 6 runs with the last two scoring on a single allowed by Bob Sirna who finished the final 2 1/3. 6 different Rays homered, and rather than recap it, I'm just gonna post the batting section of the boxscore:
Bad day for Mike McKee, going 0-5 while the rest of your team is raking, and then see your catcher ERA go through the roof.
Game 3: Another orgy of offense for the Rays today but this time they got the pitching to go with it as Josh Carsello hurled a 4-hit shutout in a 14-0 drubbing of Detroit. It took him 119 pitches but with the big lead he went for it, and got it, going 9 4 0 0 2 10 to improve to 16-5, 3.68. 11 of the 14 runs came courtesy of 3 Rays: Eric Titcombe was 3-3 with 2 homers (#19 & 20), 3 RBI, 2 walks and 4 runs scored; Daniel Vasquez (there is no one hotter at the plate) was 2-5 with a double and 4 RBI; and Will Quintana was 2-5 with 4 RBI including a bases-clearing double. 3 others had 3 hits as everyone had at least one hit except the skunk at the party, Andy Vasquez, who was 0-5.
Team record: 103-24. Next up: We're going to have to register our bats as weapons in Customs as we head to Toronto for 3 games.