This is actually a 4-game series, I didn't notice it wrapped around to Monday.
August 29: Optioned SS Andy Vasquez to AAA Durham, purchased the contract of SS Dorian Gonzalez from AAA Durham.
Andy Vasquez wasn't getting it done filling in for the injured Jeff Baez, hitting 202/212/298 with a horrendous 1/29 BB/K ratio, showing no sign of the power he displayed at Durham the last year and a half. And while he's a good defensive SS (65), Gonzalez is an even better one, a defensive wizard rated 80 and with 6 Gold Gloves on his CV whom we signed to a minor league deal at the beginning of the month. He was hitting .338 in 74 AB which isn't really representative, but he can get on base at about a .330-.340 clip (albeit without any power) which is good enough for us.
Game 1: The Rays routed Boston 10-1 at Publix Park behind an excellent outing from Josh Hanna and their usual power display. Hanna took a shutout into the 8th, going 7.1 4 1 1 1 10 and upping his record to 16-4, 3.66. Billy Hoyte went the final 1 2/3 without incident. Jaiden Hardaway is probably going to be the AL MVP for the 4th straight season thanks to days like today, where he blasted 2 homers to give him 20 and drove in 3, while Jon Jimenez (#31) and Danny Ayala (#40) went deep back-to-back in the 7th. Will Quintana was also 2-4 with 3 RBI, including a 2-run double.
Game 2: Boston's Phil Peters held the Rays in check as Tampa Bay fell 5-1 to the Red Sox. The righty, who had missed most of the year with injuries, went 7 6 1 1 2 2 and only allowed Danny Ayala's 41st homer of the year. Jaiden Hardaway did go 4-4 with a double but was stranded on the bases. Alfredo Vega suffered a rare loss, only his 2nd as a Ray, as he coughed up a couple of homers and finished 6 7 5 5 2 5 with Bob Sirna going the final 3.
Game 3: A fairly routine 5-2 win for the Rays as they recovered from yesterday's loss. Josh Carsello was in command, going 6 4 2 2 1 10 and improving to 18-5, 3.63, with the usual triumvirate of Tim Siquerios, Jim Golunski and Kikuo Kawase pitching the final 3 innings and not allowing a hit between them. Kawase in fact struck out the side and claimed save #34. An Eric Titcombe sac fly and Daniel Vasquez RBI single, his 100th RBI, made it 2-0 in the first and Omar Rodriguez doubled the lead with a 2-run shot (#23) in the 2nd before Jon Jimenez launched a solo shot for #32 in the 4th.
On his way to a Cy Young:
Jaiden Hardaway was also named AL player of the week, he was 14-29 over that period.
September 1: Recalled P Mike Thomas from AAA Durham.
September roster expansion time, although I've not yet called up a second player. Eventually it will be Kevin Kerstetter when his rehab is done. Thomas will make his MLB debut with a start today, he was 6-7, 3.29 with a 30/83 BB/K ratio in 87 innings at Durham.
Game 4: The Rays took a business-like 9 to 5 win over Boston today at Publix Park, with Mike Thomas winning his MLB debut. The rookie lefty wasn't exactly overpowering and although he held Boston to 1 run through the first 4 innings, he came apart somewhat in the 5th, allowing Boston to tie it up with 3 runs. He finished 5 7 4 4 1 3 and got the win when Tampa Bay retook the lead in the bottom of the 5th on a Danny Ayala RBI double and Jim Gebers RBI single. Elsewhere the offense was all Eric Titcombe as he blasted Red Sox ace Sean Nelson for a 3-run homer in the 3rd (#21) and had an RBI double and RBI single to give him 5 driven in on the day. Willie Bertone went 2 2/3 with 5 whiffs and a run allowed, and Danny Medina finished up for save #6 going the last 1 1/3.
Team record: 112-26. Next up: Our AL East homestand continues with Toronto visiting for 3.