[Art Deco]

Game 1: The Rays apparently left their bats in Tampa as they dropped a 2-1 game to the Yankees when New York scored in the bottom of the 9th. Tim Gates was excellent, allowing only a Victor Robles solo homer in a 6 4 1 1 2 8 outing. Danny Medina got the ball in the 9th and put two men on with one out, and Jim Golunski came in only to allow an infield single and then an outfield single which allowed the Yanks to walk it off. Daniel Vasquez was the sole source of offense tonight, doubling and homering (#12) as he looks to improve on a subpar first half. Mike Wherry had to leave with a herniated disc in the 7th and will miss 3 weeks. Fortunately Toronto was waxed by Detroit 13-1 so the lead stays at 5 games.

July 4: Placed P Mike Wherry on the 10-day IL with a herniated disc, recalled P Jeff Reece from AAA Durham.

Reece is more than ready to make his MLB debut as he's excelled as Durham's closer this season with an 8/46 BB/K ratio in 31 innings with a 1.99 ERA (and 16 saves). He has 75 stuff, 60 movement and, uh 45 control. He also has 60 stamina which means we can use him in a multi-inning role. With Tim Siqueiros ticketed for free agency this winter there will be an opening in the pen next season and Reece has as good a shot as any to take it.

Game 2: The Rays slugged their way to a 10-6 win over the Yankees thanks to a trio of big homers. The first came after Jon Soranno put the Rays in a first-inning 3-0 hole. After a Daniel Vasquez RBI single in the 3rd, Jeff Baez cranked a 3-run homer (#9) to put the Rays on top to stay. Vasquez then continued his hot hitting of late with a 2-run shot (#13) to make it 6-3, and after Soranno gave up two more runs in the 6th to allow the Yankees within one, Eric Titcombe unloaded a 3-run shot in the 8th (#26) to put the game away, the third homer in four games for the MLB leader. Soranno still picked up the win despite an uninspiring 6 7 5 5 1 6 line as he goes to 7-3, Tim Siqueiros had two perfect innings on 21 pitches, and Jeff Reece was given the ball in the 9th for his MLB debut with a 5-run lead. Unfortunately he gave up a homer and then put two more men on with one out, and Kikuo Kawase had to rescue him with a pair of whiffs for save #17. The Jays were tattooed again tonight for another 13 runs in a loss to Detroit, so the division lead grows to 6.

Game 3: Today played out similarly to the first game of the series, a low-scoring game which saw the Rays lose a slender lead. But the end result was different as they scored in the 12th to take a 3-2 win over the Yankees. Omar Rodriguez's RBI single off Bernie Fernandez after a pair of Rays whiffed after they put men on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out was the game-winner. Kevin Kerstetter started and pitched well as usual, going 6.1 3 2 2 2 4 with Damani Cotton giving up a single that allowed the Yankees to score the tying run in the 7th. Jim Golunski, Danny Medina and Chris Toombs turned in scoreless innings before Kikuo Kawase went the final two and secured his 3rd win. Earlier Danny Ayala got the Rays on the board with HR #13 and Jeff Baez had an RBI single. Toronto gave up 10 more runs today (36 in the 3 games) and lost to Detroit so the lead is now 7. Until and unless they get it back within 5 or less I'm going to stop updating the division race.

Team record: 59-25. Next up: We swing west on this road trip for 4 in Kansas City. The Royals are pretty good this year, sitting atop the AL Central at 50-32.