July 10: Placed SS Jeff Baez on the 10-day IL with a strained rib cage muscle, purchased the contract of IF Devin Boatman from AAA Durham.
As mentioned in the last post, Baez is going on the IL so as not to chance things. Coming up is Boatman, who is a defensive wizard (75 at SS) but can't hit a lick (.190 this year at Durham, .209 last season). We acquired him the winter before last for Zach Mathias, who went on to win the NL Rookie of the Year last season, so no pressure kid.
Game 1: Kevin Kerstetter had a nightmare first inning, allowing 8 runs on 3 homers, and the Rays were waxed by the Astros 10-3. Fortunately for his ERA, all but one of the runs against KK were unearned thanks to an error from Devin Boatman, handling his first MLB chance and coming in a 75-rated SS. But the inning was really on Kerstetter, who gave up a 2-run homer with 2 out to start things off and couldn't get anyone out after that, throwing 41 pitches and not making it out of the inning. Tony Rey provided some mediocre middle relief but Jeff Reece was impressive, going 4.2 2 1 1 1 6 on 62 pitches, showing off his 100+ MPH fastball. Bo Angeac knocked in a couple of runs on offense, and while it didn't come close to atoning for his error, Boatman had an RBI single in his first MLB at-bat.
Game 2: Not a lot of offense today at Publix Park but thanks to Josh Carsello the Rays didn't much and took a 3-2 win over Houston. The lefty finished the "first half" with a 6 5 2 2 1 7 outing to improve to 10-3, 2.16. He'll likely be elected to start the All-Star Game but won't since he pitched today. The bullpen did fine work over the final 3 with Tim Siqueiros going 2/3, Jim Golunski 1 1/3 and Kikuo Kawase striking out three straight batters after allowing a leadoff double in the 9th for save #19. Jon Jimenez brought home Omar Rodriguez, who had tripled, with a groundout in the 1st and Eric Titcombe (#28) and David Vasquez (#15) added solo homers to provide just enough scoring.
MLB News: Gleyber Torres tied Babe Ruth tonight with HR #714.
Game 3: It was a ridiculous game today as the Rays took a 7-2 lead, blew it, saw Houston go ahead 8-7 in the top of the 11th only for the Rays to score twice in the bottom of the inning and pull out a 9-8 walk-off win. Omar Rodriguez had a huge day, going 4-6 with HR #21 and 2 RBI and heads into the break at 360/415/665 and the runaway leader in WAR at 6.1. Jeremy Curtis had a solid 5 4 2 2 2 5 start but it took him 100 pitches, so Damani Cotton got through the 6th but Chris Toombs loaded the bases with 2 out in the 7th. Up stepped Andy Azucena for Houston, who is 30-rated for power, has never hit an MLB homer and had only 22 total in a 10-year minor league career. So of course hit he a grand slam off Toombs to make it 7-6. Jim Golunski took care of the 8th but the Astros loaded the bases with nobody out against Kikuo Kawase and he would have been out of the 9th except for an infield hit which tied it. Danny Medina then allowed a run in his 2nd inning of work but it wasn't a problem as Will Quintana led off the bottom of the frame with a walk, pinch-hitter Daniel Vasquez doubled home pinch-runner Jeff Hayes and a couple of batters later Jon Jimenez singled home Vasquez for his 3rd hit and 2nd RBI of the day and the Rays went home winners. Medina picked up win #4.
Team record: 65-26. Next up: The All-Star break of course, and then we resume play on Friday with 3 games in Toronto which a few weeks back might have looked important but the lead is now 10 games.
In today's Futures Game, Montgomery's Josh Alexander, MLB's #24 prospect, was named MVP with a homer and two walks as the AL beat the NL 6-4. His teammate Dan Anderson went 2 scoreless innings to save the game.
Meanwhile, is Danny Ayala hot? You tell me:
