Game 1: The Rays' offense is in high gear these days with its (extremely relative) struggles of the first half well behind it. Today was the latest example as they beat Detroit by a football score of 16-7 at the normally offense-stifling Comerica Park. They did it keeping the ball in the park with Bo Angeac's 2-run 9th inning homer their only one of the day. Kevin Kerstetter wasn't very good, allowing 3 homers and going 5 7 5 5 1 5 but improving to 17-6 nonetheless. Once again it's time to just pass on the batting section of the box as the standouts were too many to recap:
Game 2: Well here we go again as the Rays routed Detroit 18-2 today behind none other than Devin Boatman. The light-hitting rookie infielder, who came into the game hitting .131 in 67 at-bats while whiffing 28 times, finished a double short of the cycle and hit a grand slam for his first MLB homer as part of a 4-hit day. Jon Jimenez had a 3-run homer (#23) in the 1st to start the beatdown, Bo Angeac hit another meaningless 9th-inning HR (#29) and Danny Ayala and Will Quintana each drove in 3 runs as the Rays piled up 20 more hits. He didn't need to but Jon Soranno pitched his best game in a long time, going 6 3 1 0 1 7 to up his record 12-4 and bring his ERA below 5 at 4.84. Saving this for posterity as it may never happen again:
Game 3: The Rays dropped the series finale as a couple of their more reliable relievers couldn't get the job done in an 8-6 loss. Danny Ayala's 2-run homer (#28) capped a 3-run first, and Tim Gates left after going 5 5 2 2 3 7 with a 4-2 lead. But Danny Medina was torched for 4 runs in the 6th, and after Daniel Vasquez tied it back up with a 2-run homer in the 8th (#24), Tim Siqueiros gave up a 2-run homer in the bottom of the frame to send the Rays to defeat and he was saddled with his first loss of the season.
Team record: 103-36. Next up: An off-day followed by a return home to face Boston for 3 over the weekend.
Minor League Playoff Update: As always the Durham Bulls were the class of the International League with a 91-49 record, and they began the quest for their 7th straight Governors' Cup with a 7-1 win over rivals Gwinnett in the first round opener. Vinny Willard, who should be in next year's rotation, went 6.1 8 1 1 2 7 for the win after an 11-5, 3.11 regular season with Josh MacDonald getting the save. Pat McKinney drove in a pair to pace the offense.
Meanwhile, the low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods made the playoffs for the first time in this save after an impressive 81-58 campaign. They lost their Midwest League series opener against the Lansing Lugnuts 2-1. Randy Bahr, the best prospect on the team who was our 2nd round pick in 2034 and hit .245 with 30 HR and 99 RBI, had a pair of doubles in the losing cause.