Game 1: Outside of Danny Romero starts, the Rays have had to constantly overcome shaky outings from their starters and today was no exception as Tim Gates gave up 3 in the first 3 innings. But overcome they did as they ground out a 7-5 win over Seattle at Publix Park. Gates' outing wasn't as terrible as some others recently (5 7 3 3 3 4) but he did put them in a 3-1 hole. Homers from Jeff Baez (#3) and Jim Gebers (#13) helped the Rays come back to tie, and a 4-run 6th featuring another big 2-run single from Jaiden Hardaway got them in front. Jeff Reece picked up the win with some excellent pitching, getting out of a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam in the 6th unscathed and pitching a clean 7th. Chris Toombs gave up his first runs of the year after 20 innings with a 2-run homer to former Rays prospect Ricky Loya in the 8th, but Kikuo Kawase nailed down save #15 despite putting a couple of runners on.
MLB News: The Cubs crushed Washington today 12-2 to make it 14 straight wins, and they currently have the 2nd best record in baseball at 45-20, percentage points behind the Rays' 44-19. Also the Padres have a 32-year-old middle reliever named Emanuel Sandino, a journeyman they picked up this year. What's notable about him? See below:
Somehow he's tied for the MLB lead in wins at 8, all have come in relief and he's only made 12 appearances. That's just downright bizarre.
Game 2: It was one of those nights as the Rays were blanked by Seattle ace Willie Valdez and fell 6-0 to the Mariners. Valdez held them 2 hits in 6 innings and they didn't have any success against the bullpen either. Jeremy Curtis pitched well (6 7 2 2 1 9) but Damani Cotton didn't and gave up in 4 runs in the 8th to allow Seattle to put the game away.
Game 3: Once again the Rays fought off a rough start and came back to down Seattle 9-4. Ron Adams gave up 4 runs through the first 5 innings and the Rays trailed 4-3 but it was no problem for the offense today. Adams ended up with the win going 6 7 4 4 1 8 to improve to 9-2 but with a bloated 4.81 ERA. Vinny Willard got another of his famous 3-inning saves (#5) with 4 whiffs in his scoreless effort. They hit four homers: Jaiden Hardaway (#7), Bo Angeac (#5), Omar Rodriguez (#13) and the biggest of all, a 2-run shot from Jon Jimenez in the 6th (#9, getting a rare start against a lefty) which put them ahead to stay 6-4. Angeac added an RBI double and Jeff Baez had a 2-run single.
Team record: 45-20. Next up: A rare visit from the San Francisco Giants for 3 over the weekend.