Game 1: The Rays put 7 on the board in the 1st inning and never looked back in an 11-4 rout of the Astros at Publix Park. The big hits in that inning were a 2-run triple from Danny Ayala and a 2-run double off the bat of Jeff Baez, who had to leave on the play with knee tendinitis. Jimmy Leonard can't be stopped either, as he tormented his old team with a 3-4 day with a pair of homers (#6 and 7) and 3 RBI while Ben Hill just kept on hitting going 3-4 with an RBI. Tim Gates wasn't his best (5 7 4 4 1 6 with 2 homers allowed) but he picked up the win to go to 3-0, 3.24.
April 23: Placed SS Jeff Baez on the 10-day IL with knee tendinitis, recalled IF Quincy Siegle from AAA Durham.
Baez's injury is "minimal" but is supposed to last 3+ weeks and given his "fragile" status, discretion is the better part of valor here.
Game 2: It was the Ron Adams show as the righty twirled a 5-hit shutout in a 7-0 Rays victory. Adams went 9 5 0 0 2 8 on 126 pitches for his third career whitewash and notched his first win of the year against 2 of the 3 losses the Rays have suffered so far. Daniel Malone homered twice (#s 4 and 5) and drove in 3, while Daniel Vasquez hit #7 and Ben Hill #4.
Game 3: Jon Harbour had a rough outing and put the Rays in a 5-2 hole, but since when does something like that matter as Tampa Bay prevailed 9-5. Harbour went 4.1 7 5 4 1 3 but stayed undefeated as the Rays answered right back in the bottom of the 5th with 5 runs to go ahead to stay. Daniel Malone's 3-run homer (#6), his 3rd in two nights, tied it up and Pat Moyer's RBI double gave them the lead for good. Ben Hill keeps hitting as well, going 2-5 with HR #5 and 2 RBI. Joe Trader got the win in relief and Mike Wherry pitched the final 3 innings allowing only one hit for his first save of the year.
Team record: 17-3. Next up: 3 games in Baltimore.
MLB News: Colorado's Andy Hannan had a record day in a Coors Field special 19-11 win over San Francisco. Hannan belted 4 HR to tie the MLB record (the first time I think it's happened in this save) and drove in 10 on the day. Recent former Ray Jon Jimenez was also 4-4 with a HR, 2 RBI and 5 runs scored in the slugfest while another recent former Ray, Omar Rodriguez, hit his first Giants homer in the loss.
