Before we open the series with the Orioles, he's some news about a former Oriole:
Game 1: Vinny Willard was hit hard and the Rays dropped their third game in four 6-5 to Baltimore at Publix Park. The Rays jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the 2nd on Andy Ruggles' first homer of the game and a 2-run shot from Mike McKee (#3) but Willard couldn't hold it and left the game down 5-4 after going 4 8 5 5 1 4. Ruggles homered again (#19) with the bases empty in the 6th to match an Oriole run in the top of the frame, but they couldn't score again.
Game 2: Things were looking bleak again as the defense let Danny Romero down and the Rays were behind 4-0, but a 5-run 6th propelled them to a 6-4 come-from-behind win over Baltimore. Jimmy Leonard dropped a fly ball allowing two runs to score in the 3rd and they weren't making plays behind Romero, who had to leave after going 4.2 7 4 2 1 6 in a game that was bringing back memories of last season. But Seth Williams hit a 2-run double to tie it up, and Josh Alexander, who had earlier been hit with a pitch to force in a run, blasted a 2-run shot (#22) to give them the win. Doug Johns made his MLB pitching debut in relief of Romero and went 1 1/3 scoreless with 2 whiffs to pick up the win, and Kikuo Kawase had a 1-2-3 2-whiff 9th for save #21.
Game 3: Once again the Rays came back to win, scoring twice in the 6th to take a 4-3 win and 2 of 3 in the series from the Orioles. Josh Beckett capped a 3-3 day with a 2-run homer (#5) to make a winner of Billy Haroutunian for the first time as a Ray. Haroutunian came on in the 5th for Jose Mendoza, who had to leave the game with what was diagnosed afterwards as a mild shoulder strain which will force him to miss a couple of weeks. Mendoza was 4.2 6 3 3 1 5 before leaving, and the bullpen had to work out of several late-inning jams to hang onto the lead but Kikuo Kawase was there at the end for his 22nd save.
Team record: 69-18. Next up: 4 games against the Yankees at Publix Park which will take us into the All-Star break.