July 20: Activated SS Dave Frick from the 10-day IL, optioned 1B Alex Maas to AAA Durham.
Game 1: The Rays returned from the All-Star Break to take a 7-4 win over Columbus at Publix Park. Jim Brophy (10-6) was solid once again at 6 6 1 1 3 2, and they took a 7-1 lead into the 9th before it took 3 relievers to get through the 9th with Tristan Goulet allowing 3 runs without recording an out before Willie Minier finally had to close the door for save #19. Before that the Rays got homers from Yuji Morioka (#19) and Juan Davila (#4) along with a 3-double game from Seth Williams, who knocked in a pair.
July 21: Optioned P Tristan Goulet to AAA Durham, recalled P Dave Rose from AAA Durham.
Time to get a look at Rose, who served as Durham's closer after being acquired from San Francisco in the offseason while the inconsistent Goulet will get to stretch out in Durham's rotation.
Game 2: The Rays squandered a 6-3 lead thanks to same bad bullpen work and fell 9-7 to the Lightning in the second game. Yuji Morioka homered again with a man on (#20) and Mario Saro had a huge game at 4-5 with 2 stolen bases and 2 RBI but Ben Moses ran into trouble in the 6th (finishing 5.1 7 5 5 1 5) and then Chris O'Brien (2-2) and BJ Turner conspired to allow 4 runs in the 8th to allow Columbus to win it. Dave Rose made his MLB debut in the 9th and was impressive with a six-pitch 1-2-3 inning including a whiff.
Game 3: The Rays took the series with a 6-4 win behind big games from Alex Duran and Mario Saro. Duran homered (#8) and doubled among his 3 hits and Saro was 2-3 with a double, homer (#21) and 3 runs scored as well as his 40th steal of the year. Marc Gibson (12-2) took over the team wins lead with a 5.1 4 3 3 2 2 start. Satoshi Sato was shaky again allowing a run in the 8th but Willie Minier shut the door with a perfect 9th for save #20.
Team record: 70-29. Next up: The Yankees visit for 3.
A couple of more noteworthy items: Mario Saro was named player of the "week" (really 3 days with the break) by the AL, and we made this trade:
This was, believe it or not, a deal actually offered to us by the AI Phillies GM. Connell is a decent middle reliever who was once a Rays property, coming over in a deal from Washington 15 years ago in which we sent the Nats Joe Barker and Marc Wagner (remember them?). Vitek is the intriguing part of the deal, a power-hitting B- prospect. Meanwhile Maas is a free agent at year's end and seems more of quadruple-A type. We'll probably send Dave Rose back to Durham to make room for Connell.