Game 1: A 5-run 6th broke open a 2-2 game and the Rays went on to a comfortable 8-2 win over the Yankees at Publix Park. A bases-loaded walk to Chris Parham broke the tie and then Mario Saro gave them some breathing room with a 2-run double after hitting an RBI triple earlier in the game. Greg Bookhart continued his quest to win 20 for the first time by improving to 16-5 with a 6 7 2 2 1 4 outing.
Game 2: Melvin Delgado was rusty in his return to the rotation and the bullpen wasn't much better either in a 10-5 loss to New York. Alex Duran capped a great month with a 3-run homer (#26) which gave the Rays a 4-2 lead after 3 but that was the high point for Tampa Bay as the Yankees got to Delgado (7-4) to the tune of 4.2 6 6 6 3 2 and three relievers combined to allow four more runs. Juan Davila had a solo shot (#26).
September 1: Recalled IF/OF Tony Olivo and P Tim James from AAA Durham.
Game 3: The Rays suffered a rare home series loss as the Yankees got the better of them in the finale 4-2. They banged out 13 hits but could only get two to cross the plate and one of those was a pinch-homer from Alex Duran (#27) in the 9th. Juan Davila had 4 hits and Nelson Bocardo 3 but spent their time stranded on the bases. Brad Mabe (1-1) was adequate at 5 7 3 3 2 6 but can't exactly be called a hard-luck loser.
Team record: 95-39. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Toronto.
The team was honored with several monthly awards:
It was a very pedestrian month for Morales, which tells me he doesn't have a lot of rookie competition in the AL.