Game 1: Rays kicked off their first visit to San Diego in I can't remember when with their second straight complete-game shutout as Tim Johnson was dominant in an 8-0 win. Johnson just missed a Maddux at 100 pitches but put up a Game Score of 91 in a 9 4 0 0 0 12 domination. Luis Barela started the scoring with 2052 HR #13 and career #496, a solo shot, and Ruben Ramirez had a big game going 3-4 with an RBI double, solo homer (#9) and 3 RBI. For good measure Jon Morales chipped in a 2-run blast in the 9th (#15).
Game 2: For 8 1/3 innings tonight it looked like the Padres would return the favor by shutting out the Rays, but Jon Lozada came off the bench to deliver a game-tying RBI single and Luis Barela won it in the 10th with a 2-run homer (#14) as Tampa Bay prevailed 3-1. Alec McInerney turned in his best start in a long time at 6 5 1 1 1 6 but looked to be a hard-luck loser until Lozada took him off the hook. Mario Berumen (1-1) pitched the 9th for the win and Steve Talbott got his first save since coming off the IL, #3.
May 26: Placed P Alan Rutherford on the 15-day IL with a herniated disc, purchased the contract of P Joe Roberts from AAA Durham.
Rutherford will miss 5-6 weeks after injuring himself in last night's game and Roberts get a second chance after clearing waivers last week.
Game 3: Sweep in San Diego isn't quite as catchy as Sleepless in Seattle but that's what the Rays did with a 6-3 win in the finale. Nesty de la Rosa's 3-run homer (#8) in the 2nd inning put them ahead to stay and Rogelio Espinoza (7-4) got the win on the mound where pitched for the first seven years of his career. Espinoza, who has been struggling over his last several starts to put it mildly, began the game roughly by allowing 3 runs in the first 2 innings but settled in to finish 6 5 3 3 2 3. The Steves took over from there with Morris going two scoreless and Talbott pitching a 1-2-3 9th for save #4. Jon McGovern also had a nice game, going 3-5 with 2 RBI.
Team record: 38-16. Boston took 2 of 3 in California as well (at San Fran), so the lead is up to 6 1/2 games. Next up: Back home for 3 against the Indianapolis Comets.
May 27: Claimed OF Brian Whittaker on waivers from Washington and optioned him to AA Montgomery.
For some reason the Nats waived their 3rd round pick from 2050. While Whittaker isn't going to be a superstar he looks like a very useful player with this profile:
Excellent OF defense, plenty of speed and great gap power and not terrible elsewhere (except perhaps in avoiding Ks). Since he has options we sent him to Montgomery since top prospect Jesus Avalos is manning CF at Durham.