The Rays took 2 of 3 from the Sawx and made a major acquisition to boost the bullpen in an eventful weekend. They're now tied for the division lead with Toronto but behind on percentage points and 1/2 game up on Baltimore.
Leo Gutierrez was in fine form and the bats took care of business in a 7-4 win in the opener. The second-year lefty looked sharp and improved to 5-2 after going 5.2 5 1 1 2 5 while they got homers from
Luis Cisneros (#9) and
Willie Gutierrez (#5) with
Tony Fisher also plating a pair.
After the game we swung a deal:
This deal was too good to turn down as we acquired one of the game's better closers in Alicea, who's saved 138 games over the last 3 2/3 seasons. He's rated 80/70/55 and is under contract through next season which is great because we're essentially not paying him anything as Memphis is picking up 95% of his contract. He'll likely become our closer with the struggling
Jadon Smith moving back into the setup role in which he thrived last year. We say farewell to Joe Scheu, who like so many on the roster, was great last season and is scuffling this year, and we do part with a pitching prospect in Dunlap, who was our #3 pick two years ago but hasn't quite developed as hoped and now looks like a future 5th starter.
The second game was a back-and-forth affair with the teams taking the lead from each other but
Danny Charlton put an end to it with a 3-run walk-off homer (#11 and against a lefty no less) to give the Rays an 8-5 win over the Red Sox. Justin Blackwell's 11th homer gave
Danny Morales a 2-1 lead which he lost in the 6th and finished 5.2 6 3 3 2 7 but a 3-run rally in the bottom of the inning keyed by a 2-run
Alex Rivas double gave Tampa Bay a 5-3 lead. Alas
Branden Gammage blew it in the 8th, allowing Boston to tie before Charlton sent us all home and made a winner of
Jadon Smith for the first time this year against 7 losses.
The Rays were unable to complete the sweep, losing 5-4 to Boston in a 15-inning marathon.
Joe Marlette was unusually wild today and put them in a 3-0 hole, going 5 4 3 3 6 3 but the bats battled back with a 2-run homer from
Willie Gutierrez (#6) and a solo shot from
Mal Stephens (#4). Boston went back ahead in the 7th but
Agustin Lopez delivered an RBI double in the 8th to tie it and on and on we went from there. Tampa Bay did have multiple opportunities to win but couldn't get the big hit and the Red Sox finally broke through in the 15th for a run off the struggling
Danny Mauricio (6-2).
Tony Alicea did make his Rays debut and was impressive, fanning 4 over a pair of scoreless innings.
Team record: 53-47. Next up: We hit the road for 3 at Yankee Stadium.