Game 1: Brad Villarreal got back on track and Kang-cheol Lee had a big game to lead the Rays to a 4-1 win over Texas in the series opener at Publix Park. Villarreal (11-5) was an excellent 6 5 1 1 1 7 for the win and the bullpen did likewise with Mario Berumen securing save #25. Lee meanwhile was 3-4 with a double, solo homer (#7) and steal while Jesus Avalos' 2-run homer (#16) in the 3rd was the decisive blow, breaking a 1-1 tie.
Game 2: Deja vu all over again as Tampa Bay topped Texas 4-1 for the second straight day. Randy Mastropietro (7-5) isn't a big strikeout guy but he was today, going 5.1 6 1 1 0 9 for the win and also like yesterday Mario Berumen got the save, his 26th. Continuing the deja vu effect was Kang-cheol Lee, who homered again (#8) himself, and he was joined in that department by backup C Cesar Scroggins who went deep for the second time this season.
Game 3: For the third straight day Rays pitching allowed the Rangers only a single run, but today that was enough to lose them the game as they put several runners but couldn't get any of them home in a frustrating 1-0 loss. Tim Johnson (1-6) continues to pitch better than his record and the only run of the game came in the 6th when Warren Dalton gave up a hit allowing Johnson's man to score, leaving him with a fine 5.2 2 1 1 4 8 line. The bats had 8 hits and drew 4 walks but a couple of ill-timed double plays hurt and Texas SS Jim Bell made back-to-back sensational plays with men on base to deny them another scoring opportunity.
Team record: 61-40. The Yankees also took 2 of 3 to remain two back of Tampa Bay. Next up: Some interleague play as we're off to play vestigial "rival" Columbus (which moved from Miami a couple of decades ago) for 3 games.
And we also made a couple of trades, one with an eye on next year and the other for this. First, this one:
Apparently Seattle was giving away Bland, a rookie OF with 60 contact, 55 power, and a 60 eye with some potential to bump out about 5 in those categories who also has 65 speed and can play a 65 LF. He was hitting 265/343/511 with 13 homers for the Mariners but will be sent to Durham as there's no place for him right now on the big club as he's a lefty hitter. I say "giving away" because Hill is a 26-year-old minor league vet who isn't terrible but isn't that great either. Meanwhile the more significant deal for the present was this one:
Trevathan is a veteran lefty with 291 career saves who's a free agent at season's end, rated 65/65/65 and makes an already strong bullpen that much stronger. Although he was LA's closer he won't be supplanting Berumen, who's having an All-Star-caliber season. Instead he will give us a much better second lefty in the pen to go with Adan Guardado. Trevathan made his Tampa Bay debut in the 1-0 finale loss and pitched a 1-2-3 8th. The price wasn't cheap as we deal 2051 #1 pick and our 11th-rated prospect in Conyers, who has two-way ability but some flaws in his game on both ends. Offensively he has tremendous power (60 current, 65 potential) but looks to be contact-challenged (40), while on the mound he has decent stuff but only 30 control. To make room for Trevathan, Brandon Birth was optioned back to Durham.