The Rays split another two-game series while the Yankees won both games of theirs, so New York pulls back to within 1 1/2 games ahead of a 3-game series between the teams starting tomorrow at the Trop.
In what turned out to be his final appearance for the Rays
Jake Bridgewater was bombed for 8 runs in 2+ innings and Tampa Bay dropped the first of the two-game set 9-5 to Toronto. Bridgewater (3-5) went a brutal 2 7 8 8 1 1 as the Jays put 7 on the board in the 3rd capped by a 3-run homer off
Jon Coggin. The Rays did get a 2-run homer from
Danny Rivera (#12).
After the game Bridgewater was sent across the country:
Leo Gutierrez was ready to come off the IL and rejoin the rotation, and there were no pitchers I wanted to send down who had options left so someone had to go. Rather than put Bridgewater on waivers he was shopped and the Giants offered up Ramirez, who gives us yet another MLB-ready outfielder to stash at Durham. Ramirez has 65 MLB contact and 55 power, is a 70-rated LF and a 55 basestealer. He was hitting 241/281/422 in limited action with the Giants.
Tampa Bay bounced back to take the second game from Toronto 5-3 behind a strong outing from
Gabe Bryant. The righty improved to 5-4, 3.76 after a fine 6 4 1 1 3 6 performance.
Stan LeVea did his best to blow it, allowing 2 runs in the 7th and
Tony Alicea had to end up coming in for a 2-inning save, his 24th. Bryant was backed by
Danny Arroyave, who drove in 3 of the 5 Rays runs on a single and a 2-run double while
Agustin Lopez was 2-3 with a double and an RBI.
Team record: 57-40.