To make room for the new players, 3B Kang-cheol Lee was dealt:
Lee had a decent season as our everyday 3B taking over for legend Luis Barela last year, earning 2.5 WAR and hitting a respectable 246/333/415 with 18 HR while providing good defense. But he got off to a terrible start this year (171/257/295) and lost his job to rookie sensation Paul Mayes. And with Alex Brown and new pickup Alex White capable of filling in at 3B Lee was the odd man out. We did get a marginal lefty reliever prospect back in Melendez, who's rated 60/40/50 and is maxed out on potential. He'll go to Durham and could fill in should we have a hole and need a lefty - if he were a righty, he'd probably be roster filler.
Game 1: The Rays kicked off the second half of their season with their new-look defensive configuration and everything looked good in an 8-3 win over the Tigers. Things did take a while to sort out as Erik Witten allowed the tying run to score in the 7th but the Rays answered with a 3-run Dantel Chinchilla homer (#7) in the bottom of the frame and tacked on two more in the 8th. Dave Gonzalez (#6) and Vinny Colon (#8) had early solo shots and the two newest Rays had excellent debuts - trade pickup Alex White was 3-4 with 3 runs scored and rookie Henry Dominguez impressed in his MLB debut by going 2-3 with a walk, two steals and an RBI. Steve Swords was a very good 6.1 6 2 2 0 6 while Witten (4-1) vultured the win.
Game 2: The most likely beneficiary of the new-and-improved look on defense should be contact pitcher Jorge Barraza and sure enough he was in today's 7-2 romp over the Tigers. Barraza, who had allowed 83 hits in 59 IP since joining the club, allowed a mere 4 through 7 before giving up 3 to start the 8th and still went 7 7 2 1 1 4 for the win. Melvin Lopez loaded the bases in the 9th after being entrusted with a 7-2 lead so Dave Flores came in and got the final two outs for his 4th save. Jesus Avalos led the charge on offense, going 2-4 with HR #19 and 3 RBI.
Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep of a good Detroit team that was 45-37 coming in, pulling off their third straight romp 8-1. Randy Mastropietro (5-1) is another contact pitcher who will benefit from the upgraded defense and went 5 4 0 0 1 3 before leaving with minor back tightness. Alex Brown was 2-4 with 2 RBI, Dantel Chinchilla knocked in another pair, and Joel Bland 3-4 with a triple and an RBI to provide the offensive support. We'll declare the team's new look a success!
Team record: 51-33. Unfortunately we couldn't regain first place as the Orioles also swept their series keeping the Rays 1/2 game behind. Next up: Toronto visits for 3 games.