[Nick Soulis]

Series #199



2008 Tampa Bay Rays
Record: 97-65
Finish: Lost in World Series
Manager: Joe Maddon
Ball park: Tropicana Field
WAR leader: Carlos Pena (5.1)
Franchise Record: 2-2
2008 Season Record: 3-2
Hall of Famers: (0)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TBR/2008.shtml

1941 Washington Nationals
Record: 70-84
Finish: 6th in AL
Manager: Bucky Harris
Ball Park: Griffith Stadium
WAR Leader: Cecil Travis (6.8)
Franchise Record: 1-4
1941 Season Record: 1-0
Hall of Famers: (2)
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/WSH/1941.shtml
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Best Tampa Has To Offer
Rays Easily Sting Senators In 5



Game 1
At Tropicana Field
1941 Washington Senators 1
2008 Tampa Bay Rays 11
WP: J. Shields (1-0) LP: D. Leonard (0-1)
HR: C. Travis (1), C. Floyd (1), C. Crawford (1), C. Pena (1)
POG: James Shields (9 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 107 P)
2008 Rays Lead Series 1-0

The 2008 Tampa Bay Rays opened their best-of-seven Exhibition League series against the 1941 Washington Senators with an emphatic statement, dominating Game 1 by a score of 11-1 at Tropicana Field. James Shields was masterful for Tampa Bay, tossing a complete game five-hitter with one run allowed and four strikeouts. After an early solo home run by Cecil Travis gave Washington a brief lead in the top of the first, the Rays stormed back, led by Evan Longoria’s two-run double, Cliff Floyd’s three-run blast, and a pair of two-run homers from Carlos Peña and Carl Crawford. The Rays pulled away with a four-run fifth and capped it with a three-run eighth, outslugging the Senators with 11 hits and 11 runs while committing no errors. Washington starter Dutch Leonard was chased after 4.2 innings and tagged for seven earned runs. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night as Tampa Bay looks to take a 2-0 series lead.

Game 2
At Tropicana Field
1941 Washington Senators 1
2008 Tampa Bay Rays 5
WP: A. Sonnanstine (1-0) LP: S. Hudson (0-1)
HR: C. Floyd (2), C. Pena (2)
POG: Andy Sonnanstine (7.2 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 3 K, 107 P)
2008 Rays lead series 2-0

Andy Sonnanstine delivered a masterful outing as the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays took control of their Exhibition League series with a 5-1 win over the 1941 Washington Senators in Game 2 at Tropicana Field. Sonnanstine silenced Washington’s bats over 7.2 innings, scattering six hits and allowing just one earned run while striking out three without issuing a walk. Carlos Peña provided the go-ahead blow with a solo homer in the fourth, and the Rays broke the game open in the seventh, capped by Peña’s bases-loaded walk and Cliff Floyd’s clutch two-run single. The Senators’ only spark came in the second with doubles from Doc Cramer and George Case to plate their lone run, but they couldn't capitalize further. Tampa Bay’s power and plate discipline again proved too much for the gritty Senators, and with the win, the Rays now head to Griffith Stadium leading the series 2-0. Game 3 is set for Saturday in Washington.

Game 3
At Groffith Stadium
2008 Tampa Bay Rays 4
1941 Washington Senators 0
WP: M. Garza (1-0) LP: K. Chase (0-1)
HR: E. Hinske (1)
POG: Matt Garza (7.1 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 112 P)
2008 Rays Lead Series 3-0

The 2008 Tampa Bay Rays moved within one win of a sweep in the Exhibition League showdown with the 1941 Washington Senators, shutting out the hosts 4-0 in Game 3 at Griffith Stadium on a chilly October evening. Matt Garza was masterful on the mound, tossing 7.1 scoreless innings while scattering five hits, walking two, and striking out five to earn Player of the Game honors. The Rays offense struck in the third inning when Eric Hinske crushed a two-run homer off Senators starter Ken Chase, and they added insurance runs in the fifth and eighth innings thanks to Carl Crawford’s RBI single and Dioner Navarro’s RBI double. Despite the Senators putting runners on base in multiple frames, they were unable to push anyone across, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranding six. Tampa Bay’s bullpen duo of David Price and Grant Balfour locked down the final five outs to preserve the shutout. With a 3-0 series lead, the Rays will look to clinch the series tomorrow night.

Game 4
At Groffith Stadium
2008 Tampa Bay Rays 2
1941 Washington Senators 3
WP: E. Wyann (1-0) LP: S. Kazmir (0-1)
HR: M.Vernon (1)
POG: Early Wynn (6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 114 P)
2008 Rays Lead Series 3-1

Facing elimination in front of their home fans at Griffith Stadium, the 1941 Washington Senators found a way to stave off a sweep with a hard-fought 3-2 win over the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the Exhibition League series. Early Wynn delivered a gutsy performance on the mound, tossing six innings and striking out eight while allowing just two runs. The Senators jumped out to a quick start thanks to a clutch two-out, two-run double by Jimmy Bloodworth in the first inning, followed by a solo homer from Mickey Vernon in the third. Despite Tampa Bay outhitting Washington 9-5, the Rays stranded nine runners and were unable to capitalize on multiple scoring opportunities. Dane Mulligan shut the door with three scoreless innings in relief to earn the save. With the victory, Washington narrows the series deficit to 3-1 and ensures at least one more game in the nation's capital.

Game 5
At Groffith Stadium
2008 Tampa Bay Rays 11
1941 Washington Senators 6
WP: J. Shields (2-0) LP: D. Leonard (0-2)
HR: E. Hinske 2 (3)
POG: Eric Hinske (4-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI. 4 R)

The 2008 Tampa Bay Rays capped off a dominant series performance with an emphatic 11-6 victory over the 1941 Washington Senators in Game 5 at Griffith Stadium, securing advancement. Eric Hinske, named Series MVP, delivered a historic performance with four hits, including two towering home runs, four runs scored, and three RBIs, setting a new playoff game record for runs in the series. Tampa Bay's offense exploded for 20 hits, including three from both Carlos Peña and Carl Crawford, the latter also adding a double, a walk, and a stolen base. After falling behind 2-1 early, the Rays erupted for five runs in the fourth inning to seize control, then tacked on insurance runs in the seventh and eighth. James Shields earned his second win of the series despite allowing four runs over six innings, while Washington’s Dennis Leonard was tagged for seven runs on 10 hits in just 3.2 innings of work. Despite a resilient effort from the Senators, including a three-RBI night from center fielder Dave Cramer and a pinch-hit triple by Jake Early, they simply couldn’t keep pace with the relentless Rays attack. As the final out settled into Peña’s glove, the Rays celebrated at the mound, their 4-1 series triumph etched into history.

2008 Tampa Bay Rays Win Series 4 Games to 1

Series MVP:

(.391, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 7 R, .913 SLG)