[Art Deco]

Game 1: Dave Rose was dominant and Angel Gonzales homered for the fourth straight game to lead the Rays to a 5-0 win over the Sunbirds to kick off their series at Publix Park. Like a vintage wine the 36-year-old Rose (10-2, 2.36) continues to get better with age, going 7 3 0 0 2 6 and is looking to finish with a higher WAR than the previous season for the 8th straight year - he's on pace for 7 which would blow away least year's career-best 5.7. Gonzales meanwhile had a key RBI single in a 3-run 3rd and then later socked a solo homer (#14) to keep his longball streak alive. Paul Mayes was 2-4 with a steal and an RBI double.

Game 2: It was a case of too little, too late as Angel Gonzales kept his homer streak alive with a 2-run shot in the 9th but that was all the offense mustered today as they fell 3-2 to OKC. Steve Swords (4-6) wasn't bad today and left with the bases loaded in the 6th down 1-0 but Victor Boria gave up a 2-run single to leave Swords with a 5.2 2 3 3 4 3 line while the offense was stuck in third gear. After Gonzales' homer Paul Mayes singled and stole second but was stranded there when Dantel Chinchilla grounded out to end the game.

Game 3: The Rays struggled on offense, failing to get a hit until the 5th, but woke up late and took a 5-1 win over the Sunbirds to take the rubber game of their series. Tony Guzman (1-0) had by far the best of his four outings since joining the Rays, going 7 2 1 1 4 6 but it was a 1-1 game when walked off the mound. Fortunately for him and Tampa Bay, Manny Flores came through with a tie-breaking 2-out grand slam in the bottom of the inning (#9/11) to win it. Angel Gonzales saw his five-game homer streak end but was still 2-4 and drove in the Rays' first run with a single.

Team record: 45-27. Unfortunately for the Rays the Yankees swept their series in Toronto to move back within 3 games in the division. Next up: Off to Boston for 4 games.