Before we dive into the games it's time to recap a major trade the Rays pulled off with the deadline approaching:
We hooked up with our in-state rivals to upgrade the bullpen (and the rotation in the future). Started shopping Moorer around to see what he would fetch and Rodriguez came up. He's one of the best relievers in baseball (rated 80/70/55) and is only in his second MLB season with 144 whiffs in 103 career MLB innings. He'll be the 8th-inning guy for now setting up
Eric Lewis but is obviously the closer of the future (or sooner). But the real need was for a bullpen lefty with Jamie Arnold the only option right now so the deal was expanded to add Kadare, another second-year guy. He's rated 60/65/55 and has three 60 or better pitches to go with 60 stamina so his future is as a starter but for now he gives us a multi-inning weapon from the left side. The cost to get both these guys was high with #92 overall prospect Moorer, who projects as 60/70 hitter but is a butcher in the field (40 LF) and future DH, and #36 overall prospect in Rios. Rios underwent Tommy John surgery though, so there's a risk element there.
To make room for the duo from Miami,
Omar Sears was optioned back to Durham and we shipped
Chris Ericson to Minnesota for a 29-year-old AAA lefty vet
Aiden White, who could be a passable fifth starter if we need him (White pitched a shutout in his Durham debut but only fanned three).
As for the Baltimore series the squad continued to roll despite key players being out as they took 2 of 3.
The Rays rode a 4-run 2nd inning to beat Baltimore 8-3 in the opener.
Billy Doughty had a 2-run single and rookie
Jim Vroom drove in his first MLB run with a single to cap the big inning. Vroom also doubled and tripled in his best game to date and
Justin Blackwell drew a pair of bases-loaded walks.
Ruben Cerrillo (11-4) went 7 3 3 2 3 7 in rolling to victory.
Another big early inning enabled Tampa Bay to overcome the Orioles as a 7-run 3rd led to a 10-2 rout, the team's 70th win this season in their 100th game. The Rays got a pair of 3-run homers in that frame, first from
Willis Ramirez (#8) and then from
Victor Gonzalez (#28).
Billy Doughty added a 2-run shot (#10) later in the game.
Sebastian Burns (4-1) turned in another great outing, going 5 4 2 0 1 4 for the win.
It took 12 innings but the Rays finally succumbed to Baltimore, losing a 5-4 game they really were lucky to have taken as far as they did given the Orioles left a ridiculous 15 men on base. Still it was one they should have won as
Eric Lewis shockingly did not hold a 4-3 lead in the 9th, only the second time this season he's blown a save. They had taken a 3-1 lead in the 6th on yet another
Victor Gonzalez homer (#29) but
Brad Paquette, who was fortunate to have allowed only one run to date, made a mess in the 5th which forced him out and
Stephen Farrior allowed his men to score to tie it. Still when
Isaac Gardener restored the lead with a solo homer (#2) in the 7th the game was there for the winning. Paquette had a rough 5 10 3 3 2 2 line and the tilt was ultimately lost when
Jerry Baylor (1-1) gave up a 2-out, 2-run homer in the bottom of the 12th.
Team record: 70-31. Next up: The road trip continues with 3 in Seattle.