The 2020 (and beyond) Tampa Bay Rays - Page 106

Art Deco · 08-15-2022, 10:32 AM

Game 1: It was one of those football score games as the Rays crushed Columbus 16-7 in Melvin Delgado's Rays debut. You might think from that score he didn't pitch well but he did alright at 6 7 3 3 3 4 for the win with all the damage coming in the 4th inning. Caleb Ramos gave up 4 runs in 2 innings of mop-up work to make the team pitching line look bad. Doug Johns had a huge day, going 2-4 with HR #25 and 6 RBI, Kevin Crater homered (#27) and drove in 3, Luis Barela was 3-4 with 4 runs scored and HR #29 and Mario Saro was 4-6 with HR #15. For good measure Juan Davila was 4-5 with 2 doubles and an RBI as the team had 20 hits.

Game 2: It was another high-scoring affair but this time it didn't go the Rays' way as Gordie Ager's problems persist and Columbus won 9-8. The lefty (12-6) was 5.2 6 5 5 3 3 and after a stretch where it looked like he might be getting it together he's now allowed 11 runs in his last two starts. At least he kept the ball in the park today. They nearly came back in the 9th, scoring 3 times and having the bases loaded but Dave Frick's line drive up the middle was snared by a diving Lightning defender. They did bang out 17 more hits with Frick being 4-4 before that final at-bat. Seth Williams homered (#12) and drove in a pair and Jose Castillo was 2-3 with 2 RBI.

Team record: 82-30. Next up: Toronto visits for 3.

Art Deco · 08-16-2022, 09:22 AM

Game 1: Greg Bookhart's roll continued as the Rays trounced Toronto 7-1 in the series opener at Publix Park. The lefty improved to 16-1 after a fine 6 5 1 1 1 6 performance, his 7th straight start in which he's allowed two runs or fewer. Support came from Kevin Crater, who blasted two more Crater Taters and drove in 5 to give him 29 and Mario Saro chipped in with a 2-run shot of his own (#16).

Game 2: The only promised land Ben Moses delivered anyone to was home plate for Toronto batters but the Rays pulled off another of their patented Publix Park comebacks to overcome Moses' bad outing and win 11-10 in 11 innings on a Jose Castillo walkoff homer, his 22nd of the year and second of the game. Moses was brutal at 4.1 10 8 8 0 1 and Tampa Bay found itself behind 10-4 in the 7th but didn't stop hitting. Seth Williams hit his second homer of the game (#14) in the bottom of the 8th to tie it at 10 while Juan Davila homered (#3) and drove in a pair. Satoshi Sato (3-6) picked up the win in relief.

Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep with a 3-run 8th to break a 6-6 tie and take a 9-6 win over the Jays. Seth Williams' sac fly was the tie-breaker as he was 2-4 with 2 RBI, Doug Johns drove in 3 with a 2-run HR (#26) and a single to give him 99 and Juan Davila (#4) homered for the second straight day and knocked in a pair. Bob Riley has hit a wall of late and was 7 10 5 5 0 5 but could have been the winner had Abelaldo Gray not given up the tying run in the 8th. Instead Gray (6-0) vultured the win and Satoshi Sato picked up his 6th save to go with 6 blown saves and 6 losses.

Team record: 85-30. Next up: An off-day then we make the longest road trip by distance in the majors by shipping off to Seattle for 3.

Art Deco · 08-17-2022, 01:30 PM

Game 1: Melvin Delgado's second Rays start wasn't as successful as his first and the Rays dropped the series opener to Seattle 6-3. Delgado had a 2-1 lead into the 5th, but a 4-run inning capped by a 3-run homer cost him and he finished 5 8 5 5 3 3. Luis Barela's 2-run homer (#30) and Mario Saro's solo shot (#17) were all the Tampa Bay scoring.

Game 2: Now that's more like it. Gordie Ager looked back in Cy Young form again, hurling 6 shutout innings to lead the Rays to a 7-0 win over Seattle. The lefty (13-6) was 6 3 0 0 2 3 for the win and Mel Mejia completed the shutout with 3 innings of relief for his 5th save. Luis Barela and Mario Saro again led the offense with the former going 2-2 with 3 walks and 2 RBI and the latter homering again (#18). Kevin Crater was also 3-4 with an RBI.

Game 3: The bullpen blew this one as a 4-3 lead in the 7th became a 5-4 Mariners win as the Rays dropped the series to Seattle. Mario Saro's second solo homer of the game, 4th of the series and 20th of the year, put them ahead in the 7th but Jose Morales put two men on and Abelaldo Gray let them score to squander the advantage. Greg Bookhart missed out on a chance to go 17-1 after going 6 3 3 3 3 5 while Luis Barela like Saro had a big series, launching a 2-run shot (#31).

Team record: 86-32. Next up: We head all the way down the coast to play 3 in San Diego.

Art Deco · 08-18-2022, 01:12 PM

Game 1: A 4-run 5th keyed by a Nelson Bocardo bases-clearing double opened up a 2-2 game and the Rays went on to a 6-3 win over San Diego at Petco Park in their series opener. Bocardo also had a 2-run double to give him a 5-RBI game while Jose Castillo was 3-4 with HR #23. Ben Moses scattered his hits again (6 8 3 3 1 7) and improved to 10-3.

Game 2: The Rays scored single runs in the 8th and 9th to pull out a 4-3 win over the Padres at Petco. Doug Johns' RBI double tied it up and they loaded the bases in the 9th before Luis Barela's fly ball brought home the winner. Barela drove in a pair and was 2-3. Bob Riley turned in a decent start (6 5 3 3 2 6), Abelaldo Gray went to 7-0 with two innings of scoreless relief, and Willie Minier notched save #22.

Game 3: Just as in the opener the Rays broke open a 2-2 game with a 4-run inning as Luis Barela's 3-run homer (#32) and Doug Johns' solo shot (#27) put them ahead for good in a 7-3 win to sweep the series from San Diego. Also going deep with solo homers were Alex Duran (#10), Dave Frick (#8) and Seth Williams (#15). Melvin Delgado wasn't flashy but got the job done at 7 5 3 3 4 2 to improve to 2-1 as a Ray.

Team record: 89-32. Next up: An off-day then we head back home for 3 vs Cleveland.

Art Deco · 08-19-2022, 12:50 PM

Game 1: Gordie Ager turned in another good start and the offense got all the scoring out of the way early in a 6-1 win over Cleveland in the opener of a Publix Park homestand. Ager (14-6) went 7 3 1 1 2 4 in his second straight outstanding start and is inching closer to getting the ERA below 5 at 5.09. The Rays scored all their runs in the first three innings with Dave Frick hitting a 2-run shot (#9) and Jose Castillo adding a solo blast (#24) the highlights.

Game 2: Greg Bookhart continues to roll as he improved to 17-1 in a 3-1 win over the Guardians. The lefty was a cool 6 4 0 0 3 5 and Willie Minier added his 23rd save. All three Tampa Bay runs came on solo homers with Doug Johns hitting a pair to give him 29 and Nelson Bocardo bashing #10.

Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep with another fine pitching performance and a bushel of runs in 10-1 win over Cleveland. It was Ben Moses' turn to dominate today and he was 7 3 1 1 1 6 to up his record to 11-3. He received plenty of support with homers from Jose Castillo (#25) and Mario Saro (#21) as well as a 4-5, 3-RBI performance from the AL's leading hitter Nelson Bocardo, who now has his average up to .354 and is bidding to be the first catcher to win a batting title since Joe Mauer (I think).

Team record: 92-32. Next up: Seattle visits for 3 games.

Art Deco · 08-20-2022, 01:56 PM

Game 1: Bob Riley's woes continued and the Rays couldn't quite complete the comeback in a 7-5 loss to the Mariners at Publix Park in the series opener. Riley (12-5) was 4 9 5 5 2 4 and has allowed 18 runs in his last 4 starts as his ERA's ballooned from 3.22 to 3.80. A couple of more runs off the pen and they were behind 7-1 in the 6th before Kevin Crater's 2-run triple and a Juan Davila (3-4 today) RBI single helped them within 7-5 but they fell short.

Game 2: It was a patented Publix Park slugfest as the Rays mauled the Mariners 19-8. Kevin Crater drove in 5 with a 3-run homer (#30) and a 2-run single, Juan Davila had a 3-run shot (#5), Jose Castillo was 4-5 with a double and 3 RBI, and Mario Saro was 4-5 with 4 runs scored and an RBI. Everyone in the lineup got a hit, even Nelson Bocardo who came off the bench and slugged HR #10. Melvin Delgado hasn't been very good since coming over from Toronto and was 5 9 6 6 2 6; he's now 3-1 as a Ray but with a 6.65 ERA in those 4 starts.

August 21: Placed C Akio Suzuki on the 10-day IL with a strained back, recalled C Kurt Ferguson from AAA Durham.

And the reason why Bocardo came off the bench yesterday was the Suzuki injury, which gives Ferguson an opportunity to make his MLB debut. He was acquired from Rockies a couple of years ago and is a good-hitting catcher with doubles power and adequate defense.

Game 3: The Rays hung on to take the finale and the series from Seattle 6-5. They were up 6-0 after 3 thanks to a 5-run 3rd and Gordie Ager was cruising until he was hit for 4 in the 6th. Ager (15-6) was still pretty good at 7 6 4 4 1 2 but couldn't get the ERA back below 5. Willie Minier made it interesting in the 9th by giving up a run on 3 hits but got the final outs for save #24. Dave Frick was 3-3 with 2 doubles, one of which knocked in a run, and Kevin Crater added an RBI double. Kurt Ferguson made his MLB debut and was 0-3 with a walk and a fielder's choice RBI.

Team record: 94-33. Next up: We head to Baltimore for 4 games.

Art Deco · 08-21-2022, 01:35 PM

Game 1: A couple of four-run innings for Baltimore doomed the Rays and Greg Bookhart to a rare loss as they fell 8-4 to the Orioles in the series opener at Camden Yards. The first of those 4-run innings was all Bookhart, and he lost for only the 2nd time this year against 17 wins after going 4 9 5 5 0 3. Juan Davila's 2-run homer (#6) was the offensive highlight.

August 23: Placed P Dan Anderson on the 10-day IL with back tightness, recalled P Brad Mabe from AAA Durham.

Game 2: The Rays blasted Baltimore 13-5 in the second game with Doug Johns continuing his great season by hitting 2 HR and 3 RBI to give him 31 and 111 for the season. Dave Frick tied his career-high in homers with 10 after a 2-run shot, Juan Davila continued on his mini-homer binge with a 2-run job of his own (#7), and Kevin Crater drove in 3 with a Crater Tater (#31) and a double. This was more than enough for Ben Moses (12-3) who struggled to qualify for the win at 5 6 3 3 4 3 on 107 pitches.

August 24: Placed 3B Tomas Laboy on the 10-day IL with a sprained ankle, recalled IF Stevie Moore from AAA Durham.

Laboy will miss a month with the ankle while Moore is the prototypical scrappy 2B-type who doesn't hit much but can play the position and is keeping a roster spot warm for Yuji Morioka who should be back next week.

Game 3: A pitchers' duel turned into a 6-1 Baltimore win as Bob Riley and Abelaldo Gray combined to allow 5 runs in the 8th to break open a 1-1 game. Riley (12-6) was outstanding, not allowing a hit until the 5th, but put two men on to start the 8th and Gray gave up those up along with 3 of his own as Riley finished 7 3 3 2 1 3. Juan Davila homered (#8) for the third straight game and fourth in five for the lone Rays run.

Game 4: A rough series for the Rays concluded with a 7-2 loss to the Orioles as Melvin Delgado was pounded once again. Delgado went 6 12 7 7 0 5 as I left him in too long, impatiently clicking on "end inning" when he got hit for 4 runs in the 6th. He now has a bloated 7.45 ERA in 5 starts since joining from Toronto as Rays pitching was largely terrible in this series, giving up 26 runs in the 4 games. Luis Barela knocked in both Tampa Bay runs with a homer (#33) and single.

Team record: 95-36. Next up: An off-day then we go to Houston for 3.

Art Deco · 08-22-2022, 01:22 PM

Game 1: The Rays took an 8-5 win in the opener over Houston in a game bullpen shenanigans made the final score look closer than the game was. Gordie Ager (16-6) was solid at 6 8 2 2 0 5 before Jose Morales gave up 3 in the 8th requiring Willie Minier to come in for save #25. Before that it was a season-best game from Kevin Crater that led them to victory with the veteran CF blasting a pair of homers to give him 33 and a triple, driving in 5. Luis Barela also had a nice game, going 3-3 with a 2-run homer (#34).

Game 2: In what will be known as Black Wednesday around Tampa Bay - especially if it leads to an early playoff exit - the Rays lost a pair of stars in Mario Saro and Luis Barela to injury, marring a 12-9 win over Houston. Saro sprained his thumb and is out 5-6 weeks, sidelining him through at least the ALDS, and Barela suffered a rotator cuff strain which will shelve him six weeks, possibly putting him out into the ALCS should we get there. Apart from that how was the play Mrs. Lincoln? Seth Williams was 3-6 with a grand salami (#16) and Barela hit his 35th and final homer of the year with two on in the 1st before departing while Nelson Bocardo was 3-5 with 2 RBI to keep his league-leading BA at .354 as the Rays built a 12-0 lead. But once again the "B" bullpen made a mess of things with Chris Parham and Mel Mejia combining to allow 6 runs after Greg Bookhart (18-2) went 5.1 3 3 2 1 2. The win also officially clinched a playoff berth with the division magic # down to 9.

August 29: Placed 3B Luis Barela on the 10-day IL with a rotator cuff strain and OF Mario Saro on the 10-day IL with a sprained thumb; recalled IF Ed Herrera from AAA Durham and OF Corey Herring from AA Montgomery.

Herrera's been up before and now we have three Durham IFs up (Sprouse, Moore, Herrera) with Morioka, Laboy and Barela on the IL. Morioka started a rehab assignment and should be back in a couple of days. Herring was hitting 281/356/433 with 11 HR at Montgomery and was our 5th round pick in 2043 and should fashion a career as a 4th-OF type.

Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep of Houston at Minute Maid Park, holding on for a 6-5 win. They built a 6-2 lead capped by a 2-run double from Corey Herring in his MLB debut but Ben Moses (13-3) gave a couple of runs right back and eked out a win at 5 4 4 4 6 3. Willie Minier converted save #26 to finish it off.

Team record: 98-36. Next up: The 77-57 White Sox visit Publix Park for 3 games.

Art Deco · 08-23-2022, 05:28 PM

August 30: Activated IF Yuji Morioka from the 10-day IL, optioned IF Steve Moore to AAA Durham.

Game 1: The Rays fell behind Chicago 3-0 early, but crawled their way back and took a 4-3 win in the series opener at Publix Park on Juan Davila's 8th-inning RBI double. Bob Riley started and had some early difficulties but settled down to finish 7 6 3 3 0 5, Abelaldo Gray continued to be a good luck charm getting the win to go to 8-0, and Willie Minier got two whiffs in a perfect 9th for save #27. Before Davila's winner, Nelson Bocardo (#12) and Alex Duran (#11) had solo homers.

August 31: Activated C Akio Suzuki from the 10-day IL, optioned C Kurt Ferguson to AAA Durham.

Game 2: The Rays scored 5 runs by the 3rd and went on to beat the White Sox again 6-3 for their 100th win of 2047. In his first at-bat off the IL, Akio Suzuki had a 2-run homer (#5) in the 2nd and Doug Johns followed with a 3-run shot (#32) in the 3rd. Suzuki added an RBI single in the 8th for insurance and Melvin Delgado had his best game in a while (and perhaps as a Ray), getting the win to go 4-2 with the club after a 6.1 6 3 3 0 8 outing. Satoshi Sato got the final 5 outs including 3 whiffs for save #7.

September 1: Recalled 1B Vinny Rodriguez and P Josh MacDonald from AAA Durham.

Time to expand the rosters, and V-Rod was having an MVP-type season at Durham (.325-34-102). MacDonald had a brilliant spot start earlier in the season for us and will join the pen as a long reliever with 80 stuff and 25 control.

Game 3: Another fairly tight game went Chicago's way today as the White Sox scored 3 in the 9th off Willie Minier to take a 6-3 win. The Rays took an early 3-1 lead on Juan Davila's RBI double and a 2-run Yuji Morioka homer (#19) and Gordie Ager left ahead 3-2 after going 5 6 2 1 0 5. The relatively clean line belied the fact it took him 116 pitches to get through but he did finally bring his ERA under 5. Abelaldo Gray allowed the tying run in the 8th and then Minier (2-3) coughed up a 3-run homer in the 9th.

Team record: 100-37. Next up: Baltimore visits for 3 games.

Art Deco · 08-24-2022, 01:22 PM

Game 1: The Rays' offense labored on Labor Day and they fell 3-1 to Baltimore in the series opener at Publix Park. Yuji Morioka's 2nd-inning homer (#20) was one of only two Tampa Bay hits on the day. Greg Bookhart (18-3) wasn't very good at 4 6 3 3 5 3 but a 4-inning, 1-hit, 6-K long relief outing from Caleb Ramos kept them in the game.

Game 2: The hitting was back today but the pitching wasn't and the Rays dropped their third straight game 11-9 to the Orioles. Doug Johns was 3-4 with a 2-run homer (#33) and Juan Davila and Chris Parham knocked in a pair, but Ben Moses was horrendous (4 8 7 6 3 2) and Josh MacDonald could not find the same magic against Baltimore he did earlier this season in his great spot start as he allowed 3 runs on 4 hits in the 5th and took the loss.

Game 3: For the third straight game in this series Rays starting pitching wasn't any good but today they overcame it thanks to the offense and the bullpen and salvaged the finale 6-5. Bob Riley's second-half struggles continued as he went 4.1 10 5 5 0 3 with a pair of homers allowed but the bullpen held Baltimore off the board for the final 4 2/3. Kevin Crater's 2-run homer in the 6th, his second of the day and 35th of the year, tied it up, and rookie Corey Herring doubled leading off the 8th and scored on a Dave Frick single for the winner. Yuji Morioka (#21) also homered earlier in the game. Satoshi Sato (4-6) picked up the win and Willie Minier pitched around a couple of hits for save #28.

Team record: 101-39. Next up: Toronto comes to town to play 4.

Art Deco · 08-25-2022, 05:19 PM

Game 1: Melvin Delgado was solid against his old club and Juan Davila had a big day at the plate as the Rays toppled Toronto 9-2 in their series opener at Publix Park. Delgado (5-2) pitched his best game in a Rays uniform, going 6 6 2 2 1 4 while Davila sparked the offense with an RBI double and a 2-run triple. Seth Williams (#17) and Kevin Crater (#36) contributed solo homers to the cause.

Game 2: After being routed by the Rays yesterday the Jays returned the favor with an 11-3 thumping of Tampa Bay. Gordie Ager (16-7), who finally got his ERA below 5 in his last start, saw it rocket past that mark today after a brutal 4 10 7 7 0 3 outing. Doug Johns doubled and drove in a pair for the Rays.

Game 3: The Rays' pitching woes continued as Greg Bookhart couldn't stand prosperity in his search for win #19 and the Jays eventually took a 7-6 win in 15 innings. Bookhart was staked to a 4-1 lead through 4 and a 5-4 lead after 5 but gave it all back and finished 5 7 5 5 1 6. And after the Rays regained the lead on a Juan Davila solo homer (#9) in the 8th, Willie Minier blew the save in the 9th, his 4th. Eventually Dan Anderson (2-2) gave up the winning run. Earlier Dave Frick (#11, a career-high) and Jose Castillo (#26) bashed solo homers and Davila added an RBI double to go 3-6. Despite the loss the Rays officially clinched the AL East, their 27th straight division title having last lost the division in 2021.

Game 4: Tampa Bay overcame another shaky start and ended up obliterating the Jays 15-4 to salvage a split of the 4-game series. Ben Moses was hit hard early but after the big lead was perfect in the 5th and 6th to go to 14-3 after a 6.2 12 4 4 1 4 performance. A 6-run 4th capped by a 3-run Kevin Crater Tater (#37) broke it open while Yuji Morioka (#22) and Jose Castillo (#27) also found the seats. Nelson Bocardo kept a stranglehold on the AL batting crown with 3 doubles in 4 at-bats, driving in 3 and upping his BA to .348. It wasn't all fun and games though as our spate of injuries to infielders continued as Morioka suffered a high ankle sprain later in the game and will miss 3 weeks or essentially the rest of the regular season, joining Luis Barela, Tomas Laboy and Mario Saro on the shelf.

Team record: 103-41. Next up: An off-day then we go to Texas for 3.

Meant to post this a week ago but as we approach the season's end, here's a look at the standings and leaders:

Art Deco · 08-26-2022, 06:53 PM

Game 1: Bob Riley pitched his best game in a while and the Rays took a 3-1 win at Texas in their opener at Globe Life Park but they suffered yet another season-ending injury to another key player as MVP candidate Kevin Crater strained his ACL. This is simply becoming ridiculous now and at this rate we'll be in the playoffs with Durham's lineup. As for the game Riley (13-6) went 7 5 1 1 0 5 and Willie Minier closed for save #29. Alex Duran supplied the offense with a pair of solo homers, giving him 13 for the year.

Game 2: The Rays overcame a 6-0 deficit after 2 innings but still succumbed to Texas 10-9. Melvin Delgado (5-3) was downright terrible (4 12 9 8 1 0) and that meant a good day from the offense was wasted. Juan Davila had a grand slam (#10), Nelson Bocardo also drove in 4 with a bases-clearing double and a single and Seth Williams added a solo shot (#18).

Game 3: The Rays and Rangers went twice the distance today as they played 18 innings. Of course if you're going to play 18 you might as well win and that's what the Rays did 6-5 on a Jose Castillo (one of the few regulars still ambulatory) RBI single. We fashioned a very makeshift lineup today trying to keep any more regulars from getting hurt, and Vinny Rodriguez had 4 hits (in 9 AB) while Steve Moore had 3 (in 7). Gordie Ager turned in a good start (6.2 5 2 2 3 3) and Dan Anderson (4-3) picked up the win with two perfect innings of relief.

Team record: 105-42. Next up: 3 games in Anaheim against the Angels.

Art Deco · 08-27-2022, 12:21 PM

Game 1: Greg Bookhart's quest to win 20 hit another speed bump today as he and the Rays fell 6-3 to the Angels in the series opener. He was spotted an early 2-0 lead with the first of Doug Johns' RBI doubles but couldn't hold and dropped to 18-4 after going 4 7 6 6 3 4.

Game 2: Despite yet another shaky outing from a starter the makeshift Rays overcame it and took a 9-6 win over the Angels. Alex Duran had a 3-run HR (#14) and an RBI single while Nelson Bocardo was 2-4 with a 2-run homer (#14). Doug Johns drove in 2 more with another double. Ben Moses was awful at 4 10 6 6 3 1 and Dave Rose (5-1) picked up the win thanks to 3 scoreless innings of relief. Willie Minier notched save #30.

Game 3: The Rays thought they had the finale won when Chris Parham singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the 14th but the Angels answered with a pair in the bottom of the frame to take a 5-4 win. Bob Riley started and pitched well (7 5 3 2 2 4) and Nelson Bocardo had a nice game going 3-6 with an RBI triple. But Josh MacDonald (1-2), the fifth pitcher of the day for Tampa Bay, couldn't hold the lead and gave up a 2-run double to lose it.

Team record: 106-44. Next up: An off-day then we stay in Southern California to play a pair against the Dodgers.

Art Deco · 08-28-2022, 02:54 PM

Game 1: The Rays came back from 4-1 to edge LA 5-4 in 12 innings in the opener of a 2-game set at Dodger Stadium. Nelson Bocardo's sac fly scored Chris Parham with the winner, after Jose Castillo's 2-run HR (#28) in the 6th and Doug Johns' RBI single in the 7th brought them back. Melvin Delgado had one bad inning and finished 7 7 4 4 0 3 with a couple of homers allowed while Willie Minier (3-3) picked up the win with 3 innings of scoreless relief on only 28 pitches.

Game 2: Tampa Bay came back from 4-1 down again and took a 6-4 lead into the 7th, but today they were they team that lost it late as the Dodgers put 3 on the board in the bottom of the 7th to take a 7-6 win. Gordie Ager started and was his usual struggling self (6 9 5 5 0 5) and Dan Anderson (4-4) couldn't get anyone out in the 7th and was charged with the tying and losing runs. Earlier they fought back on Alex Duran's 2-run shot (#15) and Dave Frick's 2-run double which put them ahead.

Team record: 107-45. Next up: An off-day then we return home for a 4-game Friday-Monday series with Boston.

Art Deco · 08-29-2022, 04:04 PM

Game 1: Greg Bookhart's bid to win 20 stayed alive as he and 3 relievers combined to shut out the Red Sox 8-0 in the series opener at Publix Park. Bookhart (19-4) was 5 3 0 0 1 5 and will have one shot in Toronto before the season ends to reach the milestone. Alex Duran supplied most of the support, clubbing a pair of 2-run homers to give him 17 while Jose Castillo knocked in a pair.

Game 2: The Rays took a 7-4 win over the BoSox thanks to what was essentially a 2-man offense. Jose Castillo was 2-4 with a 3-run HR (#29) and RBI double, and Seth Williams drove in the other 3 with a 2-run HR (#19) and single. Ben Moses (15-3) got the win after a solid 6 5 2 2 2 2 outing.

Game 3: Boston got the better of the Rays today 6-4 at Publix Park. Bob Riley (13-7) was 6.1 8 4 4 1 4 taking the loss, while Juan Davila (a 2-run HR, #11) and Akio Suzuki (a 2-run single) supplied the Tampa Bay scoring.

Game 4: The Rays took the series with a tight 3-2 win thanks to one of Melvin Delgado's better outings since joining the team, one they hope will be of more predictive value for the playoffs than the spate of poor ones he's had. Delgado (6-3 as a Ray, 14-11 overall) went 6 5 2 1 2 4 and the bullpen made the lead stand up with Willie Minier recording save #31. Alex Duran had an RBI double and rookie Steve Emerson brought home the winner in the 5th with a sac fly.

Team record: 110-46. Next up: The Yankees visit for 2 games.

Art Deco · 08-30-2022, 12:43 PM

The opener got rained out so we played a doubleheader on Wednesday.

September 24: Activated IF Tomas Laboy from the 10-day IL, optioned IF Ed Herrera to AAA Durham.

The first of our injured players (and the only one due back before the regular season ends) is back as Laboy had been out a month. Mario Saro and Yuji Morioka should be back by Game 2 of the ALDS, with Luis Barela a week behind and hopefully ready for the ALCS should we get there. Kevin Crater unfortunately is done for the year.

Game 1: The Rays routed the Yankees in the opener 11-1 as Jose Castillo had a big game. The lefty-swinging DH homered twice to reach the 30-dinger mark with 31 and drove in 3, Seth Williams hit a milestone with HR #20, a 3-run shot, and Alex Duran added a 2-run blast (#18). This was all in support of Gordie Ager, who closed his checkered regular season on a high note going 6 6 0 0 1 3 to finish 17-7, 4.99 (yes he just got his ERA below 5 at the last moment). Chris O'Brien went the final 3 innings for his 3rd save.

Game 2: The Rays completed the doubleheader (and series) sweep with a 6-4 win in the nightcap. Reserves filled the lineup and couple of them came up big with Corey Herring's 7th-inning double putting the Rays ahead to stay and Steve Emerson going 3-4 with two runs scored and an RBI while Juan Davila was 3-5, knocking in a pair. Josh MacDonald got the start and went 5 5 2 2 5 5 while Caleb Ramos (10-3) picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief.

Team record: 112-46. Next up: A makeup game at home vs Baltimore.

Art Deco · 08-30-2022, 12:53 PM

We tried. We really tried. But in the end Greg Bookhart couldn't get his 20th win although it wasn't his fault at all as the offense came a cropper in a 1-0 loss to Baltimore at Publix Park. Bookhart hung in there the whole way, pitching his first complete game of the year as we gave him every chance and it was a 0-0 game until the 9th when he gave up a solo homer. They had 2 on and 2 out in the bottom of the 9th and it looked like they might pull off one of their patented comebacks, but Dave Frick lined out to right. Bookhart finished 9 5 1 1 2 8 on 112 pitches in his gem and concludes his regular season 19-5, 3.91 with 3.7 WAR as at least he got his ERA under 4.

Team record: 112-47. Next up: We conclude the regular season with 3 games in Toronto.

Playoff race update: Going into the final weekend in the AL the Rays and White Sox have clinched their divisions and Houston leads the Angels by 2 and Texas by 3 in the West. Baltimore has clinched the first wild card and Austin leads LA by 1 1/2 and Texas by 2 1/2 as the Dukes have 4 games in 3 days with Cleveland. Over in the NL the Cardinals and Giants have their divisions wrapped up and Arizona and Milwaukee have sewn up the wild cards but the East is wide open with Columbus and Atlanta tied up and Washington with the slimmest of chances 2 games back.

Art Deco · 08-31-2022, 04:08 PM

Game 1: We began the final series of the regular season with a 7-0 white-washing of Toronto at Rogers Centre (or whatever it's called in 2047) in what turned out to be a bullpen game when Ben Moses left in the 2nd inning with a sore thumb (which I guess means he really stood out) which won't keep him from the playoffs (where he's probably a long reliever). Caleb Ramos (11-3) got the win by pitching the bulk of the relief innings (4 1/3). Alex Duran drove in 4 including a bases-clearing double and Juan Davila drove in a pair including a solo shot (#12).

Game 2: Doug Johns had a massive game and Bob Riley finished the regular season in fine form as the Rays waxed the Jays again 11-2. Johns was 3-5 with a pair of 2-run homers and an RBI double and is slated to get the day off tomorrow so he finishes the year with an impressive 35 HR and 131 RBI to go with a .318 BA and 5.9 WAR (MVP candidate?). Riley meanwhile rolled against his former team (6 6 1 1 0 2) and finishes the year 14-7, 3.76 with 4.2 WAR thanks to a 26/114 BB/K ratio in 201 IP, showing you can succeed with 45 stuff.

Game 3: The Rays emptied the bench for the regular season finale but it didn't matter as they swept the Jays, streamrolling them again 6-0. The Rays threw another former Jay at Toronto as Melvin Delgado (7-3, 15-11 overall) pitched his best game yet for us at 6 1 0 0 1 3 and seems to be entering the postseason on a roll, locking down the #4 starter spot behind Ager/Bookhart/Riley. Vinny Rodriguez, who hit 55 HR between AA and AAA the last two years but still hadn't hit one in 64 MLB at-bats, finally launched his 1st, a 3-run no-doubter that the CF didn't even turn his head for. V-Rod also added a sac fly for a 4-RBI day and the other two came courtesy of a Jose Castillo homer (#32) as he finished a cool 328/438/582.

Final regular season record: 115-47. Next up: The ALDS against the winner of the Baltimore-Austin wild card game played at Camden Yards.

Playoff race update: The Dukes nailed down the second wild card spot, meaning Texas will not be defending its World Series title as Houston clinched the West as well. We will have a tiebreaker game in the NL though as Columbus and Atlanta won their final two games to stay 1 ahead of Washington, which won out as well but is done for the year.

Art Deco · 08-31-2022, 04:17 PM

Columbus will go to St. Louis for the NLDS.

Art Deco · 08-31-2022, 04:34 PM

Congrats to Nelson Delgado on winning the AL batting average title (as well as MLB's) while Greg Bookhart led MLB in wins. Meanwhile good thing for Columbus's Lukas Spitzaner that his 0-4 in the tiebreaker game didn't cost him the NL BA title.

The usual positives, but oof that 4.65 starters' ERA which has to be the worst by far I've had in this save. As we had the most total pitching WAR in the league I'm going to chalk a lot of it up to our poor defensive numbers, especially after losing the 70 glove of Morioka at 2B and Kevin Crater in CF.

We lost Barela and Crater for the final month-plus of the season yet they still led the team in WAR which shows you how great of seasons they were having. Mario Saro also put up 4.5 WAR playing the equivalent of a little over half the year. And what a year for Bocardo, one of the best years for a Rays catcher I've had in this save since peak Keibert Ruiz in the early-to-mid 20s.

Man our pitchers gave up a lot of hits. Only Riley had an FIP in line with his ERA, the others starters all had FIPs the better part of a run lower. Sato was also a BABIP victim as his FIP was 3.16 compared to a 5.01 ERA.

08-15-2022, 10:32 AM	#2101
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	August 3-4, 2047: vs Columbus (2) Game 1: It was one of those football score games as the Rays crushed Columbus 16-7 in Melvin Delgado's Rays debut. You might think from that score he didn't pitch well but he did alright at 6 7 3 3 3 4 for the win with all the damage coming in the 4th inning. Caleb Ramos gave up 4 runs in 2 innings of mop-up work to make the team pitching line look bad. Doug Johns had a huge day, going 2-4 with HR #25 and 6 RBI, Kevin Crater homered (#27) and drove in 3, Luis Barela was 3-4 with 4 runs scored and HR #29 and Mario Saro was 4-6 with HR #15. For good measure Juan Davila was 4-5 with 2 doubles and an RBI as the team had 20 hits. Game 2: It was another high-scoring affair but this time it didn't go the Rays' way as Gordie Ager's problems persist and Columbus won 9-8. The lefty (12-6) was 5.2 6 5 5 3 3 and after a stretch where it looked like he might be getting it together he's now allowed 11 runs in his last two starts. At least he kept the ball in the park today. They nearly came back in the 9th, scoring 3 times and having the bases loaded but Dave Frick's line drive up the middle was snared by a diving Lightning defender. They did bang out 17 more hits with Frick being 4-4 before that final at-bat. Seth Williams homered (#12) and drove in a pair and Jose Castillo was 2-3 with 2 RBI. Team record: 82-30. Next up: Toronto visits for 3.

08-16-2022, 09:22 AM	#2102
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	August 5-7, 2047: vs Toronto (3) Game 1: Greg Bookhart's roll continued as the Rays trounced Toronto 7-1 in the series opener at Publix Park. The lefty improved to 16-1 after a fine 6 5 1 1 1 6 performance, his 7th straight start in which he's allowed two runs or fewer. Support came from Kevin Crater, who blasted two more Crater Taters and drove in 5 to give him 29 and Mario Saro chipped in with a 2-run shot of his own (#16). Game 2: The only promised land Ben Moses delivered anyone to was home plate for Toronto batters but the Rays pulled off another of their patented Publix Park comebacks to overcome Moses' bad outing and win 11-10 in 11 innings on a Jose Castillo walkoff homer, his 22nd of the year and second of the game. Moses was brutal at 4.1 10 8 8 0 1 and Tampa Bay found itself behind 10-4 in the 7th but didn't stop hitting. Seth Williams hit his second homer of the game (#14) in the bottom of the 8th to tie it at 10 while Juan Davila homered (#3) and drove in a pair. Satoshi Sato (3-6) picked up the win in relief. Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep with a 3-run 8th to break a 6-6 tie and take a 9-6 win over the Jays. Seth Williams' sac fly was the tie-breaker as he was 2-4 with 2 RBI, Doug Johns drove in 3 with a 2-run HR (#26) and a single to give him 99 and Juan Davila (#4) homered for the second straight day and knocked in a pair. Bob Riley has hit a wall of late and was 7 10 5 5 0 5 but could have been the winner had Abelaldo Gray not given up the tying run in the 8th. Instead Gray (6-0) vultured the win and Satoshi Sato picked up his 6th save to go with 6 blown saves and 6 losses. Team record: 85-30. Next up: An off-day then we make the longest road trip by distance in the majors by shipping off to Seattle for 3.

08-17-2022, 01:30 PM	#2103
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	August 9-11, 2047: at Seattle (3) Game 1: Melvin Delgado's second Rays start wasn't as successful as his first and the Rays dropped the series opener to Seattle 6-3. Delgado had a 2-1 lead into the 5th, but a 4-run inning capped by a 3-run homer cost him and he finished 5 8 5 5 3 3. Luis Barela's 2-run homer (#30) and Mario Saro's solo shot (#17) were all the Tampa Bay scoring. Game 2: Now that's more like it. Gordie Ager looked back in Cy Young form again, hurling 6 shutout innings to lead the Rays to a 7-0 win over Seattle. The lefty (13-6) was 6 3 0 0 2 3 for the win and Mel Mejia completed the shutout with 3 innings of relief for his 5th save. Luis Barela and Mario Saro again led the offense with the former going 2-2 with 3 walks and 2 RBI and the latter homering again (#18). Kevin Crater was also 3-4 with an RBI. Game 3: The bullpen blew this one as a 4-3 lead in the 7th became a 5-4 Mariners win as the Rays dropped the series to Seattle. Mario Saro's second solo homer of the game, 4th of the series and 20th of the year, put them ahead in the 7th but Jose Morales put two men on and Abelaldo Gray let them score to squander the advantage. Greg Bookhart missed out on a chance to go 17-1 after going 6 3 3 3 3 5 while Luis Barela like Saro had a big series, launching a 2-run shot (#31). Team record: 86-32. Next up: We head all the way down the coast to play 3 in San Diego. Last edited by Art Deco; 08-18-2022 at 01:12 PM.

08-18-2022, 01:12 PM	#2104
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	August 12-14, 2047: at San Diego (3) Game 1: A 4-run 5th keyed by a Nelson Bocardo bases-clearing double opened up a 2-2 game and the Rays went on to a 6-3 win over San Diego at Petco Park in their series opener. Bocardo also had a 2-run double to give him a 5-RBI game while Jose Castillo was 3-4 with HR #23. Ben Moses scattered his hits again (6 8 3 3 1 7) and improved to 10-3. Game 2: The Rays scored single runs in the 8th and 9th to pull out a 4-3 win over the Padres at Petco. Doug Johns' RBI double tied it up and they loaded the bases in the 9th before Luis Barela's fly ball brought home the winner. Barela drove in a pair and was 2-3. Bob Riley turned in a decent start (6 5 3 3 2 6), Abelaldo Gray went to 7-0 with two innings of scoreless relief, and Willie Minier notched save #22. Game 3: Just as in the opener the Rays broke open a 2-2 game with a 4-run inning as Luis Barela's 3-run homer (#32) and Doug Johns' solo shot (#27) put them ahead for good in a 7-3 win to sweep the series from San Diego. Also going deep with solo homers were Alex Duran (#10), Dave Frick (#8) and Seth Williams (#15). Melvin Delgado wasn't flashy but got the job done at 7 5 3 3 4 2 to improve to 2-1 as a Ray. Team record: 89-32. Next up: An off-day then we head back home for 3 vs Cleveland.

08-19-2022, 12:50 PM	#2105
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	August 16-18, 2047: vs Cleveland (3) Game 1: Gordie Ager turned in another good start and the offense got all the scoring out of the way early in a 6-1 win over Cleveland in the opener of a Publix Park homestand. Ager (14-6) went 7 3 1 1 2 4 in his second straight outstanding start and is inching closer to getting the ERA below 5 at 5.09. The Rays scored all their runs in the first three innings with Dave Frick hitting a 2-run shot (#9) and Jose Castillo adding a solo blast (#24) the highlights. Game 2: Greg Bookhart continues to roll as he improved to 17-1 in a 3-1 win over the Guardians. The lefty was a cool 6 4 0 0 3 5 and Willie Minier added his 23rd save. All three Tampa Bay runs came on solo homers with Doug Johns hitting a pair to give him 29 and Nelson Bocardo bashing #10. Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep with another fine pitching performance and a bushel of runs in 10-1 win over Cleveland. It was Ben Moses' turn to dominate today and he was 7 3 1 1 1 6 to up his record to 11-3. He received plenty of support with homers from Jose Castillo (#25) and Mario Saro (#21) as well as a 4-5, 3-RBI performance from the AL's leading hitter Nelson Bocardo, who now has his average up to .354 and is bidding to be the first catcher to win a batting title since Joe Mauer (I think). Team record: 92-32. Next up: Seattle visits for 3 games.

08-20-2022, 01:56 PM	#2106
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	August 19-21, 2047: vs Seattle (3) Game 1: Bob Riley's woes continued and the Rays couldn't quite complete the comeback in a 7-5 loss to the Mariners at Publix Park in the series opener. Riley (12-5) was 4 9 5 5 2 4 and has allowed 18 runs in his last 4 starts as his ERA's ballooned from 3.22 to 3.80. A couple of more runs off the pen and they were behind 7-1 in the 6th before Kevin Crater's 2-run triple and a Juan Davila (3-4 today) RBI single helped them within 7-5 but they fell short. Game 2: It was a patented Publix Park slugfest as the Rays mauled the Mariners 19-8. Kevin Crater drove in 5 with a 3-run homer (#30) and a 2-run single, Juan Davila had a 3-run shot (#5), Jose Castillo was 4-5 with a double and 3 RBI, and Mario Saro was 4-5 with 4 runs scored and an RBI. Everyone in the lineup got a hit, even Nelson Bocardo who came off the bench and slugged HR #10. Melvin Delgado hasn't been very good since coming over from Toronto and was 5 9 6 6 2 6; he's now 3-1 as a Ray but with a 6.65 ERA in those 4 starts. August 21: Placed C Akio Suzuki on the 10-day IL with a strained back, recalled C Kurt Ferguson from AAA Durham. And the reason why Bocardo came off the bench yesterday was the Suzuki injury, which gives Ferguson an opportunity to make his MLB debut. He was acquired from Rockies a couple of years ago and is a good-hitting catcher with doubles power and adequate defense. Game 3: The Rays hung on to take the finale and the series from Seattle 6-5. They were up 6-0 after 3 thanks to a 5-run 3rd and Gordie Ager was cruising until he was hit for 4 in the 6th. Ager (15-6) was still pretty good at 7 6 4 4 1 2 but couldn't get the ERA back below 5. Willie Minier made it interesting in the 9th by giving up a run on 3 hits but got the final outs for save #24. Dave Frick was 3-3 with 2 doubles, one of which knocked in a run, and Kevin Crater added an RBI double. Kurt Ferguson made his MLB debut and was 0-3 with a walk and a fielder's choice RBI. Team record: 94-33. Next up: We head to Baltimore for 4 games.

08-21-2022, 01:35 PM	#2107
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	August 22-25, 2047: at Baltimore (4) Game 1: A couple of four-run innings for Baltimore doomed the Rays and Greg Bookhart to a rare loss as they fell 8-4 to the Orioles in the series opener at Camden Yards. The first of those 4-run innings was all Bookhart, and he lost for only the 2nd time this year against 17 wins after going 4 9 5 5 0 3. Juan Davila's 2-run homer (#6) was the offensive highlight. August 23: Placed P Dan Anderson on the 10-day IL with back tightness, recalled P Brad Mabe from AAA Durham. Game 2: The Rays blasted Baltimore 13-5 in the second game with Doug Johns continuing his great season by hitting 2 HR and 3 RBI to give him 31 and 111 for the season. Dave Frick tied his career-high in homers with 10 after a 2-run shot, Juan Davila continued on his mini-homer binge with a 2-run job of his own (#7), and Kevin Crater drove in 3 with a Crater Tater (#31) and a double. This was more than enough for Ben Moses (12-3) who struggled to qualify for the win at 5 6 3 3 4 3 on 107 pitches. August 24: Placed 3B Tomas Laboy on the 10-day IL with a sprained ankle, recalled IF Stevie Moore from AAA Durham. Laboy will miss a month with the ankle while Moore is the prototypical scrappy 2B-type who doesn't hit much but can play the position and is keeping a roster spot warm for Yuji Morioka who should be back next week. Game 3: A pitchers' duel turned into a 6-1 Baltimore win as Bob Riley and Abelaldo Gray combined to allow 5 runs in the 8th to break open a 1-1 game. Riley (12-6) was outstanding, not allowing a hit until the 5th, but put two men on to start the 8th and Gray gave up those up along with 3 of his own as Riley finished 7 3 3 2 1 3. Juan Davila homered (#8) for the third straight game and fourth in five for the lone Rays run. Game 4: A rough series for the Rays concluded with a 7-2 loss to the Orioles as Melvin Delgado was pounded once again. Delgado went 6 12 7 7 0 5 as I left him in too long, impatiently clicking on "end inning" when he got hit for 4 runs in the 6th. He now has a bloated 7.45 ERA in 5 starts since joining from Toronto as Rays pitching was largely terrible in this series, giving up 26 runs in the 4 games. Luis Barela knocked in both Tampa Bay runs with a homer (#33) and single. Team record: 95-36. Next up: An off-day then we go to Houston for 3.

08-22-2022, 01:22 PM	#2108
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	August 27-29, 2047: at Houston (3) Game 1: The Rays took an 8-5 win in the opener over Houston in a game bullpen shenanigans made the final score look closer than the game was. Gordie Ager (16-6) was solid at 6 8 2 2 0 5 before Jose Morales gave up 3 in the 8th requiring Willie Minier to come in for save #25. Before that it was a season-best game from Kevin Crater that led them to victory with the veteran CF blasting a pair of homers to give him 33 and a triple, driving in 5. Luis Barela also had a nice game, going 3-3 with a 2-run homer (#34). Game 2: In what will be known as Black Wednesday around Tampa Bay - especially if it leads to an early playoff exit - the Rays lost a pair of stars in Mario Saro and Luis Barela to injury, marring a 12-9 win over Houston. Saro sprained his thumb and is out 5-6 weeks, sidelining him through at least the ALDS, and Barela suffered a rotator cuff strain which will shelve him six weeks, possibly putting him out into the ALCS should we get there. Apart from that how was the play Mrs. Lincoln? Seth Williams was 3-6 with a grand salami (#16) and Barela hit his 35th and final homer of the year with two on in the 1st before departing while Nelson Bocardo was 3-5 with 2 RBI to keep his league-leading BA at .354 as the Rays built a 12-0 lead. But once again the "B" bullpen made a mess of things with Chris Parham and Mel Mejia combining to allow 6 runs after Greg Bookhart (18-2) went 5.1 3 3 2 1 2. The win also officially clinched a playoff berth with the division magic # down to 9. August 29: Placed 3B Luis Barela on the 10-day IL with a rotator cuff strain and OF Mario Saro on the 10-day IL with a sprained thumb; recalled IF Ed Herrera from AAA Durham and OF Corey Herring from AA Montgomery. Herrera's been up before and now we have three Durham IFs up (Sprouse, Moore, Herrera) with Morioka, Laboy and Barela on the IL. Morioka started a rehab assignment and should be back in a couple of days. Herring was hitting 281/356/433 with 11 HR at Montgomery and was our 5th round pick in 2043 and should fashion a career as a 4th-OF type. Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep of Houston at Minute Maid Park, holding on for a 6-5 win. They built a 6-2 lead capped by a 2-run double from Corey Herring in his MLB debut but Ben Moses (13-3) gave a couple of runs right back and eked out a win at 5 4 4 4 6 3. Willie Minier converted save #26 to finish it off. Team record: 98-36. Next up: The 77-57 White Sox visit Publix Park for 3 games.

08-23-2022, 05:28 PM	#2109
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	August 30-September 1, 2047: vs Chicago White Sox (3) August 30: Activated IF Yuji Morioka from the 10-day IL, optioned IF Steve Moore to AAA Durham. Game 1: The Rays fell behind Chicago 3-0 early, but crawled their way back and took a 4-3 win in the series opener at Publix Park on Juan Davila's 8th-inning RBI double. Bob Riley started and had some early difficulties but settled down to finish 7 6 3 3 0 5, Abelaldo Gray continued to be a good luck charm getting the win to go to 8-0, and Willie Minier got two whiffs in a perfect 9th for save #27. Before Davila's winner, Nelson Bocardo (#12) and Alex Duran (#11) had solo homers. August 31: Activated C Akio Suzuki from the 10-day IL, optioned C Kurt Ferguson to AAA Durham. Game 2: The Rays scored 5 runs by the 3rd and went on to beat the White Sox again 6-3 for their 100th win of 2047. In his first at-bat off the IL, Akio Suzuki had a 2-run homer (#5) in the 2nd and Doug Johns followed with a 3-run shot (#32) in the 3rd. Suzuki added an RBI single in the 8th for insurance and Melvin Delgado had his best game in a while (and perhaps as a Ray), getting the win to go 4-2 with the club after a 6.1 6 3 3 0 8 outing. Satoshi Sato got the final 5 outs including 3 whiffs for save #7. September 1: Recalled 1B Vinny Rodriguez and P Josh MacDonald from AAA Durham. Time to expand the rosters, and V-Rod was having an MVP-type season at Durham (.325-34-102). MacDonald had a brilliant spot start earlier in the season for us and will join the pen as a long reliever with 80 stuff and 25 control. Game 3: Another fairly tight game went Chicago's way today as the White Sox scored 3 in the 9th off Willie Minier to take a 6-3 win. The Rays took an early 3-1 lead on Juan Davila's RBI double and a 2-run Yuji Morioka homer (#19) and Gordie Ager left ahead 3-2 after going 5 6 2 1 0 5. The relatively clean line belied the fact it took him 116 pitches to get through but he did finally bring his ERA under 5. Abelaldo Gray allowed the tying run in the 8th and then Minier (2-3) coughed up a 3-run homer in the 9th. Team record: 100-37. Next up: Baltimore visits for 3 games.

08-24-2022, 01:22 PM	#2110
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	September 2-4, 2047: vs Baltimore (3) Game 1: The Rays' offense labored on Labor Day and they fell 3-1 to Baltimore in the series opener at Publix Park. Yuji Morioka's 2nd-inning homer (#20) was one of only two Tampa Bay hits on the day. Greg Bookhart (18-3) wasn't very good at 4 6 3 3 5 3 but a 4-inning, 1-hit, 6-K long relief outing from Caleb Ramos kept them in the game. Game 2: The hitting was back today but the pitching wasn't and the Rays dropped their third straight game 11-9 to the Orioles. Doug Johns was 3-4 with a 2-run homer (#33) and Juan Davila and Chris Parham knocked in a pair, but Ben Moses was horrendous (4 8 7 6 3 2) and Josh MacDonald could not find the same magic against Baltimore he did earlier this season in his great spot start as he allowed 3 runs on 4 hits in the 5th and took the loss. Game 3: For the third straight game in this series Rays starting pitching wasn't any good but today they overcame it thanks to the offense and the bullpen and salvaged the finale 6-5. Bob Riley's second-half struggles continued as he went 4.1 10 5 5 0 3 with a pair of homers allowed but the bullpen held Baltimore off the board for the final 4 2/3. Kevin Crater's 2-run homer in the 6th, his second of the day and 35th of the year, tied it up, and rookie Corey Herring doubled leading off the 8th and scored on a Dave Frick single for the winner. Yuji Morioka (#21) also homered earlier in the game. Satoshi Sato (4-6) picked up the win and Willie Minier pitched around a couple of hits for save #28. Team record: 101-39. Next up: Toronto comes to town to play 4.

08-25-2022, 05:19 PM	#2111
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	September 5-8, 2047: vs Toronto (4) Game 1: Melvin Delgado was solid against his old club and Juan Davila had a big day at the plate as the Rays toppled Toronto 9-2 in their series opener at Publix Park. Delgado (5-2) pitched his best game in a Rays uniform, going 6 6 2 2 1 4 while Davila sparked the offense with an RBI double and a 2-run triple. Seth Williams (#17) and Kevin Crater (#36) contributed solo homers to the cause. Game 2: After being routed by the Rays yesterday the Jays returned the favor with an 11-3 thumping of Tampa Bay. Gordie Ager (16-7), who finally got his ERA below 5 in his last start, saw it rocket past that mark today after a brutal 4 10 7 7 0 3 outing. Doug Johns doubled and drove in a pair for the Rays. Game 3: The Rays' pitching woes continued as Greg Bookhart couldn't stand prosperity in his search for win #19 and the Jays eventually took a 7-6 win in 15 innings. Bookhart was staked to a 4-1 lead through 4 and a 5-4 lead after 5 but gave it all back and finished 5 7 5 5 1 6. And after the Rays regained the lead on a Juan Davila solo homer (#9) in the 8th, Willie Minier blew the save in the 9th, his 4th. Eventually Dan Anderson (2-2) gave up the winning run. Earlier Dave Frick (#11, a career-high) and Jose Castillo (#26) bashed solo homers and Davila added an RBI double to go 3-6. Despite the loss the Rays officially clinched the AL East, their 27th straight division title having last lost the division in 2021. Game 4: Tampa Bay overcame another shaky start and ended up obliterating the Jays 15-4 to salvage a split of the 4-game series. Ben Moses was hit hard early but after the big lead was perfect in the 5th and 6th to go to 14-3 after a 6.2 12 4 4 1 4 performance. A 6-run 4th capped by a 3-run Kevin Crater Tater (#37) broke it open while Yuji Morioka (#22) and Jose Castillo (#27) also found the seats. Nelson Bocardo kept a stranglehold on the AL batting crown with 3 doubles in 4 at-bats, driving in 3 and upping his BA to .348. It wasn't all fun and games though as our spate of injuries to infielders continued as Morioka suffered a high ankle sprain later in the game and will miss 3 weeks or essentially the rest of the regular season, joining Luis Barela, Tomas Laboy and Mario Saro on the shelf. Team record: 103-41. Next up: An off-day then we go to Texas for 3. Meant to post this a week ago but as we approach the season's end, here's a look at the standings and leaders:

08-26-2022, 06:53 PM	#2112
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	September 10-12, 2047: at Texas (3) Game 1: Bob Riley pitched his best game in a while and the Rays took a 3-1 win at Texas in their opener at Globe Life Park but they suffered yet another season-ending injury to another key player as MVP candidate Kevin Crater strained his ACL. This is simply becoming ridiculous now and at this rate we'll be in the playoffs with Durham's lineup. As for the game Riley (13-6) went 7 5 1 1 0 5 and Willie Minier closed for save #29. Alex Duran supplied the offense with a pair of solo homers, giving him 13 for the year. Game 2: The Rays overcame a 6-0 deficit after 2 innings but still succumbed to Texas 10-9. Melvin Delgado (5-3) was downright terrible (4 12 9 8 1 0) and that meant a good day from the offense was wasted. Juan Davila had a grand slam (#10), Nelson Bocardo also drove in 4 with a bases-clearing double and a single and Seth Williams added a solo shot (#18). Game 3: The Rays and Rangers went twice the distance today as they played 18 innings. Of course if you're going to play 18 you might as well win and that's what the Rays did 6-5 on a Jose Castillo (one of the few regulars still ambulatory) RBI single. We fashioned a very makeshift lineup today trying to keep any more regulars from getting hurt, and Vinny Rodriguez had 4 hits (in 9 AB) while Steve Moore had 3 (in 7). Gordie Ager turned in a good start (6.2 5 2 2 3 3) and Dan Anderson (4-3) picked up the win with two perfect innings of relief. Team record: 105-42. Next up: 3 games in Anaheim against the Angels.

08-27-2022, 12:21 PM	#2113
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	September 13-15, 2047: at LA Angels (3) Game 1: Greg Bookhart's quest to win 20 hit another speed bump today as he and the Rays fell 6-3 to the Angels in the series opener. He was spotted an early 2-0 lead with the first of Doug Johns' RBI doubles but couldn't hold and dropped to 18-4 after going 4 7 6 6 3 4. Game 2: Despite yet another shaky outing from a starter the makeshift Rays overcame it and took a 9-6 win over the Angels. Alex Duran had a 3-run HR (#14) and an RBI single while Nelson Bocardo was 2-4 with a 2-run homer (#14). Doug Johns drove in 2 more with another double. Ben Moses was awful at 4 10 6 6 3 1 and Dave Rose (5-1) picked up the win thanks to 3 scoreless innings of relief. Willie Minier notched save #30. Game 3: The Rays thought they had the finale won when Chris Parham singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the 14th but the Angels answered with a pair in the bottom of the frame to take a 5-4 win. Bob Riley started and pitched well (7 5 3 2 2 4) and Nelson Bocardo had a nice game going 3-6 with an RBI triple. But Josh MacDonald (1-2), the fifth pitcher of the day for Tampa Bay, couldn't hold the lead and gave up a 2-run double to lose it. Team record: 106-44. Next up: An off-day then we stay in Southern California to play a pair against the Dodgers.

08-28-2022, 02:54 PM	#2114
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	September 17-18, 2047: at LA Dodgers (2) Game 1: The Rays came back from 4-1 to edge LA 5-4 in 12 innings in the opener of a 2-game set at Dodger Stadium. Nelson Bocardo's sac fly scored Chris Parham with the winner, after Jose Castillo's 2-run HR (#28) in the 6th and Doug Johns' RBI single in the 7th brought them back. Melvin Delgado had one bad inning and finished 7 7 4 4 0 3 with a couple of homers allowed while Willie Minier (3-3) picked up the win with 3 innings of scoreless relief on only 28 pitches. Game 2: Tampa Bay came back from 4-1 down again and took a 6-4 lead into the 7th, but today they were they team that lost it late as the Dodgers put 3 on the board in the bottom of the 7th to take a 7-6 win. Gordie Ager started and was his usual struggling self (6 9 5 5 0 5) and Dan Anderson (4-4) couldn't get anyone out in the 7th and was charged with the tying and losing runs. Earlier they fought back on Alex Duran's 2-run shot (#15) and Dave Frick's 2-run double which put them ahead. Team record: 107-45. Next up: An off-day then we return home for a 4-game Friday-Monday series with Boston.

08-29-2022, 04:04 PM	#2115
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	September 20-23, 2047: vs Boston (4) Game 1: Greg Bookhart's bid to win 20 stayed alive as he and 3 relievers combined to shut out the Red Sox 8-0 in the series opener at Publix Park. Bookhart (19-4) was 5 3 0 0 1 5 and will have one shot in Toronto before the season ends to reach the milestone. Alex Duran supplied most of the support, clubbing a pair of 2-run homers to give him 17 while Jose Castillo knocked in a pair. Game 2: The Rays took a 7-4 win over the BoSox thanks to what was essentially a 2-man offense. Jose Castillo was 2-4 with a 3-run HR (#29) and RBI double, and Seth Williams drove in the other 3 with a 2-run HR (#19) and single. Ben Moses (15-3) got the win after a solid 6 5 2 2 2 2 outing. Game 3: Boston got the better of the Rays today 6-4 at Publix Park. Bob Riley (13-7) was 6.1 8 4 4 1 4 taking the loss, while Juan Davila (a 2-run HR, #11) and Akio Suzuki (a 2-run single) supplied the Tampa Bay scoring. Game 4: The Rays took the series with a tight 3-2 win thanks to one of Melvin Delgado's better outings since joining the team, one they hope will be of more predictive value for the playoffs than the spate of poor ones he's had. Delgado (6-3 as a Ray, 14-11 overall) went 6 5 2 1 2 4 and the bullpen made the lead stand up with Willie Minier recording save #31. Alex Duran had an RBI double and rookie Steve Emerson brought home the winner in the 5th with a sac fly. Team record: 110-46. Next up: The Yankees visit for 2 games.

08-30-2022, 12:43 PM	#2116
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	September 24-25, 2047: vs NY Yankees (2) The opener got rained out so we played a doubleheader on Wednesday. September 24: Activated IF Tomas Laboy from the 10-day IL, optioned IF Ed Herrera to AAA Durham. The first of our injured players (and the only one due back before the regular season ends) is back as Laboy had been out a month. Mario Saro and Yuji Morioka should be back by Game 2 of the ALDS, with Luis Barela a week behind and hopefully ready for the ALCS should we get there. Kevin Crater unfortunately is done for the year. Game 1: The Rays routed the Yankees in the opener 11-1 as Jose Castillo had a big game. The lefty-swinging DH homered twice to reach the 30-dinger mark with 31 and drove in 3, Seth Williams hit a milestone with HR #20, a 3-run shot, and Alex Duran added a 2-run blast (#18). This was all in support of Gordie Ager, who closed his checkered regular season on a high note going 6 6 0 0 1 3 to finish 17-7, 4.99 (yes he just got his ERA below 5 at the last moment). Chris O'Brien went the final 3 innings for his 3rd save. Game 2: The Rays completed the doubleheader (and series) sweep with a 6-4 win in the nightcap. Reserves filled the lineup and couple of them came up big with Corey Herring's 7th-inning double putting the Rays ahead to stay and Steve Emerson going 3-4 with two runs scored and an RBI while Juan Davila was 3-5, knocking in a pair. Josh MacDonald got the start and went 5 5 2 2 5 5 while Caleb Ramos (10-3) picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Team record: 112-46. Next up: A makeup game at home vs Baltimore.

08-30-2022, 12:53 PM	#2117
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	September 26, 2047: vs Baltimore (1) We tried. We really tried. But in the end Greg Bookhart couldn't get his 20th win although it wasn't his fault at all as the offense came a cropper in a 1-0 loss to Baltimore at Publix Park. Bookhart hung in there the whole way, pitching his first complete game of the year as we gave him every chance and it was a 0-0 game until the 9th when he gave up a solo homer. They had 2 on and 2 out in the bottom of the 9th and it looked like they might pull off one of their patented comebacks, but Dave Frick lined out to right. Bookhart finished 9 5 1 1 2 8 on 112 pitches in his gem and concludes his regular season 19-5, 3.91 with 3.7 WAR as at least he got his ERA under 4. Team record: 112-47. Next up: We conclude the regular season with 3 games in Toronto. Playoff race update: Going into the final weekend in the AL the Rays and White Sox have clinched their divisions and Houston leads the Angels by 2 and Texas by 3 in the West. Baltimore has clinched the first wild card and Austin leads LA by 1 1/2 and Texas by 2 1/2 as the Dukes have 4 games in 3 days with Cleveland. Over in the NL the Cardinals and Giants have their divisions wrapped up and Arizona and Milwaukee have sewn up the wild cards but the East is wide open with Columbus and Atlanta tied up and Washington with the slimmest of chances 2 games back.

08-31-2022, 04:08 PM	#2118
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	September 27-29, 2047: at Toronto (3) Game 1: We began the final series of the regular season with a 7-0 white-washing of Toronto at Rogers Centre (or whatever it's called in 2047) in what turned out to be a bullpen game when Ben Moses left in the 2nd inning with a sore thumb (which I guess means he really stood out) which won't keep him from the playoffs (where he's probably a long reliever). Caleb Ramos (11-3) got the win by pitching the bulk of the relief innings (4 1/3). Alex Duran drove in 4 including a bases-clearing double and Juan Davila drove in a pair including a solo shot (#12). Game 2: Doug Johns had a massive game and Bob Riley finished the regular season in fine form as the Rays waxed the Jays again 11-2. Johns was 3-5 with a pair of 2-run homers and an RBI double and is slated to get the day off tomorrow so he finishes the year with an impressive 35 HR and 131 RBI to go with a .318 BA and 5.9 WAR (MVP candidate?). Riley meanwhile rolled against his former team (6 6 1 1 0 2) and finishes the year 14-7, 3.76 with 4.2 WAR thanks to a 26/114 BB/K ratio in 201 IP, showing you can succeed with 45 stuff. Game 3: The Rays emptied the bench for the regular season finale but it didn't matter as they swept the Jays, streamrolling them again 6-0. The Rays threw another former Jay at Toronto as Melvin Delgado (7-3, 15-11 overall) pitched his best game yet for us at 6 1 0 0 1 3 and seems to be entering the postseason on a roll, locking down the #4 starter spot behind Ager/Bookhart/Riley. Vinny Rodriguez, who hit 55 HR between AA and AAA the last two years but still hadn't hit one in 64 MLB at-bats, finally launched his 1st, a 3-run no-doubter that the CF didn't even turn his head for. V-Rod also added a sac fly for a 4-RBI day and the other two came courtesy of a Jose Castillo homer (#32) as he finished a cool 328/438/582. Final regular season record: 115-47. Next up: The ALDS against the winner of the Baltimore-Austin wild card game played at Camden Yards. Playoff race update: The Dukes nailed down the second wild card spot, meaning Texas will not be defending its World Series title as Houston clinched the West as well. We will have a tiebreaker game in the NL though as Columbus and Atlanta won their final two games to stay 1 ahead of Washington, which won out as well but is done for the year.

08-31-2022, 04:17 PM	#2119
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	September 30, 2047: NL East Tiebreaker Game Columbus will go to St. Louis for the NLDS.

08-31-2022, 04:34 PM	#2120
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 7,363	Final 2047 Regular Season Standings and Rays Stats Congrats to Nelson Delgado on winning the AL batting average title (as well as MLB's) while Greg Bookhart led MLB in wins. Meanwhile good thing for Columbus's Lukas Spitzaner that his 0-4 in the tiebreaker game didn't cost him the NL BA title. The usual positives, but oof that 4.65 starters' ERA which has to be the worst by far I've had in this save. As we had the most total pitching WAR in the league I'm going to chalk a lot of it up to our poor defensive numbers, especially after losing the 70 glove of Morioka at 2B and Kevin Crater in CF. We lost Barela and Crater for the final month-plus of the season yet they still led the team in WAR which shows you how great of seasons they were having. Mario Saro also put up 4.5 WAR playing the equivalent of a little over half the year. And what a year for Bocardo, one of the best years for a Rays catcher I've had in this save since peak Keibert Ruiz in the early-to-mid 20s. Man our pitchers gave up a lot of hits. Only Riley had an FIP in line with his ERA, the others starters all had FIPs the better part of a run lower. Sato was also a BABIP victim as his FIP was 3.16 compared to a 5.01 ERA.