We know the Rays are quick right? But this quick! This is a whole new level.
The Rays made Major League history Sunday with B.J. Upton's third-inning home in a series-sweeping 5-2 victory against the Marlins. Thanks to that hit Tampa Bay reached triple digits in home runs and stolen bases earlier than any team before.
The Rays have done it in 77 games (100 home runs, 118 stolen bases), seven games earlier than the 1994 Indians and 1977 Reds, to become only the fifth team to reach 100/100 before the All-Star break.
In front of 29,459 witnesses at Tropicana Field, the Rays won their fifth straight and finished 5-1 during a home stretch against the World Series winning Phillies and a Marlins team that had won nine of 12.
They also passed the Blue Jays to move into third place in the American League East for the first time this season.
Things are certainly looking up for the Rays, but for how long remains to be seen. Tampa Bay is scheduled to face Toronto ace Roy Halladay (10-1) Monday night. The right-hander, who has been out with a groin injury, is set to be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list to make the start. "I'm looking forward to that like a root canal," said Rays manager Joe Maddon.
Monday 29 June 2009
Friday 26 June 2009
Bartlett streaking away
Jason Bartlett set a new Bays club record by extending his hit streak to 19 games in Thursday night's 10-4 victory over the Phillies with a single in the fifth inning.
The hit broke the Rays' previous record of 18 games, set by Quinton McCracken in 1998.
"I'm happy about it, but I'd rather not think about it," Bartlett said. "It's not that I'm putting pressure on myself, but it's in my head and I'd rather it not be."
It's now the longest active streak in the Major Leagues, after the Cubs' Derrek Lee failed to connect Thursday against the Tigers to curtail his streak to 21 games.
Bartlett is hitting .384 with 21 RBIs over the stretch, which began on May 15 and was interrupted by his 19-game stay on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle.
He also ranks second among all shortstops in stolen bases (14) and RBIs (35).
He's having quite a season, but thankfully doesn't plan on taking the souvenir game ball tossed into the dugout after his fifth-inning single. "I don't plan on stopping," he said.
The hit broke the Rays' previous record of 18 games, set by Quinton McCracken in 1998.
"I'm happy about it, but I'd rather not think about it," Bartlett said. "It's not that I'm putting pressure on myself, but it's in my head and I'd rather it not be."
It's now the longest active streak in the Major Leagues, after the Cubs' Derrek Lee failed to connect Thursday against the Tigers to curtail his streak to 21 games.
Bartlett is hitting .384 with 21 RBIs over the stretch, which began on May 15 and was interrupted by his 19-game stay on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle.
He also ranks second among all shortstops in stolen bases (14) and RBIs (35).
He's having quite a season, but thankfully doesn't plan on taking the souvenir game ball tossed into the dugout after his fifth-inning single. "I don't plan on stopping," he said.
Monday 22 June 2009
Mets left high and dry in the rain
The skies are looking clearer for the road-weary Rays who awoke from an offensive slumber Sunday with a 10-6 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field. In a series twice interrupted by rain B.J. Upton homered and matched a career high with four RBIs, while Carl Crawford drove in a pair of runs to give the Rays a hard-fought 2-1 win.
"When B.J. gets going, it gives guys a little more confidence," said Evan Longoria, who, like Upton, had four hits. "It was just one of those days where we felt pretty locked in."
The highest-scoring team in the majors managed only three runs in each of its last four games, but got four in the fifth inning and four more in the seventh, when Upton's two-run shot off Bobby Parnell (2-3) helped the Rays regain a lead they'd squandered an inning earlier.
Joe Nelson (2-0) won despite allowing a run for the first time in his last nine appearances, while the New York bullpen dropped to 1-7 in June.
The top three spots in the Rays order combined to go 11 for 16 with seven RBIs. A little further down, Jason Bartlett had a pair of hits and Gabe Kapler drove in two runs.
On Saturday Carlos Pena hit a tiebreaking homer off Johan Santana in the seventh inning for a rain-soaked 3-1 victory. Starter James Shields allowed three hits in seven innings and retired his final 14 batters.
Keep it up lads, you've got your chance for revenge over the Phillies at home soon enough...
"When B.J. gets going, it gives guys a little more confidence," said Evan Longoria, who, like Upton, had four hits. "It was just one of those days where we felt pretty locked in."
The highest-scoring team in the majors managed only three runs in each of its last four games, but got four in the fifth inning and four more in the seventh, when Upton's two-run shot off Bobby Parnell (2-3) helped the Rays regain a lead they'd squandered an inning earlier.
Joe Nelson (2-0) won despite allowing a run for the first time in his last nine appearances, while the New York bullpen dropped to 1-7 in June.
The top three spots in the Rays order combined to go 11 for 16 with seven RBIs. A little further down, Jason Bartlett had a pair of hits and Gabe Kapler drove in two runs.
On Saturday Carlos Pena hit a tiebreaking homer off Johan Santana in the seventh inning for a rain-soaked 3-1 victory. Starter James Shields allowed three hits in seven innings and retired his final 14 batters.
Keep it up lads, you've got your chance for revenge over the Phillies at home soon enough...
Friday 12 June 2009
Rays back on level terms
It might not be pennant winning form, but the Rays got back to .500 Thursday night with an 11-1 demolition of the LA Angels at Tropicana Field.
Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs, and Dioner Navarro homered and had three RBIs as Ervin Santana (1-3) allowed six runs and eight hits over 4 2-3 innings.
Navarro homered to lead off the eighth and Pena followed with his 19th homer of the season off Rich Thompson to make it 11-1. Pena also had a third-inning sacrifice fly.
In the midst of a dismal 3-for-34 slide, Navarro gave Tampa Bay a 4-0 lead on a two-run double during the fourth. Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford then both hit solo homers as Tampa won the final two games of the three-game series.
Rays starter David Price left with one out in the fourth because of a high pitch count (105). The first overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft gave up one run, two hits, six walks and had six strikeouts.
Gabe Gross put the Rays up 1-0 on a run-scoring single in the second. He had another RBI single during a two-run fifth.
Torii Hunter's run-scoring single off Grant Balfour (3-1) got the Angels within 4-1 in the top of the fifth. The inning ended when Bobby Abreu was doubled off second on Vladimir Guerrero's liner to short.
Longoria hit his 14th homer of the season to stop an 0-for-19 slide in the fifth, and Crawford went deep one inning later.
Tropicana Field (30 games) and the new Yankee Stadium (29 games) are the only major league stadiums to have at least one homer hit in every game this season. Just glad we were able to keep that record going...
Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs, and Dioner Navarro homered and had three RBIs as Ervin Santana (1-3) allowed six runs and eight hits over 4 2-3 innings.
Navarro homered to lead off the eighth and Pena followed with his 19th homer of the season off Rich Thompson to make it 11-1. Pena also had a third-inning sacrifice fly.
In the midst of a dismal 3-for-34 slide, Navarro gave Tampa Bay a 4-0 lead on a two-run double during the fourth. Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford then both hit solo homers as Tampa won the final two games of the three-game series.
Rays starter David Price left with one out in the fourth because of a high pitch count (105). The first overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft gave up one run, two hits, six walks and had six strikeouts.
Gabe Gross put the Rays up 1-0 on a run-scoring single in the second. He had another RBI single during a two-run fifth.
Torii Hunter's run-scoring single off Grant Balfour (3-1) got the Angels within 4-1 in the top of the fifth. The inning ended when Bobby Abreu was doubled off second on Vladimir Guerrero's liner to short.
Longoria hit his 14th homer of the season to stop an 0-for-19 slide in the fifth, and Crawford went deep one inning later.
Tropicana Field (30 games) and the new Yankee Stadium (29 games) are the only major league stadiums to have at least one homer hit in every game this season. Just glad we were able to keep that record going...
Tuesday 2 June 2009
Luck be a Rays day tonight...
You might think another losing series from the Rays would give cause for some rampant pessimism among Tampa baseball fans. But you might be wrong.
Tampa Tribune writer Martin Fennelly believes the starting pitchers are beginning to turn things round for the Rays, and despite the loss here's why.
"Granted, the Rays didn't sweep the Minnesota Twins at Tropicana Field this weekend, losing 3-2 on Sunday.
But Matt Garza pitched well enough to win.
James Shields pitched well enough to win on Friday.
And David Price pitched well enough to win Saturday.
Not only that, Shields and Price won.
Want to know how this season turns around?
It's the starting pitching, stupid.
Yes, there's the bullpen and defense, and there are some of those sleepy bats.
But it starts with the starters.'
Okay, so it starts with the starters, we get that. But you also need a bit of luck sometimes, and that old lady just seems to have left us right at the moment.
''I set out to do my job and wasn't able to squeak through it. ... It's one of those losses you just have to choke down,'' said Garza, who felt he pitched well despite the result.
''He had great stuff. They just got a couple of knocks and they eeked out their three runs,'' Rays manager Joe Maddon said. ''We hit the ball really well, but without any luck. That's how this game works sometimes.''
That at least means that our luck will change soon, and it can only go one way...
Tampa Tribune writer Martin Fennelly believes the starting pitchers are beginning to turn things round for the Rays, and despite the loss here's why.
"Granted, the Rays didn't sweep the Minnesota Twins at Tropicana Field this weekend, losing 3-2 on Sunday.
But Matt Garza pitched well enough to win.
James Shields pitched well enough to win on Friday.
And David Price pitched well enough to win Saturday.
Not only that, Shields and Price won.
Want to know how this season turns around?
It's the starting pitching, stupid.
Yes, there's the bullpen and defense, and there are some of those sleepy bats.
But it starts with the starters.'
Okay, so it starts with the starters, we get that. But you also need a bit of luck sometimes, and that old lady just seems to have left us right at the moment.
''I set out to do my job and wasn't able to squeak through it. ... It's one of those losses you just have to choke down,'' said Garza, who felt he pitched well despite the result.
''He had great stuff. They just got a couple of knocks and they eeked out their three runs,'' Rays manager Joe Maddon said. ''We hit the ball really well, but without any luck. That's how this game works sometimes.''
That at least means that our luck will change soon, and it can only go one way...
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