Tampa Bay Rays 2014 Season time to "Rays Up!"

[Tobywan]

Twins ended up flipping their starters, Hughes went today up against Price. The back of the order got him Jose Molina singled to drive in Loney then 2 run homer off SRod to bring in Molina in the 2nd. In the 7th Molina got another RBI when he grounded out allowing Logan Forsythe to score then Rodriguez collected his third RBI of the night singling in Escobar. The Twin didn't score until the 9th when Kurt Suzuki singled in Brian Dozier.

Kevin Correia will go Sunday against Archer.

[Tobywan]

With a 5-3 victory Sunday the Rays sweep the Twins.



Archer gave up just 1 run in 6.1 IP, 2 RBIs for Loney. Josh Willingham brought in two of the runs for Twinkies.

[Tobywan]

Rays took the first of a short 2 game series against the Cardinals 7-2.

Jake Odorizzi fanned 8 turning the tables on Adam Wainwright one of his idols from his hometown team who out pitched Jake at the Trop early last month. He also recorded an RBI in his first major league at by executing a perfect safety squeeze to being James Loney to the plate tying the game in the 2nd at 1-1. The Rays scored 5 runs in the 5th aided by three walks and 2 doubles given up by Wainwright. Maddon was ejected in the third
inning when he felt Umpire Mark Ripperger was giving Wainwright too wide of a strike zone, when Wainwight started chirping back Maddon yelled at him. The Ump thought the comments were directed at himself and tossed Joe.

Evan Longoria continues to set team records, in April he surpassed Carlos Pena's home run total. He passed Carl Crawford's career doubles mark with 216 on Sunday against the Jays and last night he passed CC's RBI total with 593 with a home run. He needs 23 extra -base hits to break another of CC's records which stands at 424.

Kevin Kiermaier has been named the Rays' recipient of this year's Heart and Hustle Award.

Reliever Joel Peralta has been complaining of fever, headaches and joint pain since he returned from visiting family in the Dominican Republic during the All-Star break. He is being sent to the disabled list and will be tested for the Chikungunya virus (his symptoms fit). There have been a few cases here in Florida from people that have recently returned from the Caribbean Islands, it is spread through mosquito bites and is very rarely life threatening, but can be debilitating if not treated. Lefty Jeff Beliveau has been recalled and actually pitched this time around.

[Tobywan]

Rays sweep Cardinals winning the second game with a shutout, Cobb went seven innings and drove in a run with a double to bring in Escobar in the 2nd. It was his first hit, last time a Ray's pitcher had an extra base hit was Andy Sonnanstine in 2009.

Escobar was ejected later for arguing a third strike call.

[Tobywan]

Maddon has announced his rotation for the upcoming Bah-ston series. Price will go Friday, Hellickson will be recalled to pitch Saturday and Acher is set for Sunday with 6 days rest.

[Tobywan]

Price went 8 innings, gave up 3 runs including a homer to Shane Victorino with 10 strikeouts. Jake McGee gave up one run in the 9th. Rays didn't score until the 5th when Desmond Jennings hit a 2 run home run bringing in James Loney. They Rays score 4 in the seventh, a single off Zobrist to being in Cole Figueroa and Longo doubled to clear the bases to win the first game 6-4.

Haven't heard yet who will be sacrificed to bring Hellickson back, probably Jeff Beliveau but he's got to be just about out of options as much as they have ping-ponged him.

Though there has been no public statement on what is actually wrong with Peralta, he is said to be feeling much better. May be ready to come back Monday.

[Tobywan]

Hellickson recalled, Juan Carlos Oviedo (formerly known as Leo Núñez) was designated for assignment.

[Tobywan]

Rays win their 9th in a row as they shut out the Red Sox 3-0. Ben Zobrist homered in the 7th. A Home run was called back on Big Papi due to fan interference from a Red Sox fan.

They sent RHP Joel Peralta on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Stone Crabs.

[Tobywan]

Ortiz recovered from yesterday's steal of his home run to get a 3 run homer in the final game of the series to put the Sox up 3-0 in the third. The Rays would cut the lead to one when Desmond Jennings would double in Curt Casali and Kevin Kiermaier and that would be the end of the scoring. Red Sox avoid a sweep by a 3-2 win.

[Tobywan]

Chris Archer sent an arrow Big Papi's way when he made some comments after Sunday's game about Ortiz flipping his bat.

"I think it was a perfect example of what Price said," said Archer. "All of my interactions with him off the field have been good, but when it comes to him on the field, I don't know what makes him think that he can showboat the way he does, and then nobody can retaliate or look at him in a funny way or nobody can pitch him inside."

Papi's reply

“Whatever, dude, there’s always going to be comments out there,” Ortiz said. “He’s not the right guy to be saying that I don’t think. He’s got two days in the league, (shouldn’t) be (expletive) and complaining about (expletive) like that.”

We meet them again at the Trop at the end of August.


Tonight though, we face the Brewers!

[Tobywan]

The team activated Joel Peralta and have confirmed that he was treated for the Chikungunya Virus, to make room for him Erik Bedard was DFA'd.

Jake Odorizzi opposes Kyle Lohse tonight.

[Tobywan]

Alex Cobb will go tonight against ex- Ray Matt Garza, hopefully he won't "Rays Up" us.


Price goes tomorrow against Yovani Gallardo.

[Tobywan]

Matt Garza went 7 innings giving up just one run, a homer to Ben Zobrist that tied the game in the 6th. Alex Cobb pitched 8 strong innings giving up one run with 12 Ks, for his first win at home. Will Smith relieved Garza and got shelled for 4 runs, Zobrist doubled in SRod, then Logan Forsythe doubled in Zobrist. With the bases load Guyer singled in Forsythe, then a sac fly scored Longoria for the winning tally of 5-1.

[Tobywan]

Perhaps just a coincidence, but maybe the pressure is getting to Price. He gave up 4 runs on seven hits walking 2 in 7 innings as the Rays took a 5-0 loss. Yovani Gallardo gave up 4 hits and just one walk in his seven innings. The Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado with 4 runs batted in and 3 hits.

[Tobywan]

I had a good time with my niece on Friday for her birthday, we got to the Trop early and tailgated, weather was perfect, a bit breezy. We got to see a family reunion of a returning soldier from Afghanistan, he threw out ceremonial first pitch. We got to see the full Angels squad, Trout, Pujols and Hamilton all played. Helly pitched well but the few bad pitches he made they made him pay. The Rays loaded the bases in the 9th with no outs
and couldn't score, so they lost the first game 5-3.

The bats came alive yesterday, Archer went 6 innings , he got a bit beat up in the 4th but bounced back. If memory serves we haven't done well against CJ Wilson but they tagged him early and he didn't get to the 3rd inning. Longoria DH'd, he was already scheduled to be off the field before he got banged up after running into the first base umpire on Friday night so the timing was perfect. Guyer. Longo ( 2 run HR) and Forsythe (solo
HR) had two RBI's each. Rays won 10-3.

Today's match-up is Jared Weaver VS Jake Odorizzi.

Our new pitcher Drew Smyly didn't seem real happy in his first interview after being traded, going from the expected to be play-off bound team to a maybe by the skin of their teeth get close to a wild card spot team. The Rays made him feel welcome when he got to the park Saturday with a tailor waiting on him to fit him for a tuxedo to wear on the flight to Oakland, the road trip theme is formal.



Injury report: Ryan Hanigan started his rehab assignment with the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Saturday, he is scheduled to play for them again Monday then the GCL Rays on Wednesday and will hopefully rejoin the Rays Friday. Wil Myers is set to start his rehab next Saturday at Durham if he remains pain free during throwing drills in Charlotte.