Tampa Bay Rays 08/09

[Benfica7]

Rays in last night 2-1 on walk off hr by Cliff floyd.
rays are 33-22

[Benfica7]

Rays are 34-22
Shutout the White Sox 2-0
Rays are doing great so far this year.
Hopefully we can continue are greatness and make it to the playoffs.

[Benfica7]

Pitching Matchup
vs.
Mark Buehrle ... Andy Sonnanstine
2-6 5.26 ERA ... 6-3 4.98 ERA

[Benfica7]

GABE GROSS WALK OFF HOME RUN 4-3 RAYS WIN
35 and 22
We won the series 3 games to 1

[Benfica7]

VS


Location: Fenway Park


Tuesday, June 3
TB Matt Garza, RHP (4-1, 3.78)
Rays (35-22)
@
BOS Justin Masterson, RHP (1-0, 1.46)
Red Sox (35-24)

Scouting Report:
Rays: Garza will be making his 10th start of the season and his third career start against the Red Sox. On Wednesday afternoon against the Rangers, the 24-year-old right-hander allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out 10 to earn his fourth win of the season. Garza has a mid-90s fastball that sinks, a curve, a slider and a changeup. He is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in one start against the Red Sox this season, but he is 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in two career starts at Fenway Park.

Red Sox: Though the Red Sox have yet to make an announcement, it has been widely speculated that Masterson will be promoted to Boston for the third time this season to start in place of the injured Daisuke Matsuzaka. The last two times Masterson has been called up, it was for just one start. Both times he excelled. Most recently, Masterson allowed three hits and a run over 6 1/3 innings on May 20, earning his first Major League win against the Kansas City Royals. Masterson has made nine starts at the Minor League level this season, going 2-3 with a 3.86 ERA. Most recently, he made his debut at Triple-A Pawtucket, giving up four hits and one earned run over six innings.


Wednesday, June 4
GAME ON ESPN2
TB Edwin Jackson, RHP (3-4, 3.70)
Rays (35-22)
@
BOS Josh Beckett, RHP (5-4, 4.30)
Red Sox (35-24)

Scouting Report:
Rays: The right-hander was roughed up against the White Sox on May 29, touched for a season-high 10 hits and four runs in his fourth loss this season. Jackson is at his best when he is in control of his fastball, as he is more apt to use an array of filthy pitches to support his speed. Wednesday's start will be Jackson's third against Boston this season, and the 24-year-old will be looking for his first win. After lasting only four innings in his start at Fenway on May 2, Jackson will look to regain his stuff in the second game of the series.

Red Sox: The ace right-hander is starting to round into form. Beckett got a no-decision in his last start, but gave up just two runs over six innings to the Orioles while striking out 10. In the outing before that, he gave up two runs over seven innings to Oakland and took a tough-luck, 2-0 loss. This will be Beckett's second start of the season against the Rays. He lost the first matchup, but pitched perhaps his best game of the year in that one, striking out 13 and allowing two runs over seven innings. Opponents are hitting .231 against Beckett this season.


Thursday, June 5
TB James Shields, RHP (4-3, 3.24)
Rays (35-22)
@
BOS Jon Lester, LHP (3-3, 3.67)
Red Sox (35-24)

Scouting Report:
Rays: Shields held his own against a tough White Sox lineup on Friday night. The right-hander's one mistake, a solo home run off the bat of Alexei Ramirez, earned him a no-decision, as the Rays' bats were equally stagnant off Chicago's Jose Contreras. The Rays right-hander threw six innings, scattering seven hits and a walk. Shields has a potent changeup, and Friday night was no exception, as the hurler's best pitch carried him to the tune of six strikeouts. Shields is 1-1 in two starts vs. the Red Sox this year, with his lone win coming on April 27. He is a career 1-3 in six career appearances against Boston, posting a 4.76 ERA.

Red Sox: The lefty has been unspectacular in the two starts since his no-hitter, going five innings each time. In his last outing, Lester took a no-decision, giving up seven hits and three runs. He walked three and struck out four, throwing 103 pitches. Lester is holding opponents to a .243 average this season. Lester won his only start against the Rays this season, allowing four hits and a run over six innings.

[Benfica7]

Tough loss last night 7-4

Now this

The St. Petersburg Times reports that the Rays will place Carlos Pena on the disabled list with a fractured left finger.
Pena suffered the injury when he was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat on Tuesday. He stayed in the game and doubled and homered, but apparently the injury is serious enough to merit a trip to the disabled list. The Rays are expected to recall outfielder Justin Ruggiano, and Eric Hinske will likely see increased time at first base.

[Benfica7]

Tampa Bay Rays 5
Texas Rangers 4
WP: J.P. Howell (5 - 0)
SV: Dan Wheeler (2)
LP: Joaquin Benoit (3 - 2)

Thats good for Howell

Rays 0.5 games back from Boston for first

[Frank Cunha]

Tampa Bay 3 straight wins vs Boston Red Sox
the new leaders of the East

[Benfica7]

Iwamura walked.
Bartlett safe at first on catcher Mathis´ throwing error, Gross to third, Bartlett to second.
Gross walked.
Scot Shields relieved Ervin Santana.

Rays down 2-1 to Angels Bottom 8.
Go Rays!

[Benfica7]

Rays win 4-2!
Great comeback.

[Benfica7]

Angels at Rays
From Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida 7:10 ET


Tomorrows Starters


Jered Weaver
10 - 9 4.47 ERA.

vs
Matt Garza
10 - 7 3.63 ERA.

[Benfica7]

Iwamura, 2b
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Floyd, dh
Aybar, 3b
Hinske, lf
Gross, rf
Riggans, c
Bartlett, SS
Garza, RHP

[Benfica7]

You can watch the game Live on ESPN2.

[Benfica7]

Rays lost the game 5-4 last night on an infield single.

[Benfica7]

The Rays win tonight and also the Red Sox did too.