Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall to A-Rod, 5-4

The Tampa Bay Rays returned to the friendly confines of Tropicana Field on Friday, after a successful 5-2 road trip. Even though Allan Dykstra and Logan Forsythe went back-to-back with a pair of mammoth homers in the fourth inning (Dykstra’s first in the majors), Alex Rodriguez soured Tampa Bay’s night with two homers and four RBI. The Rays fell in a 5-4 loss to New York to kick off a nine-game home stand.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Top the Blue Jays, 3-2

Steven Souza Jr. was without a doubt the hero in Tuesday’s contest between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays. Souza got the contest started with a long home run, and then sparked an eighth inning, go-ahead rally with a bunt. The Rays walked out of the Rogers Centre with a 3-2 win; their fourth consecutive W.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Beat Jays 2-1

Jake Odorizzi as impressive once again, going eight strong innings while the Tampa Bay Rays scored on two bases-loaded walks by R.A. Dickey to beat the Blue Jays 2-1 Monday night. The Rays improved to 4-3 on the season, sending a sellout crowd of 48,414 home unhappy.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: All Hail King Archer

Day game after a night game. Chris Archer got the start for the Tampa Bay Rays in the middle contest of the current incarnation of the Citrus Series — part one if you will. Jarred Cosart got the start for the Miami Marlins; his first outing of the season after suffering a blister on his right middle finger. Cosart has a favorable history against Tampa Bay, while Archer gave up the ghost in his last outing against the Marlins in June 2014. And though both hurlers pitched well Saturday afternoon, only one pitched exceedingly well and remained victorious — Chris Archer, who blanked the Marlins over the balance of his seven inning start. The Rays hitters did just enough to squeak past Miami, allowing the team to knot the Citrus Series record at two games apiece.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall to the Fish in Extras, 10-9

I could be wrong, yet I can’t help but feel that Rickie offered the best recap of the Tampa Bay Rays 10-9, extra inning loss to the Miami Marlins Friday night — and he did so in only six words. Still for whatever reason, I just couldn’t leave well enough alone. My compulsion, sadly, was to add to his summary. Wordiness is my cross to bear. Whatever the case, it was the best game because the Rays were able to close a seven run deficit in one inning, then rally once again to push the game into extra innings. And let’s be honest, this extra inning game was much more exciting than that six-hour-plus behemoth in the Bronx. Yet in true yin/yang fashion, Tampa Bay got into a huge hole early on, then inevitably lost.