I’m tired. I don’t feel like being smart, nor do I feel like breaking down the blown SEVEN RUN LEAD debacle that was Monday night’s Rays game. That said, I posted this invitation on our Tumblr page,
“Is there anyone who wants to write the game summary for us tonight? I’m in no mood, for obvious reasons. We’ll give you something fancy, like a handful if stickers.”
The Rays come home from their most recent road trip, to take on the Toronto Blue Jays in a four game series at the Trop, starting Monday. This could be a big series for the Rays who went 4-5 on the road, and could walk into a weekend series against a struggling San Diego Padres with a plus .500 record for the first time this season. Both the 11-21 Toronto Blue Jays and the San Diego Padres have struggled handily this season. And though the Rays have struggled as well, Tampa Bay seems primed to use the up coming series as a spring board of sorts to right the ship, especially from the pitching perspective. In short, if ever there was an opportunity to take advantage of a pair of struggling teams, it is now.
Well, that certainly didn’t go as planned. Neither David Price nor the Rays could build on their respective previous starts Saturday night, as Tampa Bay got drilled by the Colorado Rockies, losing handily by a score of 9-3. The redundant plot line was the same: Rays take lead, Rays give up lead, Rays lose the game. And though David Price gave up a career worst nine runs — raising his ERA 6.25 — I’d be hesitant to place the blame on he and he alone; sloppy fielding and a quiet offense certainly didn’t help the cause.
Four home runs were hit Friday night: A pair by Nolan Arenado and Michael Cuddyer for the Rockies, and a pair by Desmond Jennings and Kelly Johnson. And though all four were well struck, none of them looked like homers off the bat. At the same time, there were other well struck fly-balls that seemed to be carrying, but stayed in the park. Confusing and somewhat disorienting? You betcha!
Rays 5/3/13 Starting Lineup:
Jennings CF, Roberts 2B, Zobrist RF, Longoria 3B, Rodriquez 1B, Johnson LF, Escobar SS, Lobaton C, Moore LHP
