Do the Creep! The “Game Synopsis as a Series of Tweets” Edition

It all comes down to today folks. If the Rays can beat the ChiSox and the A’s, O’s, and Angels lose, Tampa Bay can enter their final home stand against Baltimore with a shot at the wildcard…assuming they can sweep the Orioles. A tall order indeed.

The only other conceivable scenario, at least that I can think of, would be if the Orioles win today yet the Rays are able to sweep them this week, and the other wildcard contention teams drop the rest of their games. In any case, the Rays have got to win the next four games. Is it Probable that the Rays will make it into the postseason? No. Is it possible? Sure.

“We have to believe we’re going to get the help while we take care of our own business. We’re 1-0 on Saturday, let’s go 1-0 on Sunday,” said manager Joe Maddon in his post game presser, following the Rays dominating win (synopsis below) against the White Sox. “I’m like the biggest scoreboard watcher, but at the end of the day I can’t worry about that.”

We also still believe in our guys chances of making it to the playoffs, until the math proves otherwise. And we’ll still cheer Tampa Bay on, even if the worst case scenario were to come to fruition.

Besides, there is still a lot to look forward to even if the Rays don’t make it to the postseason for the third year in a row. A win by Price would effectively lock him in for the Cy Young award. He’d also be the first Ray to win 20 games. Don’t forget that Fernando Rodney needs only 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball to break Dennis Eckersley’s 22 year-old record. And let’s assume that the Rays do win the next four games; they will end the season with 91 wins, going 13-1 down the stretch. That, in and of itself, is pretty incredible.

Okay, I’ll save the end of the season sappiness for game 162. Until then, here’s another pointless game synopsis as a series of tweets.

The Third Inning

• Kepp follows Zobrists RBI double with a two run homer. Rays up 3-0 in the third with only one out. 162Strong!
• I’d like to personally thank Fox for playing Van Halen’s Panama as their segue music into the between innings commercials. Nice touch!

The Fourth Inning

• Now Upton with an RBI single, moving Gimenez to third. Sale pulled after 3-1/3 with men on the corners and only one out. Rays 4-0 in the fourth.

• Longo singles home Gimenez, yet Upton is gunned down at the plate. Rays enter the Sox half of the fourth up by five.

• @Ken_Rosenthal: We wish you’d call the game instead of McCarver. Can we fan ballet you into the booth?

• RTMarc Topkin ‏@TBTimes_Rays: Moore breaks Scott Kazmir’s Rays rookie record of 175 strikeouts in a season.

The Sixth Inning

• Chris Gimenez with his first homer in a Rays uniform. Tampa Bay now up by six, 6-0 in the sixth. Three sixes, hmm. #ListentoIronMaiden
• Desmond Jennings now with his second stolen bag of the game. Rays with three steals so far. Man on second, one out.
• Zo walks and now two on with one out. Longoria at the plate. Someone call it. (editors note: Longoria ultimately struck out)
• Farnsworth in one out into the sixth to face Youkilis. Moore threw a hell of a game, allowing three base runners on one hit and two walks.
• Moore with a big bounceback though, 5 1/3 IP/1 H/2 BB/5 K. Hadn’t gone more than 4 IP in his previous 3 starts.
• Farnsy gets Dunn on a hell of a change-up to end the inning. Rays are still up by six, going into the seventh. 6-0.
• Question answered. Archer in for the seventh until ???

The Seventh Inning

• Matt Joyce makes it 7-0 by going yard to center.
• Luke Scott in to pinch hit for Sean Rod.
• Now Scotty gets on base with a single to right. One on and one out in the seventh.
• Rays strand two to end the inning. Still up 7-0. Archer was warming in the pen. Might he be coming in to close out the last three?
• Wow, great play by Roberts ranging to his left, subsequently diving for the ball to end the inning. In other news, the Sox got another hit. (editors note: at this point, the Sox had only one hit on the day)

The Eighth Inning

• Wow! Matt Joyce just hit his second blast to center. This time a three-run shot, and the Rays are up 10-0 in the eighth. #162Strong!

• RTMarc Topkin ‏@TBTimes_Rays: Rays get Longoria, Upton and Zobrist off their feet with 10-0 lead, as Brignac, Thompson and E. Johnson are in.

The Ninth Inning

• Vogt is now 0-22 as he grounds out to short.
• RT RMooneyTrib ‏@RMooneyTrib: A’s rally for win against Mariners so Rays will remain 3 back of the second wild card spot providing they hold on to this 6 run lead.
• Brandon Gomes in to close out the game.
• Put a fork in it, Rays win 10-4 following a Tyler Flowers foul out to Carlos Peña.

Moving Forward