Tampa Bay crawled into Yankee Stadium last night 2.5 games back of the Red Sox, tied with the Angels in the wildcard race following three demoralizing losses to the Yankees. Yet, after a 15-8 trouncing of the Yankees, the good guys were able to strut out of Ney York on a high note, just two games back of the Red Sox and one ahead of the Angels. The offense finally came out its catatonic slumber, scoring 15 runs on 17 hits. We’ll talk more about that in a moment. The big story though, was the first big league start of Matt Moore.
In front of 47,470 (ha, it didn’t look like that many on TV…just saying) including his family, Matt Moore destroyed the Yankees hitters, going five innings and giving up no runs on four hits, with one walk and 11 strikeouts. 11 freaking strikeouts!!!! Moore was able to induce 15 swinging strikes over the course of his five inning, 84 pitch, tenure. With a very good fastball (averaged 94.45 MPH), breaking pitch and change-up, Matt was a case study in pounding the strike zone. Incidentally, he also made history as the first pitcher to ever strike out 11 Yankees hitters in five innings or less. His fastball was overpowering, but what was really impressive was his command and his ability to locate his pitches. 
On the offensive side of things, Tampa Bay was able to give Moore a big cushion (a two touchdown lead as he put it) to fall back on with the help of Johnny Damon, Ben Zobrist, BJ Upton, and Matt Joyce; all of whom had a two plus RBI night. The Rays were able get to Bartolo Colon early, effectively dragging him through the mud, and ultimately knocking him out of the game after only three innings of work. Colon gave up seven runs (five earned) on seven hits including a two run dinger by Zobrist. The scoring cavalcade did not stop there though. Tampa Bay also hit Aaron Laffey and Scott Proctor hard, each giving up four runs a piece. In the fourth inning, Proctor gave up two home runs: a two run homer to Damon scoring Desmond Jennings, and a two run blast by Upton scoring Evan Longoria. Longoria, Reid Brignac, and rookie Russ Canzler were also able to get in on the action, each scoring an RBI and a run.
This isn’t to say that everything went smoothly though. In true Jekyll/Hyde fashion, or as BA called it a story of two games, New York was able to hit a post Moore Rays bullpen hard. The Yankees scored eight runs on 11 hits and three walks, making the game a little too close for comfort. Frankenpen will have to step up their effectiveness over the course of the next six games. JoMa can’t just depend on Brandon Gomes, Jake McGee, Joel Peralta, and Kyle Farnsworth alone. Unfortunately though, those four (fine, I’ll throw Juan Cruz in there for good measure) are the only truly consistent pitchers in the pen. Luckily, we’ve not had to depend on Farnsworth at all on this trip. He should be, knock on wood, healthy coming into the final home stand of the year.
Toronto is coming into the Trop today after a big extra inning win against the Angels. In the least, Tampa Bay will need to take at least two out of three games games from the Jays, before the gauntlet part whatever, when the Yankees come in to cap off the season on Monday.
The Red Sox will be taking their battered bodies into the Bronx for a three game series against the Yankees. Though the Red Sox have owned New York in the season series, this is a very different, very beleaguered Sox lineup. And though the Yankees have clinched a playoff berth, don’t expect them to roll over and play dead against their nemesis. We also can’t forget about a very dangerous Angels who also, hypothetically, could knock the Rangers into their current place. The future is unwritten kiddies, and this should be a very interesting final week of baseball.
Oh yeah, don’t forget to take advantage of the $10 Party Deck tickets (thanks to the folks at DRaysbay.com) and the free parking tonight! The lineups will be posted later. As always, Go Rays…and gulp, Go Yankees!