Hideki Matsui rounds the bases after hitting a first-inning, two-run home run (read: a blast to RF) off Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Tampa Bay regaining sole ownership of first place, a 5-0 shutout win, making key defensive plays ultimately forcing the O’s to strand seven on the bags, including two bases loaded situations…You won’t hear me complain.

The Good:

-A killer five run first, thanks to Luke Scott’s two RBI single, a Sean Rodriguez RBI sacrifice, and a two run Hideki Matsui blast to RF. Tampa Bay needed to strike early, and strike early they did. They forced the O’s starter, Wei-Yin Chen, to throw 50 pitches. Chen would ultimately settle down, and give the Rays only one other scoring opportunity in his six innings of work.

-Aggressive base running. It’s true, had ‘Los not gone home on the Upton fielders choice, maybe the Rays could have (read: not would) tallied another run. However, who’s to say that Upton would have been safe at first? People are going to hate on that base running decision, but I’m not one of them. After watching the Rays get neutered by the White Sox in three games straight, it was a breath of fresh air to see them actively trying to get a man across the plate.

-Tampa Bay scored five runs in the first last night. They scored seven runs in the previous 27 innings.

-Tampa Bay went 3-6 wRISP. Hey, a 50% conversion rate is fine by me!

-With the bases loaded and only one out in the sixth, BJ Upton gunned down Steve Tolleson as he attempted to advance to second on a JJ Hardy pop out to center. Upton’s assist saved a run from crossing the plate, and got the Rays out of the inning. Plus, it was a pretty awesome play.

-With the bases loaded and the O’s threatening in the ninth, Fernando “Kimbo Slice” Rodney came into the game, throwing seven pitches to get the last two outs. Rodney struck out Mark Reynolds, and forced Chris Davis to ground out to first. He’s now 17/18 in the save department, tied for first, with Chris Perez, for the most saves in all of baseball.

-The people who sit behind me, in section 143, keep buying me beers. Christ, they saved me $18 last night!

The Not So Good:

-Tampa Bay had an opportunity to score another run off of Chen in the sixth. With two outs and runners on first and third, Pena struck out swinging to end the inning. I mean seriously, even Molina got a base hit (cough…it would have easily been a double had Rodriguez, Upton, or Johnson been at the plate) off of Chen in the inning. If he could get a hit, Pena could have too! Runs were at a premium after the first. It would have been nice to see an insurance run cross the plate.

Onward:

Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 2.83 ERA) takes the hill against Brian Matusz (4-5, 4.82 ERA) in today’s 4:10 game. Matusz looks to recover from a 6 IP/7 H/3 ER/3 BB/5 K loss to the Royals, while Hellickson looks to continue his dominance against the O’s at home. Young Jeremy has had great luck against the Orioles in the past, with a 2.51 ERA against them in his career. At home he’s been even better, with a 3-0 and 0.75 ERA.

Good news on the injury front. Desmond Jennings began his rehab stint with the Stone Crabs on Thursday, and is expected to meet up with the Rays on Tuesday in New York following a few games with the Durham Bulls. Also, Evan Longoria is expected to rejoin the Rays before the all-star break, though no specific time table has been mentioned.

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