The Rays take two out of three from the Halos (now with 100% more Rodney on slaying the rally monkey)


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Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Sam Fuld, right, congratulates reliever Fernando Rodney, who earned the save in the Rays’ 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels, at a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, July 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

…And with that ladies and gents, the Rays have taken their second series in a row. They were able to hold the Angels to only three runs in 27 innings this time around.

Words cannot describe how great the pitching was in this series. Cobb, Moore, and Hellickson were absolutely spot on, as was the pen. Six games into this nine game road trip, the Rays are 4-2 as Tampa Bay finds itself again tied with Baltimore for second place in the east, and two games out of the second wildcard spot.

Zack Greinke was very impressive in his Angels debut, yet the fact of the matter is that he got out dueled by Hellickson. Greinke posted a 7 IP/7 H/2 R (both earned) line while striking out seven and walking one. He ended the day throwing 111 pitches (57 for strikes).

I’m not too psyched to watch Weaver, Wilson, and Greinke when the Rays face the Angels again in a few weeks. Hopefully Evan Longoria and Luke Scott back from the DL by then.

Highlights
  • The Rays held Pujols to 3-11 with one run and two RBI in this series. Pujols is now 4-22 against the Rays in 2012.
  • They also held the TNT Boys to 3-19 with only one run over the course of the last three games.
  • The pitching shutout the Angels in 23 consecutive innings, and 26 out of 27 innings overall.
  • Helly posted a 6 IP/2 H/5 K line on 86 pitches (54 for strikes). Oh yeah, he was also sick, and as per Joe Maddon, tossed his cookies twice in the course of the game.
  • The defense looked hella solid, with great plays by Ryan Roberts, Elliot Johnson, and Carlos Pena.
  • Credit where it’s due, not only did ‘Los hit a big double in the seventh, inevitably scoring on a wild pitch, but he also dug out his fair share of errant throws out of the dirt. Johnson, we love you bud, but could you please throw the ball well?
  • Greinke is now 2-5 against the Rays, yet he still has a sub three ERA. Scratch your head on that one.
  • Fernando Rodney is now 30 out of 31 in the save department with a 0.77 ERA. That’s effing insane!
  • ESPN had the Rays as the underdog in the last three games. I guess one out of three ain’t bad, eh Kruk?

Oh yeah, enjoy Fernando Rodney talking about slaying the Rally Monkey again today:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yRZCuGLElk]

Rays vs The The Angels Angels, 7/29/12 (starting lineup included)

Another stellar pitching performance and another lackluster showing at the plate; two things that have become synonymous with the Rays this season. Credit where it’s due, Moore looked great last night, and I think we’re finally seeing the rookie turn the corner…and not too soon. If the Rays are going to put together a post-season run, Moore is going to have to be on point. I think his last two outings are indicative of what we can expect. Jeremy Hellickson (5-6, 3.42 ERA), will take on Zack Greinke (9-3, 3.44 ERA) and the Angels this afternoon. Hellickson is another starter that’s had a tough time this season, though I think he may have turned a corner as well.

Helly is 1-6 in his last 10 starts, but he’s allowed three runs or fewer eight times during that span. He earned his first win in over two months Tuesday with a great 6.1 IP/2 H/1 ER/0 BB/4K performance against the Orioles. Helly has also only walked only one batter in his last two starts. The Angels have collectively posted a .211 BA/.268 OBP/.368 SLG/.637 OPS against, with two homers and two RBI. That is to say, he’s pitched well against the Angels. As with last night, it will be incumbent on the batters to carry the team today. And they’ll be facing a very good pitcher in Zack Greinke.

Greinke is 2-4 with a 3.32 ERA against the Rays, posting a 1.64 ERA in his last three meetings. You have to go back to 2009 to find a time that he’s given up more than two earned runs to the Rays. Greinke is very good, and the Rays are going to have to be patient at the plate to see if they can force him to pitch up in the zone…something that he typically doesn’t do. If one thing is certain, with a 53.7% to 24.3% GB/FB ratio, it’s going to be a low scoring, small ball kind of a day.

The Rays can walk away from Anaheim with a series win today. It’s not going to be easy, and the odds are assuredly against them. Then again, the odds were heavily against the Rays last night, and they eked out a W.

Tampa Bay Rays 7/29/12 Starting Lineup

Jennings CF
Fuld LF
Zobrist 2B
Joyce RF
Keppinger DH
Pena 1B
Roberts 3B
Lobaton C
Johnson SS
Hellickson RHP

Noteworthiness:BJ Upton has been scratched from today’s lineup, and Jeff Keppinger will fill the revolving DH door. I can’t really think of anything else to write, however this song has been going through my head following Matt Moore’s quality start last night:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHHT7dTmw8U]

Rays vs Angels 7/28/12 (starting lineup included)

Following last night’s lackluster offensive showing against Dan Haren, who frankly didn’t look as good as the Rays hitters made him look, Tampa Bay will take on a nemesis of sorts, CJ Wilson (9-6, 2.89 ERA).

Wilson is 3-1 (not including last years 9-0 ALDS debacle) in his career against the Rays, with a 2.67 ERA in five career regular season starts. The Rays are hitting a disgusting .188 against Wilson, with the LHP striking out the Rays 40 times in 33-2/3 innings.

That’s not to say that Wilson’s infallible. Four Rays have fared well against him in the past; Jeff Keppinger, Matt Joyce, Sean Rodriguez, and Ben Zobrist. Those four have posted a .286 BAA, with three homers, two doubles, and eight RBI. They will play integral parts of the lineup if the Rays are to have any chance against Wilson. You and I both know that the odds are good that Carlos Pena, BJ Upton, and Jose Molina will do diddly squat tonight. Wilson has had some trouble in July, going 0-2 with a 4.55 in five starts, and the Rays will look to pounce on any mistakes that he may make. Hell, they’ve done it before and they could do it again. Anything’s possible….right?

The Rays will counter with Matt Moore (6-7, 4.23 ERA). Moore’s had his struggles this season, though I feel like he may have finally turned the corner in his last start. Moore gave up two runs on five hits, with no walks, in eight innings of work against the Mariners on Sunday.

In my eyes, tonight’s game will be won or lost, based on the performance of the offense. I can say with 100% confidence that going 0-7 wRISP, while stranding six on the base paths, ain’t gonna cut it. Neither will ‘Los, Upton, and Ryan Roberts pulling another 0-fer.

Rays 7/28/12 Starting Lineup

Jennings LF
Upton CF
Zobrist DH
Keppinger 1B
Roberts 3B
Rodriguez SS
Joyce RF
Conrad 2B
Molina C
Moore LHP

Noteworthiness: In not so surprising news, Kepp gets the start at first, while Pena sits this one out…probably until the Angels put in a righty, or they relieve Wilson with someone that exclusively throws fastballs in Pena’s wheelhouse. Oh wait, that pitcher doesn’t exist as per Pena’s sub .200 batting average. In other news, Conrad’s in the lineup…again. I guess Maddon’s failed attempt at pinch hitting Conrad last night didn’t send a clear message to the Rays coaching staff. Ugh.

Evan Longoria has gone 0-3 with a walk in each of his two games with the Durham Bulls. The Rays gold glove third baseman has hit DH in the last two games, and will continue to fill that role for the duration of his rehab stint. Joe Maddon noted that Longo could be back in the lineup as early as next week, though it’s more likely that he’ll be back in time for the Rays next home stand.

Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Sam Fuld catches a foul fly off Alberto Callaspo of the Los Angeles Angels the second inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, July 27, 2012. Photo: Reed Saxon / AP

It also bears mentioning that Sam Fuld has posted a .500 BA/.538 OBP/.667 SLG/1.205 OPS line in 13 plate appearances since he was reactivated from the DL earlier this week. He’s driven in two, while crossing the plate once on the backs of six hits and a walk, including two doubles. I know, his numbers will even out at some point. But it is nice to be able to watch and give credit to a player that exemplifies the Rays way, both in the outfield, and at the plate.

Adios, Brandon Allen

Tampa Bay Rays’ Brandon Allen follows the flight of his game-winning, two-run walk off home run off Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Jordan Walden during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, April 26, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Rays won 4-3. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Brandon Allen, a folk hero of sorts for hitting a game winning walk-off homer in his first game as a Rays, is no longer with the Rays organization. Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune reported that the Rays have sold his rights to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Allen appeared in seven games with the Rays before he was assigned to Triple-A Durham where he posted a .262 BA/.295 OBP/.451 SLG/.746 OPS/.322 BABIP/.326 wOBA line.

I guess we have to fix our piece on who’s available in the Rays farm system, eh? At least Leslie Allen and Stephen Vogt are still in Triple-A. On a side note, someone I overlooked in the farm system piece was the Durham Bulls first baseman, Henry Wrigley.

Wrigley’s posted a .343 BA/.381 OBP/.562 SLG/.943 OPS/.400 BABIP/.411 wOBA line with 42 RBI, 30 runs, and 30 extra base hits including 10 homers in 233 at-bats so far with the Durham Bulls this season. With those numbers, I could care less that he has a 6% walk percentage and a 20.2% strikeout percentage. Cough…his strikeout percentage is lower than both Carlos Pena and BJ Upton…cough. “Believe me if he keeps this up the Rays will find him a spot” said Durham manager, Charlie Montoyo, on the subject of Henry Wrigley and his bat with the Bulls.