The New What Next: Rays vs. Yankees — A Series Preview of Sorts

I can distinctly recall the mantra of the 2011 season being “Impossible? No. Improbable? Yes.” The Tampa Bay Rays put themselves into a hole that no other team, historically, had been able to dig themselves out of — yet they did. Then last season, with their playoff hopes quickly slipping away, they put together a season ending run which found the Rays in the postseason for the fourth time in six years. This year is different, and I’d imagine that the lyrics, “All I know is that I don’t know, all I know is that I don’t know nothing,” would be an apt maxim for the remainder of the season.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Price Solid, Loney Goes Yard, and the Rays Won 2-1

Grant Balfour made things hairy in the ninth, yet the Rays were still able to win the middle game of the series by a score of 2-1 — also winning the series in the process. David Price may have fallen short of his 10-K goal by one — a fact that’s irrelevant in the scheme of things — but he still walked away with a “W” behind a strong outing. Balfour was credited with the save.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Bedard, Myers, and the Rays Beat the Yankees, 5-1

The Tampa Bay Rays took the getaway game from the Yankees by a score of 5-1. They finished their road trip at .500 over the 10 games, after starting the trip with a 1-4 record. The winning pitcher was Erik Bedard, who gave the team an excellent 6 IP/6 H/1 ER/1 BB/3 K/85 pitch (58 strikes) outing. The Rays have a well deserved off-day Monday, before resuming the schedule Tuesday against the Orioles at the Trop.

The New What Next: Rays vs. Yankees — Another Series Preview of Sorts

The Tampa Bay Rays head the Big Crapple for the first time this season, where they’ll take on the New York Yankees in a three game weekend set, starting Friday. The series win that preceded the trip into New York was huge, and Tampa Bay will look to build on the momentum accrued upon their exit from Bean Town. Suffice it to say, the double header sweep was precisely what the doctor ordered. In the night game, the Rays proved they could come from behind after being down by three runs, while the relievers proved they could be relied upon to hold opponents right where they were — ultimately allowing the offense to tag the Red Sox with the winning runs in both games.