Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Drop the Second Consecutive Game to the Red Sox

In short, Fernando Rodney looked horrible, directly contributing to the loss. Rodney walked the bases loaded in the ninth, subsequently giving up the go-ahead three-run double to Will Middlebrooks, handing Boston a one run lead they’d never relinquish. He could not find the zone to save his life, throwing 35 pitches in 2/3 of an inning, only 16 pitches going for strikes.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Price Headed to the DL

The Rays will take on the Boston Red Sox Thursday night, in the rubber match the current three-game set. There really wasn’t much to like about the previous game. Tampa Bay gave up nine runs over the course of two innings, while the bats — though alive — couldn’t score more than two runs off Jon Lester — who was more lucky than dominant.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Beat the Sox 5-4

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox Tuesday night by a score of 5-3, taking the first game of a three game set from their AL East rivals. The Rays have now won six consecutive games, while Matt Moore has become Major League Baseball’s only 7-0 pitcher on the back of a 6.0 IP/3 H/3 R/3 ER/2 BB/8 K/1 HR outing where he threw 100 pitches (62 for strikes). Fernando Rodney got his seventh save in his first 1-2-3 outing of the season.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Sweep the Padres

What a difference a few days make. Five days ago, we were looking at a Rays team that had dropped two games after holding a pair of sizeable leads. And though the offense was strong, the pitching was shaky at best — especially the bullpen. Fast forward to Mother’s Day. The Rays completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres and are over .500 for the first time this season. What’s more, they look primed to to do damage against their AL East Rivals this week, the Boston Red Sox.

Looking Backward While Forward: The Win That Almost Wasn’t

Going into the seventh inning Saturday night, Jeremy Hellickson appeared to be on cruise-control. The Rays were up 6-2 and he’d given up only two runs on three hits, while retiring 16 consecutive batters — including six strikeouts. But then Helly did something that he’d done a few times this season: he gave up four or more runs, evaporating the Rays sizable lead.