Going into last night’s rain lengthened game, you were given the impression that Tampa Bay were a mere inches from putting together a stretch run. Eight of their last 14 games were determined by one or two runs, and because of it one thing was certain; the pieces were there, it just came down to putting them together. Still, we waited with baited breath for a sign that they were on the other side of their malaise. If last night’s 7-0 handcuffing of the Twins did anything, it’s offer that sign… That glimmer of hope the Rays are ready to move forward. Tampa Bay starts the day tied with Texas for the first Wildcard spot, primed to pounce going into the last 15 games of the season.
Tag Archives: Wildcard race
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Archer, Rays Blank Twins
It may not have been perfect, and the Rays may have left a little to be desired following a pair of seventh inning running gaffes by Yunel Escobar and David DeJesus, but Tampa Bay was able to walk away with a 3-0 shutout victory over the Twins Friday night — increasing their chances of reaching the postseason once more.
The New What Next: There’s Still Life in Those Rays, A Rays vs Twins Series Preview
To say the Rays 4-3 win against the Red Sox was important would be an understatement. In the throes of a horrible stretch, Jeremy Hellickson put together a solid outing, while Tampa Bay took advantage of Jake Peavy’s misgivings — coming up with key (I refuse to call them clutch) hits to give them a 3-1 lead and the subsequent one run win.
Tampa Bay heads to Minneapolis to take on the lowly Twins in a three game set — the final leg in the 2013 Knutson Cup. The Rays swept Minnesota in four games back in July while in the midst of a 21-5 stretch. In an ideal world, facing a sub .500 team could be precisely what the doctored ordered following Thursday night’s huge win. A cautionary tale is in order though, Tampa Bay didn’t fare too well against a pair of sub .500 teams on their most recent west coast trip.
Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Drop Game One, 2-0
It’s been said you can’t win games if you don’t score runs. And if the Rays 2 – 0 loss (the eighth shutout of the year) to Boston Tuesday night did anything, its confirm that theory to a T. Tampa Bay wasted an outstanding 8 IP/3 H/2 R/2 ER/0 BB/9 K outing by David Price, dropping their seventh of 10 games and falling to 8.5 games behind the AL East leading Red Sox. At least you can’t blame Rays for not doing anything with RISP this time — only two runners reached second safely; James Loney in the second inning and Yunel Escobar in the eighth.
The New What Next: The Gauntlet Begins, Rays vs. Red Sox Series Preview
Let’s turn the clock back a bit — back to the middle of July when Tampa Bay was in the midst of a 21-5 stretch. The Rays waltzed into Fenway Park, in Boston, ahead of a highly anticipated battle for AL East dominance. Though the four game series was played over the course of seven …
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