A Tampa Bay Rays Blog From The Other Half

Posts tagged Magrane

Game 99 – A’s vs. Rays

Jul22
2008 2 Comments Written by Jessica

Staats and Magrane storm forecasters on sucky pitcher night.

It was the top of the 4th when the Rays announcers predicted a storm and warned the fans.  Even though it was Sonny, baseballs were being left up in the zone.  They warned us that technically the A’s weren’t power surges, but if something didn’t change, severe weather was ahead.  Sure enough a couple of pitches later the storm hit, in the form of a three run home-run.  Take cover.

Sonny pitched seven innings and gave up three runs.  Rays fans accept that, knowing it could have been much worse.  If the offense would stop sprinkling the hits and put more of them together, three runs is chump change.  Then Maddon decides to make it sucky pitcher night.  Has anyone else ever noticed that he does this?  The non-sucky pitchers like Howell, Balfour and sometime Percival seemed to be grouped together.  Maddon used them when he wants to shut down his opponents.  But tonight his thinking was more like this…

Sonnanstine 7IP, 5H, 3ER  3-1 A’s.
Okay great, Sonny made it through seven.  We’re down by two.  I usually only go with the non-sucky pitchers when we have a lead or a tie.  Let’s throw a sucky guy in there and see how he does.  Miller’s been real sucky lately, maybe he’ll try to prove his worth.

Miller walks the first batter of the 8th. 
Shit, he walked the guy.  Next batter is a righty.  Hmmm.  Let’s leave him in.  He has to get better at some point.

Wild pitch, runner moseys on into scoring position.
That was unfortunate.

Suzuki doubles, runner scores.  4-1 A’s
(slapping forehead)When will I ever learn.  He is super sucky against right handers.

Miller walks the next batter.
Wow, he’s got issues.  Now we’re down by even more, with runners on.  Time to take a stroll to the mound.  I’m not wasting one of my non sucky guys.  Bring in Reyes.

The next batter fouls out to Navarro.
Excellent an out.  Seems like it’s been a while.  Maybe I’ll have some time for wine tonight after all.

Reyes walks the next batter to load the bases.
Eureka, the sucky guys are really suckin tonight.  They’re like Hoovers.

The next batter hits a sac fly and the runner scores.  5-1 A’s.
Well at least there are two outs now.  Let’s see if he can get the third.

The next batter singles scoring a run, and Zobrist can’t catch(but the error goes to CC?) so another run scores.  7-1 A’s.
You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out!

Reyes gets a strike out to end the inning.
About frickin time.

Top of the 9th, 7-1 A’s.
Perfect time to give Hammel some playing time.

Zobrist biffs two balls hit to short, resulting in a run scoring.
Note to self:  add Zobrist to the sucky list.

Go Rays!!

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Home Sweet Home

Jul14
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

When I left the Rays had a five game lead in the AL East.  Good times indeed.  They finished their sweep of the Red Sox when I was on the road.  It was okay being disconnected from Rays universe, since I woke up to the news that the Rays were still winning.  They took three of four from Kansas City.  Perfectly acceptable.

Just as I was starting to miss my computer, Staats and Magrane, and even Todd Kalas the Rays lost two to the Yankees.  It’s okay, I was surrounded by beer and Tigers fans.  So naturally I chose the beer. 

That’s when the down-slide started.  I was in the hills of North Carolina.  Totally disconnected.  My cell phone didn’t even work.  Nascar country and my Sprint phone didn’t have service!  This was probably good for me, but…whatever.

As I was comin down the mountain, I heard the news.  The Indians swept the Rays.  The Indians who had lost ten in a row?  So annoying.  To be honest everything was annoying me.  One guy called me a bandwagon fan since I was wearing my Longo shirt.  He said maybe if I was wearing a Devil Rays shirt it wouldn’t be so obvious.  This just irked me.  He’s right I’ve only been a Rays fan for half of their existence, but they aren’t that old!  And even die hard fans wear the new gear!  And at least I live there!  They rag on Rays fans for not filling the stadium, and then they call them bandwagon fans when they do show up.  Infuriating!

Then there’s this talk that Rays fans are all arrogant.  Every fan base has it’s jerk-offs, that doesn’t mean it’s the standard.  Most of the Rays fans I know can’t believe how much fun this season is, and are cautiously optimistic.  Funny how most of these comments come from Yankees and Red Sox fans.  Oh, and they can keep their Sweet Caroline.  Last time I checked the fans don’t decide what songs are played at the Trop.  I would have went with the old stand by “na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey Goodbye!”

Before I got home, I needed to get some groceries since the cupboards were bare.  That was just the cherry on top of my day.  As I was shopping two people in Red Sox gear passed each other and cheered “We’re in first place again!”  I gave them the evil eye, but they didn’t melt like I planned.  It took all of my strength not to scream at them. “Get out of my store!  Get out of my town!”  Instead I just threw more cookies in my cart.  Now it will be the Red Sox fault when I get fat.

Back in the car something dawned on me.  You know why I was so crabby?  Because I cared.  Because the Rays are a good enough team to make the playoffs this year, let alone next year.  For Rays fans the goal has changed.  We don’t just want a .500 season, we want the whole enchilada, and this team can do it.

So this blogger and the Rays are finally home desperately needing to regroup.  We knew the Rays would have a slump at some point, I’d say right before the All-star break is a good time to do it.  Now they can rest and get back to winning series again.

Let’s have some fun the next couple of days, with the home-run derby and the all-star game.  I’m a little nervous about Longo, but he’s young and what an experience that will be for him.  Plus this year I’ll have someone to root for.  As for the all-star game a win could come in handy when the Rays make it to the world series. :)

Great to be home!  Go Rays!!

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Game 71 – Cubs vs. Rays

Jun18
2008 2 Comments Written by Jessica

Viewer Dissatisfaction

Good thing the Rays won tonight cause otherwise there would be one irate little chicky in the house.  I didn’t get home until about a half an hour after the game started.  I ran in to turn on the game.  If we’re being honest, I thought there was a good chance that in 30 minutes Sonny could already have been getting schlacked.  So I turn on ION, which had MLB listed from 7-10pm.  However on my TV is some dude playing the violin on the beach.  Not exactly what I’m looking for.  Ever.

I quick flip over to FSN, not there.  Then I think, maybe ESPN isn’t blacked out, that would be so sweet, but NO.  Yeah at this point I’m throwing my hands up in the air, and a WTF might have escaped my lips.  I’m human, especially when I can’t get my Rays fix.

On occasion I can be resourceful and I knew just where to find the answer.  DRaysBay.  Sure enough, in the comments someone was having the same problem as me, and the solution was also provided.  Thanks boys, I never would have thought to check WGN (the Chicago network I for some reason get).

For the record I love both Rays Index and DRaysBay, but I knew the Professor was probably all comfy in his recliner with his dog at his feet and an ice cold beverage next to him watching the Rays on ESPN in awesome HD.  He was going to be no help in this situation. :)

Watching a Rays game on the Cubs network sucks.  I missed Staats and Magrane.  I know some people would be amazed to hear that, but aside from some national guys, I don’t want to hear anyone else.  I didn’t care for the Chicago guys.  At one point they were making really lame jokes about the Rays tank in centerfield.  The only time they got a chuckle out of me was when they said it would be cool if Wheeler’s number was 18, and that’s just because I appreciate stupid humor.

Also on Rays TV they try to show the Rays fans in the crowd.  On WGN it was painful, because I think they showed every single Cubs fan there.

Boring story short, I got to watch the game.  The Rays won again.  They beat the team with the best record in baseball.  Twice.  Sonny vs. Zambrano.  Unbelievable.  Final score Chicago 4 – Tampa 5.

Let’s hope they can keep it up, and I can watch the game in my comfort zone tomorrow.  Go Rays!!

PS.  Hope no one recorded ION for three hours only to come home and find no baseball.  That’s enough to irk ya!

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Game 70 – Cubs vs. Rays

Jun17
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

So much better than Sunday’s suckfest.

What a game!  Rays win!  Chicago 2 – Tampa 3.  Let’s relive it from my effed up perspective!

Way too much Cubs gear in the crowd.  I know there are a lot of duel fans.  You know Cubs fans since birth, Rays fans since moving to FL.  These people should be wearing their Rays gear.  The Cubs get tons of support at their home games and so should the Rays.  At the end everyone was cheering though.

Top 1st – Kazmir sits them back down 1, 2, 3.

Bottom 1st – Aki and Aybar strike out.  BJ walks but then gets thrown out stealing 2nd.  Really wasn’t even close.

Top 2nd – Kazmir walks one but gets three others out.

Bottom 2nd – Hinske grounds out.  Longo fouls out.  Clifford crushes one!  0-1 Rays!  Navi strikes out.

Top 3rd – Kazmir retires them in order.

Bottom 3rd – Gross base hit (you’d think I’d be used to it, but that still sounds funny), Bartlett base hit, Aki flies out, Aybar base hit, sweet bases loaded and only one out.  BJ taps one and they get Gross out at home.  Still bases loaded, but Hinske strikes out.

Top 4th – Kazmir walks one cub, but gets three others out again.

Bottom 4th – Longo and Clifford both fly out.  Navi gets a base hit, but Gross strikes out.  Man these pitchers are good.

Top 5th – Cubs wake from hybernation.  A strikeout followed by a base hit to center that ends the no hitter, followed by another strikout.  Then a chopper to the right side.  Aybar invades Aki’s space and it gets by both of them allowing a run to score.  Tie game.  So first and third with 2 outs.  Kazmir walks the next guy, ending his night.  He pitched great but he couldn’t always reign it in so his pitch count got away from him.  Balfour came in and got a huge bases loaded strikeout to end the threat.  HUGE.

Bottom 5th – Bartlett flies out.  He and Longo are scruffy.  This girl likes them better clean shaven, but probably wouldn’t be picky if it came right down to it.  Aki walks.  Aybar lines out.  BJ  base hit!  1st and 3rd, 2outs.  Hinske strikes out again.  Bummer dude.

Top 6th – Balfour retires the side.

Bottom 6th – What do they say?  Chicks love the Longo ball.  Well, this chick does!  1-2 Rays.  Cubs make some nice plays and we move on.

Top 7th – JP Howell I live without you, is in to pitch.  He strikes out the first two, and then is completely jinxed by Joe Magrane.  He couldn’t stop going on about how much JP means to this team, and Bam! a dude hits a double.  Navi’s got his back though.  He threw the guy out stealing 3rd.

Bottom 7th - Aki hits a chopper and the cubs pitcher throws it into right field, so Aki ends up a third.  Woohoo!  Aybar lines out again.  BJ walks.  Hinske finally decides he’s not going to leave all these runners on base and gets a base hit to score Aki.  1-3 Rays.  Longo hits a fielders choice and they get BJ at home.  I was surpised he was running, but then it’s BJ we’re talking about.  Jonny Gomes takes one for the team, and it’s bases loaded for  Navi.  He hits it all the way to the warning track, but some annoying Cub caught it.

Top 8th – Wheeler gets them in order.  Yep, he avoided the drama.

Bottom 8th – Gross fouls out.  Bartlett doubles.  Love him.  Then he steals third.  Double love, but the Rays leave him stranded.

Top the 9th – Percy in to show no mercy, except he did.  Started with a fly out.  Great catch by Ruggiano.  No way Hinske catches that ball.  Next batter gets a base hit as does Fukodome.  Mercy Percy you’re makin me nervous.  2nd and 3rd 1out. 
Wild pitch scores a run!  2-3 Rays.  Ugh does anyone have any Rolaids?  Percy strikes the next guy out, and I started breathing again. 
Guy on third, 2 outs Jim Edmonds in to hit.  Another wild pitch but this one bounced back to Navi.  Way to close for comfort.  He walks Edmonds.  It’s seriously tense here.
1st and 3rd, 2 outs and the Cubs try the old squeeze play and it damned near worked!  Longo made a great grab and bounced the throw a little. but Aybar played it like the pro he is!  Rays win!

Let’s hope they play this good tomorrow, since this game was so fun.  Go Rays!!

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Game 67 – Marlins vs. Rays

Jun13
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Friday the 13th/Opposite Day?

Some people have anxiety on Friday the 13th.  I usually treat it as any other day, but today I had a bunch of good things happen.  Little things, but I’m a simple girl.

Everything just kind of went smoothly for me during the day, which is not normal.  At the end of the day I was pretty tired and didn’t really feel like playing tennis.  It rained.  So we went for ice cream instead.  Cause if you’re not going to exercise you might as well eat dessert.  Then when I was leaving Baskin Robbins the guy gave me a free muffin.  Dessert and breakfast, stellar.  To top it off, I saw a rainbow on the way home.

But the best was the Rays winning with Sonny on the mound!  Final score Marlins 3 – Rays 7.  Oh and bonus the Red Sox lost. 

I should probably apologize to Andy though.  I really have no faith in him.  He causes me more stress than any other Rays pitcher, but if he continues to only give up three runs, he gives the Rays a good chance to win. 

Fun times from the game:
Hinske drove in two runs in the bottom of the 1st to ease many Rays fans’ minds.
Clifford stole second, then took third when the throw went into center.  Hope he didn’t run himself right onto the DL.
Gross drove him in.
Bartlett base hit, stolen base and score on Aki grounder.
Carlos Pena in the booth talking to Staats and Magrane.  Wouldn’t you be tempted to touch Staats’s hair?
Navi drives in Bartlett for another run.  3-5 Rays.
This was not fun.  BJ singles to left with Aki on second.  The hit was not even that deep and Foley sends Aki home.  He was out by a mile.
Percy singing along to Flo-Rida.  baggy sweat pants and the reeboks with the straps, she turned around and gave that big booty a slap
I would have taken him for a country fan?
JP Howell doing his thing.  You know not giving up any runs.
Bartlett sacrifice fly, and Aybar comes crashing in to score another run.  3-6 Rays.
Another Friday the 13th gift.  Wheeler came into the game and avoided drama!
Bartlett singles, steals second and scores when Navi singles.  Barty for MVP.  3-7 Rays.
Percy saves the day.
Rays win!

Let’s hope they can keep it up tomorrow.  Wish I could watch Garza, but alas it’s not on TV.  Just gives us an excuse to go out instead!  Go Rays!!

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Game 55 – White Sox vs. Rays

May30
2008 3 Comments Written by Jessica

Another Game, Another Hero.

Clifford hit a walk off homerun!  He’s not a big red dog, but he’s large and he can wail.  Rays win!  Final score Chicago 1 – Tampa 2!

Mr. Maddon must have got my memo since he went back to my preferred line-up.  Now if only he would give Ruggiano a chance.

James Shields is such a trooper.  Last time out he didn’t have great stuff but pitched eight innings anyway.  He was off again tonight, but he kept going after them, and he kept his team in the game.  I dig that about him.  He really only made one big mistake and that was to a guy that nobody knows how to pitch to anyway.  Oh, and his wife is really cute too.

The relief corps did their jobs, when any slight mistake could have cost the Rays the game.  Excellent work men.

BJ Upton is looking great at the plate right now.  He’s the guy I want up there in the big situations.

Pena is not the guy I want up there right now.  He had two more strikeouts tonight in key situations.

Aki had a couple hits tonight.  He’s really stepping it up.

The defense was excellent again.  Couple huge double plays.  The only blip was the fly ball they let drop in short center, but BJ was able to make a play at second anyway for the third out.  Nice job by Longo to be covering there,  or as Magrane called him “Johnny on the spot.”

The big guy deserves three beers cheers for creaming that fast ball to center, and leveling the series with one swing of the bat!

Let’s hope Kazmir can keep it going tomorrow!  Go Rays!!

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Game 49 – Orioles vs. Rays

May24
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Not on TV!!!

This is a game I wish I could have seen!  Even if it was a bit like batting practice for the Rays.  What do Staats and Magrane do on these nights?  They wouldn’t want to miss the Commodores.

Evan Longoria is way hotter than Eva.  The fact that I’m not a switch hitter might have something to do with it but…  Evan hit two homeruns tonight.  In the first two innings.  Love him.  He drove in six runs.  Six.  That’s hot!

The super cool BJ Upton went 4 for 4 with two doubles.  Smooth.

Pena was rockin too.  Was he just a homerun shy of the cycle?

Can’t comment on any of the defensive plays, because the freakin game wasn’t on TV!

E. Jackson finally gets a win.  Although he pitched five innings and gave up three runs.  I’m going to venture a guess that he was struggling with control.  I’m not a professional, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Howell did good in relief once again.

Glover did not good in relief once again.

Reyes finished it.  Oh and the Rays won big.  Baltimore 4 – Tampa 11!

Hope they saved some bat power for a sweep tomorrow!  Go Rays!!

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Game 39 – Yankees vs. Rays

May13
2008 4 Comments Written by Jessica

Mercy Percy, you owe Edwin some surf n turf!

Edwin, Mr. Jackson if you’re nasty, pitched seven awesome shut out innings once again.  

Chien-Ming Wang pitched pretty well himself, giving up only one run through seven.

The Rays scored in the fourth when Pena doubled.  Clifford moved him over, and then Hinske knocked him in.  Stellar.

The Yankees threatened in the 6th when Hinske turned a Jeter single into a triple.  He dove and missed a ball that he should have let drop.  It wasn’t even close by the way.  Jackson did a great job to pitch out that inning and the 7th when once again he had a runner on third.

The whole game was kind of tense, because although the Rays were winning, one run wasn’t going to cut it.

Is it just me or does it seem like Carl Crawford doesn’t listen to his teammates when they are calling fly balls??  A coach needs to address this situation or someone is going to get hurt, and then this blogger won’t be a happy camper.

Wheeler shut them down in the eighth, and even avoided his urge for the dramatic.

The Rays had two men on in the 8th, but Clifford hit into a double play.  Not good.

Percy left a ball up with one out in the ninth and Matsui showed him why that is not recommended.  Tie ball game.

The Rays couldn’t get anything going in the ninth, mostly I think because they knew I wanted to go to bed.

Howell made quick work of them in the 10th.

Top of the tenth, CC singles against Rivera!  Rock on, speed on the basepaths.  Except he doesn’t run, at all, anywhere????  And to make matters worse Staats and Magrane are giving us sick stats on why he should be running against Mariano.  BJ, Pena and Longo go down in order.  Even less sleep.

Howell again proves his worth in the 11th, aided by a nice double play.

Bottom 11th, Rivera still pitching.  Clifford leads off with a single!  He is totally forgiven for the whole double play thing.  Gomes comes in to run for him, and Gomes being Gomes steals second, with a terrible jump.  He should have been out by a mile, but Molina biffs the throw and Jonny is safe!  Gabe Gross is up.  Gotta admit I’m comin around to him especially since he singled!  And Jonny scored!  The winning run!  The Rays win!  New York 1 – Tampa 2.

They handed Mariano Rivera his first earned run and lost save attempt.  They moved into first place.  Todd Kalas said they have the best record in the American League, and he’s a handsome fella so I believe him. 

You know what’s awesome.  The Marlins have the same record!  What kind of twisted world are we living in?  I need to buy a lottery ticket!

All this winning.  Jonny Gomes said it best “Tell ya what, it doesn’t suck!”  Go Rays!!

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Game 32 – Rays vs. Blue Jays

May06
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jessica

Pregame – Sonny vs. Burnett.  John Gibbons looks so mean.  Like Ray Liotta mean.

1st inning – pitchers roll, everyone out.

Top of 2nd – Burnett strikes out the side.

Bottom 2nd – Stairs gets a base hit.  Wells hits into a fielders choice, out at second.  Then the Rays get Wells in a pickle.  Overbay singles too, but Hill pops out to end the inning.

Top 3rd – Navi gets a bloop single past McScrappy.  It’s a start.  Gross gets a walk.  Did he borrow Alex Rodriguez’s purple lip gloss?  Bartlett hits one hard but right to the left fielder.  Damn.  Aki gets a favor from the baseball gods.   Two balls that were clearly off the plate were called strikes, then the gods took it in their hands.  A ball gets away from the catcher Zaun and the runners move to second and third.  Then as a bonus Aki gets a base hit!  Navi scores 1-0 Rays.
Carl Crawford hits a sac fly to score Gross.  2-0 Rays.  BJ base hit up the middle, Aki scores.  3-0 Rays.  Rock on.  Pena of the RAAYS, who likes to call time, strikes out.

Bottom 3rd – Zaun has a nice hit but is held to a single because of Gross and his go go gadget arm.  Eckstein hits one over BJ’s head in center, did they underestimate Scrappy-Do’s power?  Aki’s relay gets Zaun at home, but shocker, the Rays get screwed on another call!  WTF!  Are they aware that the Devil Ray that hit an ump with a bat is no longer a Ray!!  They score another run in this inning on a sac fly, but they shouldn’t have scored any.  3-2 Rays.

Top 4th – Longo strikes out.  Hinske doubles.  Navi pops out.  Hinske steals third.  Shitske my ass.  That sounds funny.  Gross strikes out.

Bottom 4th – Wells hits a triple on an 0-2 meatball.  Overbay hits a sac fly and the score is tied.  Hill and Zaun fly out and ground out.

Top 5th – Bartlett basehit.  Aki doubles and scores Bartlett, but is kinda dumb and tries for a triple, out.  If the Rays lose there is plenty to bitch about in this game.  Crawford pops out.  BJ singles up the middle, then steals second, and takes third on an error.  Pena strikes out again.  4-3 Rays.

Bottom 5th – McDonald singles (he’s in for Eckstein who hurt himself being all scrappy and sh*t)  Rios strikes out again.  Stewart grounds out on a nice barehanded play by Bartlett.  It gets a “nifty” from Magrane.  Rolen gets Sonny’s only walk, but Stairs grounds out.

Top 6th - Longo looks a little lost and fouls out.  Hinske homers! Huge!  At this point ya gotta believe he’s trying to piss off Jays fans.  5-3 Rays.  Navi grounds out.  Gross maims their shortstop with a ground ball single.  McDonald really hurt his ankle? trying to make the play.  Holy Honkin Paramedic Chick!  McDonald gets to ride off on the cart.  Bartlett strikes out.

Bottom 6th – Wells base hit.  Overbay doubles off the wall.  Wells scores, with no throw home???  Aki’s kinda off tonight.  5-4 Rays.  Hill flies out.  Zaun hits a grounder and Pena takes it off the face, but can’t make the play.  Definitely saved some runs though.  Scutaro grounds into a double play.  Whew, that was close.

Top 7th – Brian Tallet pitching.  Aki grounds out.  CC walks.  BJ grounds out but moves CC over.  Pena strikes out hook, line and sinker.

Bottom 7th – Wheeler in to pitch.  Sonny did a good job of keeping the Rays in the game.  Rios notches strike out number three.  Stewart grounds out, and Rolen flies out.  Nice.

Top 8th – Longo walks.  Hinske grounds out but moves Longo over.  Navi grounds out but moves Longo to third.  Gross and his .174 batting average strike out.  Was there any thought about pinch hitting there??

Bottom 8th – Opens with a nice shot of one of the Jays pitchers in the bullpen adjusting his cup with his hand inside his pants.  Stairs grounds out.  Wells grounds out and Bartlett makes a nice bounce pass out to Pena.  Love them both.  Overbay walks, but Wheeler does an excellent job and gets Hill to fly out.

Top 9th – Sean Camp in to pitch.  Doesn’t he owe us a couple?  He gets the Rays in order and makes it look easy.  Insert snarky comment here.

Bottom 9th – Percy in to pitch.  One, two, three. but the best part was Magrane calling one of his pitches a “dipsy doodle.”  Percy doesn’t seem like the dipsy doodle type to me.

Oh Yeah the Rays win!!  Tampa 5 – Toronto 4.  Let’s hope they can make up some ground on Boston tomorrow.  Go Rays!! 

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Game 24 – Red Sox vs. Rays

Apr26
2008 3 Comments Written by Jessica

Pregame – Staats and Magrane with the call again.  I’m so obsessed with Staats hair.  Do you think it’s crunchy?  Ed-WIN Jackson vs. Clay Buchholz tonight.

Top 1st – slow roller + speedy runner = base hit for Ellsbury.  Pedroia hits into a nice 5-4-3 double play.  Drew gets a freakish broken bat single to Aki.  Jackson blows it all off and strikes out Ramirez.

Bottom 1st – Buchholz looks like a cute lemur, with way too many necklaces.  Aki strikes out.  Crawford grounds out.  BJ and Pena walk, but Bucholz blows it all off and strikes out Longo.

Top 2nd – Youkilis walks.  Crisp hits into a fielders choice, Youk out.  Varitek flys out to center and BJ doubles Crisp off first.

Bottom 2nd – Three up, three down go the Rays.

Top 3rd – Lowrie rips a nice base hit.  Word on the street is he’s workin Fabio Lugo out of a job.  Lugo flies out.  Ellsbury and Pedroia go down too.

Bottom 3rd – Three up, three down go the Rays again.  Shucks.

Top 4th – Three up, three down go the Red Sox.  WooHoo!

Bottom 4th – Upton doubles to left.  Rock on.  Pena grounds out but moves BJ to third.  Longo and Hinske both ground out.  Fudge.

Top 5th – Crisp base hit.  Varitek strikes out.  Wild pitch to Lowrie and Crisp goes from first to third.  Ugly.  Lugo strikes out.  Ellsbury hits a hard grounder to third and Longo damn near got him but Crisp scores.  1-0 Red Sox.  Pedroia grounds out.

Bottom 5th – Gross, Riggans and Bartlett sit back down in order.

Top 6th – Pena makes a great grab at first and they get the Sox 1,2, 3.

Bottom 6th – 3 Rays get out.

Top 7th – 1 walk but 3 Sox get out.

Bottom 7th – 3 Rays  don’t get on base.

Top 8th - Miller gets Ellsbury to pop out, and strikes out Pedroia, but then walks Drew.  No fear, Doh!man strikes out Manny Ramirez!

Bottom 8th – Gross strikes out.  Navarro in to hit for Riggy.  He totally struck out but the Sox didn’t get the call and one pitch later he singled to right.  Bartlett flies out.  No Way!  Aki hits a two run homer to right!  Who knew??  Rays take the lead .  Boston 1 – Tampa 2.  CC gets out.

Top 9th – Percy in to pitch.  He gets Youkilis and Crisp to fly out.  Then strikes out Varitek!  Rays beat Boston again!

Postgame – This game was not nearly as exciting as last nights most due to some great starting pitching.  Edwin pitched a great game.  Glad I’m not making the decision when Kazmir returns.  Buchholz also pitched great.  I actually felt sorry for him since he only made that one mistake and it cost him. 
More good relief pitching.  It’s hard for a Rays fan to handle.  Navarro came in and stepped up big with a single.  Aki is the hero tonight!  What’s next?  Is Bartlett hitting a walk off tomorrow?  Go Rays!!

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