Shhhhhh….let’s try not to get too excited, and don’t tell anyone, but the Ray’s bullpen is starting to look decent. We can’t help but notice that the strong outings by the bullpen over the last 4 days began the day after Dan Miceli went on the DL…So THAT is what a major league bullpen looks like…From the offensive bullpen to the offense…maybe it is a coincidence…maybe Jason Kendall is a terrible defensive catcher…maybe it is because of the return of Julio Lugo to the top of the order or maybe it is due to a more agressive approach by manager Joe Maddon, but the team is starting to be much more aggressive on the basepaths. The team had 5 stolen bases on Sunday, including 2 each from the team’s first two batters. Even Ty Wiggington got in on the fun with his 1st of the season…SP Mark Hendrickson had trouble with his control, but pitched well enough to pick up his 2nd win.
Archive for May 7th, 2006
Huntsville 4, Montgomery 1. We got nuthin’
Stockton 14, Visalia 4. We still got nuthin’…no…wait…yep…that’s what we thought…SS Reid Brignac committed 2 errors and now has 13 on the season.
SW Michigan 3, Beloit 1. nuthin’…squat.
Add those three stinkers to the fact the Durham Bulls game was rained out and the only good thing that happened on the farm yesterday was B. J. Upton did NOT commit an error. That’s what we like to call the poo-poo platter.
Boston 10, Baltimore 3. Mr. Anna Benson surrendered a first inning grand slam to Jason Varitek, and the beantowners cruised to their 4th straight win to keep pace with the Spankees. Baltimore is now 6 back and have lost 8 of 10.
New York 8, Texas 5. Hideki Matsui was the DH so that he could maintain his consecutive games played streak. Some seem to think the streak should include his playing days in Japan. If those games are included his streak now stands at 2089 straight games or 41 games shy of Lou Gehrig’s former record. Matsui rewarded Joe Torre’s decision with a 3-run homer in a 5-run 4th inning that broke a 1-1 tie and gave Torre his 1,000 victory as Yankee manager.
Toronto 3, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim near Disney Land 1. Rookie Casey Janssen earned his first career victory with 7.1 innings of shut out baseball, allowing only 1 hit and 1 walk. Troy Glaus hit his 10th home run. Toronto stays within 2.5 games of Boston and New York.
Indianapolis 8, Durham 2. B. J. Upton went 1-4 with a double and 3 strikeouts. Darnell McDonald went 1-4 with a double a run scored and an RBI. He also stole his 8th base. Elijah Dukes returned to the team after being away for “personal reasons”. He was used as a pinch hitter and went 0-1. SP Chris Seddon had a rough night giving up 8 runs in 4+ innings.
Montgomery 7, Mississippi 5. 2B Elliot Johnson hit his 7th home run and went 2-4 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI. He now leads the league with a .345 average and is 3rd in home runs. Jason Pridie went 2-4 and stole his 6th base. Marcos Carvajal who came to the Rays in an early season trade with Seattle earned the win out of the bullpen striking out 4 in 2 innings of work.
Visalia 9, Stockton 1. SS Reid Brignac continues to swing a hot bat, as he went 2-5 to raise his average to .359. He is now 3rd in the league in hitting and 3rd in the league in home runs (6). Teammates Shaun Cumberland and Patrick Breen lead teh league with 7 home runs each. James Houser was strong, going 6 innings and giving up 2 hits 2 walks and 1 run to pick up his first win of the season.
SW Michigan 6, Beloit 5. OF James Hall went 4-5 with 2 RBI and a double.
Indianapolis 8, Durham 2. B. J. Upton went 1-4 with a double and 3 strikeouts. Darnell McDonald went 1-4 with a double a run scored and an RBI. He also stole his 8th base. Elijah Dukes returned to the team after being away for “personal reasons”. He was used as a pinch hitter and went 0-1. SP Chris Seddon had a rough night giving up 8 runs in 4+ innings.
Montgomery 7, Mississippi 5. 2B Elliot Johnson hit his 7th home run and went 2-4 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI. He now leads the league with a .345 average and is 3rd in home runs. Jason Pridie went 2-4 and stole his 6th base. Marcos Carvajal who came to the Rays in an early season trade with Seattle earned the win out of the bullpen striking out 4 in 2 innings of work.
Visalia 9, Stockton 1. SS Reid Brignac continues to swing a hot bat, as he went 2-5 to raise his average to .359. He is now 3rd in the league in hitting and 3rd in the league in home runs (6). Teammates Shaun Cumberland and Patrick Breen lead teh league with 7 home runs each. James Houser was strong, going 6 innings and giving up 2 hits 2 walks and 1 run to pick up his first win of the season.
SW Michigan 6, Beloit 5. OF James Hall went 4-5 with 2 RBI and a double.
