Jul 26
A quick reminder that I will be joining Sean Duade on “The Sports Cafe” radio show today at 3:20pm on 1220 WSRQ. Tune in on your radio or listen live by going to their website.
Jul 26
THE GOOD: Even more important than
Carlos Pena’s 2-run home run in the top of the 9th with 2 outs that gave the Rays a 3-run cushion, was
Akinori Iwamura handling the bad-hop ground ball in the 7th inning. With
JP Howell relieving
Grant Balfour with 1 on and 2 outs, Howell gave up a single, threw a wild pitch and walked a batter. He then ran the count to 2-2, before getting
Esteban German hit a hard ground ball just to the right of the mound. Aki somehow handled the hop into his chest cleanly, stumbled a bit and made the flip to
Jason Bartlett to save at least 1 run and end the inning with the Rays still in the lead.
THE BAD: Troy Percival. Show of hands: Who else wonders if Grant Balfour should be closing with Percy taking the 7th or 8th inning until he finds his groove again. Percival picked up his 21st save, but once again made it interesting, In addition to the home run by Ross Gload with 2 outs, Alex Gordon just missed a home run to the right of the foulpoul to lead off the inning. If Carlos Pena had not homered in the top of the 9th, the game might have ended very differently.
THE TELLING: This win ended the Rays’ 7-game losing streak on the road.
DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA…
- Joe Maddon said that the chances of the Rays making a deal before the deadling are “50-50 at best”…Meanwhile, one player rumored to be on the Rays’ radar, Xavier Nady of the Pirates, was traded to the Yankees last night. [St. Pete Times]
Jul 26
Durham 10, Louisville 5. Wade Davis picked up his 2nd win in 2 triple-A starts. He allowed 3 runs in 6 innings on 4 hits and 3 walks. He struck out 6. All 3 runs were scored on 2 home runs in his final inning. Before allowing a leadoff home run in the 6th, Davis had allowed only 1 hit in the first 5 innings, a double in the 4th…Chris Richard (19), Joel Guzman(17) and Mike DiFelice (2) homered for the Bulls.
Montgomery 9, Tennessee 8. Rocco Baldelli went 3-4 with a walk and a 3-run home run in his second at bat. He was picked off first base.
Vero Beach 2, Daytona 1.
Greenville 4, Columbus 1.
Aberdeen 5, Hudson Valley 3.
Kingston 9, Princeton 4. Tim Beckham went 0-5 with 2 strike outs.
NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…
- Rocco Baldelli is starting to “let it go” in his rehab and maybe closer to returning than any of us know…In addition to going 3-4 with a home run, he was clocked at 4.19 seconds from home to first…4.2 seconds for a right-handed batter is considered very good…In addition, he will play 5 innings in the outfield today. [St. Pete Times]
- Ryan Royster is hitting .340 since the all-star break. He attributes it to regaining muscle mass and weight he took off this past off-season in an effort to get into better shape. [TCPalm]
