In the bottom of the second Tiffany only gave up a two out single to Tuffy Gosewisch. I mention this because its so infrequent on gets to say Tuffy Gosewisch.

Last year’s top pick for Philly, Joe Savery (Clearwater’s starting pitcher) is considered their top LH pitching prospect and is ranked as their 3rd best prospect by BA (#90 of the best 100 in baseball).

VB went quietly in the 3rd, while Tiffany pitched out of another minor jam in the Thrasher’s half. Quintin Berry led off with a double and stole 3rd (#25) with 1 out. Tiffany than K’d Phillie’s #2 top prospect (Adrian Cardenas) and retired Gus Milner on a fly out.

Despite 2 hits (Royster and Joey Callender) the D-Rays are unable to score in the 4th. Tiffany’s day is finished (the Rays have him on a very tight leash as he is still coming back from injury. Today was his first start of the season). He’s replaced by Chris Kelly. Kellly follows suit and pitches a scoreless 4th. Rays 2 Thrashers 0

Tiffanys Line Score: 3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K. 2.35 ERA.

No, it wasn’t that bad, just a double single malt neat will do the trick. After the Rays top of the order (Jennings, Rocco and Suarez) grounded out to 2nd, 3rd and 2nd respectively Clearwater scored twice off of Kelly on 4 hits (3 singles and a triple) a walk and 2 steals. It could have been worse as they left the bases loaded.

Rays 2, Thrasher’s 2 after 5.

With two outs and none on, the Rays regain the lead as Garrett Groce hits his 13th double of the year and is singled home by Joey Callender. But will the lead be short lived? Ryan Owen replaces Kelly on the mound and promptly gives up a 2B to Tuffy Gosewisch. After a walk Berry lays down a bunt which moves both runners up. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Carlos Leon hits it to right. Groce tracks it down to make the catch and fires a rocket to Lopez at home nailing (you guessed it) Tuffy Gosewisch to complete the double play.

The Rays top of the 7th started with a bang but ended with a whimper. Brett Harker replaced Savery and induced lopez to pop the ball up for the 1st out. Jennings than hit a 2B and Rocco was intentionally walked, but Suarez grounded into a 6-U-3 DP.

In the bottom half of the 7th, replacing Ryan Owens on the mound, Brian Baker proceeded to throw BBs (as in pellets) to strike out Cardenas and Milner before getting an easy F-3 to end the inning.

Matt Fields greeted new pitcher Matt German with a HR to left. Then, with 1 out Groce beats the throw from short for an infield single. As the ball skips past the first baseman Groce takes off for second but is thrown out trying to advance. Mgr Jim Morrison calls the ump an LA Woman and gets kicked out, lighting his fire. He leaves the game riding on the storm stating all he said to the ump was ‘hello, I Love you’.

The Thrashers had a soft parade as they were retired 1-2-3 in their half.

The D-Rays add an insurance run in the top of the 9th when Baldelli doubled home Desmond Jennings who had previously singled with 1 out. While that’s all the runs they would get, it’s all they would need as the Thrashers went quietly into the night managing only a 2-out walk off of Neal Frontz. Frontz, who came on to pitch the ninth and pick up his 15th save of the season.

The D-Rays have gotten off to a great start on their first West Coast road trip of the 2nd half, taking 3 of 4 from the Thrashers at the beautiful Bright House Field. Final Score of today’s matinee was the D-Rays 5 runs, 14 Hits and 0 errors and the Thrashers 2 Runs, 10 hits and 0 errors.

Jennings, Groce and Callender each had 3 hits apiece and Rocco drove in two with a double and a quality out. Fields hit his 12th HR and picked up his 35th RBI. About the only downside was that the Phillies affiliate swiped 5 bases against VB’s pitchers and catcher Christian Lopez..

The D-Rays travel to Sarasota for a 4 game set beginning tomorrow.

in his first inning. Less so in his second when Clearwater hit the ball hard but were put out. Tiffany also gave up a lot of hard hit line drives that found gloves. But his two Ks were very nicely done.

It was nice to see Jennings hit for 3/4 of the cycle. And he really is fast. I thought he looked very smooth in CF; nothing spectacular, but very steady going back on a hard hit deep line drive. Did Baldelli really look winded going into second on the double? He was pinch run for.

When Fields hits it, the ball really travels. The home run was similar to the double he hit on Sunday, a screaming line drive.