Evan Longoria Lifts Rays Over Red Sox In Wild Game
by Tommy Rancel on Aug 5, 2009 11:39 AM EDT
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PrintBoom went the dynamite! And that happened. That pretty much describes the roller coaster ride that was last night's game. Over the first seven innings the Rays offense managed just one run and struckout 11 times thanks to Jon Lester, who went six strong innings. Luckily for the Rays, Matt Garza was nearly as strong as he was in Game 7 of the ALCS. The crane went seven innings allowing two runs on two solo home runs. He walked two and struckout six.
The game really got going in the 8th inning when Evan Longoria hit a game tying solo home run. After Ben Zobrist reached base, Willy Aybar bunted a ball that was thrown away by Daniel Bard and all hell broke lose. Zobrist and Aybar both scored, but were ordered back to 2nd and 3rd thanks to rule 7.05 G aka the J.D. Drew throw your arms in the air and everyone freezes rule.
From there the Rays offense did everything it could to give the Red Sox the game, but apparently Boston didn't want it. The Rays had six at bats with the bases loaded in the 8th and 10th innings and ended up with 0 runs, 4 Ks, and 2 weak pop ups. Finally, in the 13th Evan Longoria had enough and figured he would not only be responsible for tying the game, but he would also win it. Longoria is turning into a Red Sox killer with seven home runs against Boston this season. The Sox are just 2-13 in their last 15 games at the Trop.
Hat tip to Brian Shouse, Grant Balfour, J.P. Howell, Dan "Big City" Wheeler and Lance Cormier for six innings of shutout baseball.
As Longoria said after the game, "I'm just glad this one is over." Last night's dramatic victory doesn't mean much if the Rays don't go out and win tonight. Coming off arguably his best start of the season, David Price will look to push the Rays to within three games of the wild card. Remember Game 7 David; dominate.
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Thoughts:
- Michel needs to know to take as many pitches as he can every at-bat. Swinging 1-0 when you suck at hitting is not a good idea.
- B.J. needs to stop expanding his zone. Don’t turn into Navarro.
- The bullpen was excellent.
Someone should take away Michel's bat so he can't swing
Also 16 K’s, not good fellas, but W.
www.draysbay.com
by Tommy Rancel on Aug 5, 2009 11:43 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
At this point I am happy if BJ can just put the ball in play
"I want to live in a world where a solo homerun in the 2nd inning counts as much as a solo homerun in the 8th."
Sub 3 BB% his last 30 games with hella K's and no power
It sucks to see him like this.
I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.
by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 5, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
He's not driving the ball with any power and he's missing a ton.
If this were simply a slump he’d still drive the ball.
by R.J. Anderson on Aug 5, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Explains some but what about the lack of BB?
and last night he almost K’d when they were trying to walk him, he chases it seems more often
He's doing stupid things at the plate that don't involve swinging.
There’s no excuse for it.
by R.J. Anderson on Aug 5, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
i wish his shoulder was hurt again...
then maybe we’d see 08 upton. 09 upton is worse then hurt upton…
It's too bad Fernando's not healthy.
We’d almost be better off just sitting Beej for a few days, or giving him a DL stint at this point.
Agreed.
And it would also be nice to pinch run, and have it be Nando and not crystal meth Joe.
by BJ the Bossman on Aug 5, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh if by "work"
you mean waking up at noon, it was awesome.
by BJ the Bossman on Aug 5, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Dilldog was a Big Tymer last night
Hasn’t seen action since the first Gulf War and he goes 1-2 with a walk and a LD. I’ll take that.
I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.
by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 5, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Joey Dills was fine last night
I just want some Nando back in my life
by BJ the Bossman on Aug 5, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes. Balfour and Howell all over the Sox.
by R.J. Anderson on Aug 5, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Howell's pitched better
i acknowledged Balfour in an earlier thread
I'd rather he had problems earlier in the year and got his shit together for the stretch run than vice-versa
I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.
by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 5, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
The formatting is going to suck, but I'll try my best
Balfour..FB 09..FB 08..SL 09..SL 08
April……92.8….91.5…..85.3…..83.1
May ……92.7….93.0…..84.5…..90.0
June…..93.4….94.1…..85.5…..86.6
July…….93.6….94.8…..87.2…..87.2
As you can see, whether it’s his arm getting stretched out or just coming waking up coming off the innings last year, his velocity has improved to nearly last years levels on the FB and the SL has really come alive. Add in that he is using a CB occasionally this year and his SL more and that may be why he is having more success.
I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.
by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 5, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I have a feeling today's game is going to be a slugfest.
I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.
No one has really mentioned it, but that 5-3 DP that Longo turned with 123<2 was freaking huge
The nice thing with everyone in our IF is that even when they are slumping they can still get after it with the gloves. Pena less so every day that goes by.
I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.
The throw he made on that play was the strongest throw I've ever seen from 3B
www.draysbay.com
by Tommy Rancel on Aug 5, 2009 11:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
All his throws last night were lasers
Nice to see Longo put the team on his back for a night.
I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.
by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 5, 2009 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions
He came through at crunch time, makes his early transgressions easier to bear.
Now get rid of the herpes
www.bucem.com - SBNation's source for all things Buccaneer
He does make good throws from first...
…but I would hardly call that the strongest throw ever from 3B
"I want to live in a world where a solo homerun in the 2nd inning counts as much as a solo homerun in the 8th."
Hyperbole, for sure, but that was a howitzer shot across the diamond
I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.
by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 5, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly
There was no way any batter was beating him on the throw.
www.draysbay.com
by Tommy Rancel on Aug 5, 2009 12:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I like that it looks like we got a couple of bad calls go our way last night. Boston couldn't buy a low strike
I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.
I wonder how much of the low strike/balls is from THE CAPTAIN
obviously bringing his glove up. Also, Lester didn’t help his cause by pouting on the mound. I give Garza a lot of shit about his emotional fortitude out there, but by not being a cry baby he made himself look good in front of the ump and wasn’t punished by a vindictive ball-calling Dictator.
I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.
by Sandy Kazmir on Aug 5, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Great result
I spent most of the night thinking this was going to go down as the worst Rays loss ever, and the one that killed the 2009 season.
Yet…we won!!!!
Price was looking really pumped up last night – hope that’s a good thing for today.
OT: Pat returns
Bartlett SS
Crawford LF
Longoria 3B
Zobrist 2B
Burrell DH
Pena 1B
Upton CF
Kapler RF
Hernendez C
Uh….this is the lefty lineup vs a rightie……
1. James Shields 2. Scott Kazmir 3. Matt Garza 4. David Price 5. Jeff Niemann
Brad Penny is a reborn Judas of Iscariot
We can’t have him turning Gross in to the authorities.
I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.
For the sox
Ellsbury cf,
Pedroia 2b,
Martinez 1b,
Youkilis 3b,
Bay, lf, (injured)
Lowell dh, (injured)
Baldelli rf,
Varitek c, (sucks when not tired)
Lowrie , ss (injured)
No Papi or Drew!
1. James Shields 2. Scott Kazmir 3. Matt Garza 4. David Price 5. Jeff Niemann
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