Despite 4 Home Runs, Rays Lose to Orioles 8-7

Today's game is over, and the Rays lost 8-7 in the shadows and dust of Camden Yards.  When something ends, we can either mourn its passing, or celebrate all the good that came from it. 

Today we mourn Wade Davis' lack of command.  He allowed two runs in the first inning as Brian Roberts led off with a single to left.  Davis attempted a pick off--and had Roberts fooled--but, the throw was in the dirt and Zobrist couldn't pick it, allowing Roberts to move to third.  Nick Markakis then singled in Roberts and, after walks to Luke Scott and Felix Pie, scored on a Corey Patterson sac fly.

After retiring Wigginton and Scott in the fourth, it looked like Davis was settling into a groove, but then came another walk to Pie and a home run to Patterson to dispel that notion.  In total, Davis gave up four runs on six hits and three walks in five innings and struck out five. 

via www.brooksbaseball.net

Just from the eye test, it seemed like Davis had a 1-2 count on every hitter before being worked to a full count.  He threw 70% fastballs and consistently missed up and to his arm side on all his pitches except his slider. 

Today we celebrate the offensive home run barrage. Apparently, the Rays decided they would only score off of the long ball today.  Zobrist hit a solo-shot in the third, and, even though the ball did not look great off the bat, it certainly had the distance to clear the right field wall.  Longoria and Upton both hit two-run blasts in the fifth which gave the Rays a 5-4 lead. Longoria's was to dead center and seemed in doubt as Patterson leaped over the fence for it, but thankfully came up short.  Upton's was a no-doubter, a soaring shot to left-center off of a hanging curveball. 

Today we mourn the bullpen hiccup and ground balls with eyes.  Joe Maddon turned the game over to the bullpen with a 5-4 lead in the sixth, but they couldn't hold it.  Dan Wheeler got the first out on a Patterson liner to right where Joyce made terrific leaping catch to save a probable triple.  Wheeler's luck wouldn't hold, however, as he'd walk the next two hitters and be pulled in favor of Chad Qualls.  Qualls didn't record an out as he allowed three runners to score on three straight hits.  In Qualls defense, both Bell and Markakis' singles were ground balls that found holes and Crawford pulled up on the deep fly ball to left for, what seemed to be, fear of the wall.

Today we celebrate Rocco Baldelli.  In the seventh inning, Rocco crushed a hanging curve off Mike Gonzalez to bring the score to 8-7.  I don't have to write paragraphs explaining how great it is to see Rocco succeed in a Rays jersey, we all know the story.

And, yes, today we mourn the loss to the Orioles, but we also celebrate losses by the Yankees and the Red Sox.  Of course, it would have been nice to move up a game on both teams, but since this game is passed and we slowly move on, let us be thankful for our friends, the Blue Jays and the White Sox, for beating our division rivals today.

• Nutty stat:  Wade Davis allowed two walks to Felix Pie today.  Before today, Pie had walked 7 times in 212 ABs this year.  Twisted.