Rays News & Notes for Tuesday, April 25th

New York 9, RAYS 1

3 Up
DH Jonny Gomes: 1-4, solo HR
C Toby Hall: 2-3, 2B
1B Travis Lee: 1-4

3 Down
RP Scott Dunn: 0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, BB
SP Scott Kazmir: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
CF Joey Gathright: 0-4, 3 K, 1 LOB

Extra, Extra, Read All About It!

Hendrickson Back, Jackson Down; Injury/Absence Updates

Down on the Farm

Durham W, 4-0

Montgomery L, 9-6

Visalia W, 12-11

Southwest Michigan L, 2-0

New York 9, RAYS 1

New York-Derek Jeter hit a two run homer to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead in the first, and that would be all they needed, though certainly not all that they got as the Bronx Bombers steamrolled over the Rays bullpen to win a 9-1 final to begin a three game set in New York. Jeter later added a run-scoring single in the sixth inning, and finished the day with three hits for New York. Gary Sheffield also added a run-scoring single in the sixth, and Jason Giambi brought home two runs on a double, he also hit a sac fly. Four Yankee batters had multiple hits on the day, including former Ray Miguel Cairo, and the Bombers pounded on 13 hits in winning their third straight, and pulled into a second place tie with Toronto, two games behind AL East leader Boston.

The Yankees hitters were more than complimented by Mike Mussina, who tossed six innings, giving up only one run, a homer, on four hits, walking none, and striking out seven. The Yankees did not have to go to the bullpen early, as I would have liked, and the few pitchers that did mop up, Tanyon Sturtze, Ron Villone, and Scott Proctor, shut the Rays out.

Meanwhile, on the Rays' side of things, the team played horribly after Jonny Gomes hit a solo home run in the first inning to give the Rays a short-lived 1-0 lead. Through torrential rains at Yankee Stadium, the Rays mustered only five hits, with Lee and Wigginton picking up one each to compliment Gomes, and Toby Hall the lone two hit Ray. Wigginton also committed the lone fielding error of the night.

But for as bad as the hitting was, the pitching was surely worse. Scott Kazmir went a shaky five innings, showing neither control, nor ability to keep balls out of play, and gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits, walking five and striking out just two, also giving up the Jeter home run. He was relieved by tweedle dum, aka Scott "Home Run" Dunn, who didn't give up the long ball, but gave up pretty much everything short of that. He was unable to get an out, and was charged with three earned runs on a walk and two hits. Ruddy Lugo pitched two innings and gave up two hits and an earned run, while Brian Meadows, the human white flag of surrender, was brought on in the ninth and gave up, shockingly, a run! Overall, a terrible day in a terrible city in terrible weather, it is days like this that make you thankful that there are 142 more to go...or it makes you dreadful, whichever, but you can't get much lower.

3 Up
DH Jonny Gomes: 1-4, solo HR
C Toby Hall: 2-3, 2B
1B Travis Lee: 1-4

3 Down
RP Scott Dunn: 0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, BB
SP Scott Kazmir: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K
CF Joey Gathright: 0-4, 3 K, 1 LOB

Rays Reads

Notes: Hendrickson returns to rotation

-Despite an outing that impressed some on Saturday against the Texas Rangers in a spot start, Edwin Jackson was sent packing down to Triple A Durham and Mark Hendrickson was activated off of the DL before his scheduled Thursday start. Hendrickson, who has missed three scheduled starts due to "shoulder stiffness" following a complete game shutout in the Rays' first win of the season, was replaced in those three starts by Jason Hammel, twice, and Jackson. Hammel gave up 10 earned in 8.1 innings, and it was clear he needed more time down at Durham, however Jackson convinced some, including manager Joe Maddon, that he was ready to stay in the show following his start on Saturday against the Rangers, in which he gave up five earned on three hits in seven innings, while walking six. However Jackson also added seven strikeouts, motoring down a Texas lineup that scorched Rays pitching for 27 runs over the three game series. Personally, while the seven strikeouts are impressive, five runs is five runs and six walks are six walks, and with Hendrickson back, I'd prefer Jackson work on his control at Durham for a little while longer rather than stick up in the majors. That's just my opinion, but apparently it is shared by Andrew Friedman, and his is the only call that matters.

Short Hops-Carl Crawford was not with the team for Tuesday's game; he was in Houston, Texas attending the funeral of his late grandmother, he is expected to re-join the team for Wednesday's contest...Meanwhile, less certain is Jorge Cantu's status after the Rays second baseman complained of a bone bruise on his left foot prior to Tuesday's game, and was scratched; he will see a doctor Wednesday...According to Rays manager Joe Maddon, Rocco Baldelli is progressing well in his comeback from a hamstring injury, and felt well enough to play in his first extended spring training game, and is on track for a rehab assignment at Double A Montgomery by the end of next week; Maddon was hopeful that he would join the Rays for their weekend series in Oakland starting on May 5th...

Down on the Farm

AAA Durham W, 4-0:
SS B.J. Upton: 0-3, RS, 2 BB, 2 K, E (9)
RF Delmon Young: 1-5, 2B (3), K
LF Elijah Dukes: 3-4, 2 RS, 2B (4), RBI (11)
C Shawn Riggans: 2-3, RS, RBI (6), HBP
SP Chris Seddon: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, W (3-0)
RP Jason Childers: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, H (1)
RP Bart Miadich: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Bulls Up Next-at Pawtucket, 6:05 ET (Shields)

AA Montgomery L, 9-6:
2B Elliot Johnson: 2-5, RS, K, CS (5)
SS Matt Maniscalo: 1-3, 2B (3), BB, K, SB (2)
C, 1B Charion Isenia: 1-4, 2 RS, K
C Ryan Christianson: 2-3, 2 HR (3,4), 4 RBI (10), BB, SB (2), E (2)
SP Chris Flinn: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 8 K, HB, L (0-2)
RP Marcos Carvajal: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Biscuits Up Next-vs Birmingham, 8:05 ET (Sonnanstine)

A+ Visalia W, 12-11:
CF Fernando Perez: 3-4, 2 RS, 2B (3), 2 BB, K, 2 SB (7,8)
SS Reid Brignac: 3-6, RS, 2B (4), 3 RBI (18,19,20)
RF Shaun Cumberland: 0-4, 2 BB, 2 K, CS (1)
DH John Jaso: 3-4, 2 RS, 2B (5), RBI (6), BB
1B Chris Nowak: 2-5, 2 RS, 2 2B (3,4), 2 RBI (4,5)
LF Patrick Breen: 2-5, 2B (5), 2-run HR (5), 2 RBI (10,11)
2B Kris Dufner: 2-5, RS, 2B (1), 2 RBI (3,4), K
SP Brandon Mann: 6 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 2 HR

Oaks Up Next-at Lancaster, 9:30 ET (Houser)

A- Southwest Michigan L, 2-0 (10):
CF John Matulia: 0-4
SS Neil Walton: 1-4, CS (2), 2 E (3,4)
RF Garrett Groce: 1-4, K
DH Matt Spring: 1-4, 3 K
SP Gerg Reinhard: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
RP Eddie De La Cruz: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, L (0-2)

M-Rays Up Next-vs Burlington, 11:05 AM ET (Cayton)