The Rays had a dismal month of July posting a record of 11-15 and ended the month with an overall record of 56-51 and had fallen 10.5 game out of the division lead and 8.5 games behind in the wild card race. The Red Sox and Yankees seemed to finally be playing the way many thought they were capable of. The Red Sox posted a 20-6 record in July while the Yankees weren't too far behind at 16-10. Neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox seemed to be showing any signs of slowing down so it came as somewhat of a surprise that there wasn't any trades made by the Rays prior to the July 31st trade deadline.
Feel free to post your comments about why you voted the way you did. It be interesting to see what you recall about the circumstances around the victory.
The Rays Game of the Month: June (HERE)
July 6th: Rays bats break out of slump and beat Twins 12-5.
The Rays had been held to two runs in the first two games of the series but the bats woke up en route to a 12-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Kelly Shoppach, Evan Longoria, and Sean Rodriguez all homered to lead the 14 hit attack. The game was tied at 5-5 entering the top of the 8th inning but the Rays offense erupted for 4 runs and tacked on another 3 runs in the bottom of the ninth.
July 15th: Zobrist Grand Slam and Rays late offense leads Rays to a 9-6 victory over the Red Sox.
Joe Maddon delivered the "take it one game at a time speech" to the team as the Rays prepared for their first game after the all-star break as they were taking on the Red Sox who came to town on a 6 game winning streak . The Rays jumped out to an early 5-1 lead on a Grand Slam off the bat of Ben Zobrist. The offense tallied 11 hits and 9 runs as they defeated the Red Sox 9-6.
July 19th: Tropicana Field works for Rays as Granderson loses fly ball and Rays beat NY 3-2.
Jeremy Hellickson had held the Yankees to 2 runs in 7 innings but the Rays offense was only able to push across 1 run against Yankee starter Bartolo Colon. With 1-out and runners on 1st and 2nd Joe Maddon pinch hit Justin Ruggiano for Sam Fuld to face Yankee reliever Boone Logan. Ruggiano sent a routine fly ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson who lost it in the Tropicana Field Roof and the Rays had the bases loaded. Joe Maddon went to his bench again and pinch hit Elliot Johnson for Reid Brignac. Johnson hit a 1-hopper back to the mound but it went off Boone Logan's glove for an error which allowed the Rays to tie the game at 2-2. Johnny Damon gave the Rays a 3-2 lead with a sacrifice fly and Jake McGee and Joel Peralta held the Yankees scoreless over the final two innings making a winner out of Jeremy Hellickson.
July 21st: Shields turns tables on CC Sabathia and Yankees as Rays win 2-1.
On June 10th Shields suffered a complete game 1-0 loss to CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees. Shields worked 7.2 innings giving up 1R/1ER on 6 hits while striking out 6 and walking 3. Evan Lonoria gave Shields an early 1-0 lead with his 12th homer in the bottom of the first inning and Sam Fuld tripled home Elliot Johnson with the Rays second run in the 5th.
July 28th: Rays overcome early 5-0 deficit and rally to beat A's 10-8.
The Rays fell behind 5-0 in the first inning and the A's hit for the cycle against Rays starter Wade Davis. The Rays cut the lead to 5-2 on a 2-run homer by Desmond Jennings in the 5th inning and took a 9-5 lead by putting up 7 runs in the 6th inning. The Rays 7 runs came on an Matt Joyce RBI single, a bases loaded walk to Sean Rodriguez, a 2-RBI single by Desmond Jennings, a wild pitch which allowed Sear Rodriguez to score, an RBI double by Johnny Damon, and a home run by Evan Longoria. B.J. Upton added a solo homer for the Rays in the eighth giving the Rays a 10-8 victory. Desmond Jennings was the star of the game going 3-4 with 2 runs scored, 4 RBI, a homer, a stolen base, and a walk.