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The Rays Tank: No sweep, but a series win

After putting an end to Toronto's winning streak, the Rays dropped yesterday's day game to the Blue Jays, evening the season series at 5-5.

USA TODAY Sports

R.A. Dickey wasted no time breezing through Rays batters in a quick two hour ten minute game at the Trop yesterday afternoon, as the Blue Jays beat the Rays 3-0.

Joe Maddon joked that the offense may have "been better off with tennis rackets," with only two hits managed off Dickey the entire game. The last time a complete-game shutout with two hits or less was thrown against the Rays was in Felix Hernandez's perfect game last August -- thank you, offense of 2013.

Roberto Hernandez lasted eight innings, but has now lost three consecutive starts and five of his last seven. Ouch, Fausto. On a positive note, Rays starting pitchers have now gone at least six innings in seven of their last eight games, after they failed to do so in seven straight games prior to that. For the full game recap, head here.

The Rays have a day off at home today, before opening a three-game set against the Tigers Friday.

Around the majors:

Clay Buchholz threw 15-18 pitches off the mound yesterday then stopped due to discomfort and headed to get an MRI. Results haven't been released, but it appears the Red Sox ace this season won't be back before the All Star break.

#YankeesDrama: A-Rod tweeted. Brian Cashman told him to "STFU." Reactions ensued. Then, Cashman apologized:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Cashman: &quot;I regret the choice of words I used yesterday.&quot;</p>&mdash; Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) <a href="https://twitter.com/FeinsandNYDN/statuses/349984470033641472">June 26, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Cashman: &quot;I didn&#39;t handle this one well. I popped. Reality TV at its best.&quot;</p>&mdash; Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) <a href="https://twitter.com/FeinsandNYDN/statuses/349985363223265280">June 26, 2013</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Cashman: &quot;The tweet created some issues and I obviously added to those issues.&quot;</p>&mdash; Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) <a href="https://twitter.com/FeinsandNYDN/statuses/349985941454200833">June 26, 2013</a></blockquote>

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In other Yankees news, Mark Teixeira will undergo season-ending surgery on his right wrist.

He was the 2012 National League ROY, but Bryce Harper was the youngest player on the roster in his first rehab start at Class-A Potomac on Tuesday.

The Brewers have to be pleased: in only 48 plate appearances, Rickie Weeks raised his overall batting average from .183 to .230 and his overall OPS from .565 to .723.

ICYMI: Matt Kemp made a pretty phenomenal catch in his first start back from the DL to help the Dodgers keep their lead and beat the Giants Tuesday night:

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Links:

- Mike Bates at Fangraphs compiled a list of baseball players he "can now and would marry." His reasons are pretty amusing.

- Four attributes you must possess to be considered as physically gifted as Bo Jackson, according to Rob Neyer:

1. Run like Willie Wilson.

2. Hit like Mark McGwire.

3. Throw like Jesse Barfield.

4. Look like a creation of the baseball gods.

So, Yasiel Puig qualifies?

- Too much "Saint in St. Louis?" The Cardinals have taken to drawing a cross on the pitcher's mound at Busch Stadium, and are receiving mixed responses about the gesture.