Tampa Bay Rays News and Links: James Loney Signs With the Padres

James Loney has officially moved on to another organization as he signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres. He'll likely stay a few weeks in the minors, but will eventually receive the call to the majors and he'll be joining a roster that features a "who's who" of former Rays as James Shields, Wil Myers, Melvin Upton, and Fernando Rodney all have roster spots with the Padres.

This Date in Team History

7-7 Record All-time

• 2001 - Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe team up to completely dominate the Rays lineup as Martinez went eight shutout innings, striking out 16 hitters in the process en route to a 3-0 Boston victory.
• 2003 - After falling behind, 6-0 early, the Rays would claw their way back into the game and eventually tied it, leading to extra innings. However, in the top of the tenth, Geronimo Gil lifted a one out home run off of Lance Carter to give Baltimore the lead. But, in the bottom of the frame, Ben Grieve laced a leadoff double, and then Carl Crawford beat out an infield grounder for a single. Following a sac bunt and an intentional walk, Marlon Anderson would reach thanks to an error, loading the bases and tying the game. Travis Lee would then chop a ball back to the mound that deflected off of Buddy Groom's glove allowing every runner to advance and for the Rays to be walkoff winners.
• 2005 - Another extra inning affair took place as the Rays and Athletics each scored two runs before the fifth inning. Then, the team's traded zeros until the tenth, when the Rays placed runners in scoring position, thanks to a Joey Gathright triple and a Carl Crawford walk. The recently acquired Nick Green came up, and with two outs, he broke his bat and looped a line drive into center, giving the Rays yet another walkoff victory.
• 2011 - After starting the season 0-6, losing both Manny Ramirez (PED suspension/retirement) and Evan Longoria (injury), crucial cogs in their lineup. They looked on their way to being 0-7, as they trailed, 7-4 heading into the ninth. Elliot Johnson led off the inning with a single, Felipe Lopez worked a ten pitch at-bat, but struck out. Sam Fuld would reach thanks to an error, that would score Johnson and advance Fuld to second. Then, another error allowed Johnny Damon to reach base. BJ Upton would lace a single that'd score Fuld and move Damon over to third, setting the stage for Dan Johnson, who took the first pitch he seen and launched it deep into the seats in right field for a three run home run, giving the Rays a 9-7 lead, and the eventual victory.
• 2012 - Jeremy Hellickson dominates the Yankees lineup coming within an out of a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits, but walking and striking out four batters. Carlos Pena and Jeff Keppinger were the offensive support as they both hit solo homers and the Rays cruised to a 3-0 victory.
• 2014 - Chris Archer, along with Jake McGee, Joel Peralta, and Grant Balfour combine to shutout the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium. The two teams traded zeros on the scoreboard all the way until the top of the ninth, when James Loney would finally produce the lone run of the game with a ground ball single that scored Wil Myers, leading to a 1-0 Rays victory.
• 2015 - Shutouts are popular on this date for the Rays as Jake Odorizzi, Jeff Beliveau, Kevin Jepsen, and Brad Boxberger combined to throw another one, allowing a total of just three hits. The first run of the game came on a bases loaded walk to Logan Forsythe, and a couple of innings later, Desmond Jennings would single home Evan Longoria, leading to a 2-0 victory for the Rays.