Tampa Bay Rays News and Links: Corey Dickerson is an All-Star, Logan Morrison needs votes

Yesterday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Rays were defeated by the Baltimore Orioles as both the offense and pitching struggled with the Orioles tallying seven runs, while the Rays avoided being shutout for the second time in a week thanks to a late home run from Jesus Sucre.

A bright spot however is the team only had to use two pitchers as Alex Cobb worked into the seventh inning, despite allowing the seven runs, while Chase Whitley finished the seventh and delivered a scoreless eighth.

The Rays are now 43-41 on the season, but are now five games behind the Boston Red Sox in the division, but still hold a half game lead for the second Wild Card spot.

The Rays are off today, tomorrow they’ll behind a two game series in Chicago against the reigning World Series champs and then then they’ll head back to the Trop for a big four game series against the Red Sox.

• Corey Dickerson surged up the ballots over the month of June and has been voted in as the American League’s starting DH for the All-Star Game
• Another Ray still has a chance of being voted in, as Logan Morrison was selected as one of the five players on the Final Vote
• Over the weekend, the Rays made it official as they signed top international prospect, Wander Franco.
• Colby Rasmus will be delayed at least thru the All-Star break; Kevin Cash fractured his ankle; Brad Miller could be activated Thursday
• A former Rays prospect was snubbed from the All-Star game as Felipe Rivero was left off the roster despite being absolutely fantastic
• Dustin Fowler made his MLB debut on Friday, played for one inning before suffering a serious knee injury that will put him out for the rest of the season
• Dave Roberts and Andy Green, the Managers of the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres got into a skirmish