MVN - Most Valuable Network

Crawford Leads The Rays Rout; Rays win 15-3 take Citrus Series

 ”I know we can put together some rallies, you know, but I’ve never seen anything like that.” –Evan Longoria

Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports 

TAMPA BAY 15, FLORIDA 3

MIAMI (Ticker)—Carl Crawford blasted two home runs and the Tampa Bay Rays used a 10-run fifth inning to defeat the Florida Marlins, 15-3.

Marlins starter Ryan Tucker (2-2), who made his fourth big-league start, gave up a three-run homer to Crawford in the second inning and a solo shot in the fifth, which gave the Rays a 5-0 lead.

Eric Hinske then had an RBI double and Evan Longoria hit a two-run home run to jump-start the 10-run frame.

Marlins reliever Eugolio De La Cruz, who was called up from Class AAA Albuquerque before the game, allowed six runs and three hits without recording an out in the fifth after Tucker was lifted.

Rays starter James Shields (5-5), who hadn’t won since May 9, threw seven innings and allowed one run and four hits. Entering this game, he was 1-4 with a 6.99 ERA in seven road starts.

 Inside the Box Score

• Aki Iwamura: 1-5, 2 runs scored,2B(13) RBI(22), BB
• Carl Crawford:2-5, 2 HR(7), Career High 5 RBI(43, team leader), 2 run scored. Batting .428 in interleague play this season.
• B.J. Upton: 1-4, 2 runs scored, RBI(40), BB
• Eric Hinske: 2-5, run scored, RBI(41), BB, 2 2B(14)
• Evan Longoria: 3-6, HR(13, team leader), 3 RBI(42), 2B(17), 2 runs scored
• Dioner Navarro: 2-4, run scored, 2 BB
• Gabe Gross: 1-5, run scored, RBI(20), BB
• Ben Zobrist: 2-6, HR(1), RBI(1), 2 runs scored, 2 Errors
• James Shields(W, 5-5): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, O BB, 5 K, 1-3, RBI(1), 2 runs scored, BB
• All Rays starters registered at least one hit and scored at least one run.
• All Rays starters scored in the 10 run fifth inning.

Tommy’s Take: Any time all of the Rays started are featured on ”inside the box score” you know you’ve had a good game. Wow, did that win feel great especially after Tuesday’s “ugly win.” The Rays completely dominated from the 3rd inning on including the incredible 10 run 5th inning. The Rays cranked out 15 runs on 15 hits and made the Marlins throw 214 pitches before a day game. Hopefully the Rays can capitalize on that later today.

As for the game, man is Carl Crawford on fire. Since taking four games off(suspension), Crawford has been on some kind of tear in his last seven games. He is 14-23(.608) with three HR’s and 10 RBI. He is working on an eight game hitting streak and hopefully he can keep it going.

Lost in the offensive explosion was the great start by James Shields. Yes it helps to have a 14 run lead most of the game, but Shields was cruising before then and really was in control all game. It was good to see him back in the win column for the first time since early May.

I guess if you had to point out one negative it would be the season high four errors for the Rays. Ben Zobrist had two errors in the first two innings filling in for Jason Bartlett, who missed the game for the birth of his child. For all those who have been complaining about Bartlett’s bat this game shows you how valuable he is to this team. We could have Zobrist, Brendan Harris and Josh Wilson playing SS. Gabe Gross and B.J. Upton need to go out together and work on their communication. They are consistently on the wrong page. 

Erik’s Take:  After complaining about having to chomp on Tums the game before, I was pretty relaxed watching the game last night.  Kicking ass and taking names like that is always a relief.  The Rays needed it to give some relief to their bullpen.  In a blowout like this guys like Balfour, Howell, Wheeler, etc don’t get used. 

BJ probably should have let Gross get that ball last night.  I know BJ takes long strides and can reach any ball he wants, and is normally playing along side a terrible defensive Right Fielder who can’t get to most balls hit, but Gross can play a little D.

My boy Crawford does seem to be heating up.  Tommy really hit on every point that I had planned on addressing today, and to not sound repetitive I’m done for my take.  I think I’ll start calling him Thunder Theif. 

Rays Next Game:

The Rays go for the sweep today at noon. Matt Garza(5-4, 4.10 ERA) will face former Rays LHP Mark Hendrickson(7-5, 5.73 ERA).  Garza beat the Marlins on June 14th. In that game he gave up one run on three hits in seven strong innings.  For his career he is 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA in three interleague starts.

 OPS Notebook:

• Rays Record: 46-31, 2nd place in the AL East, 1 GB of Boston
• The Rays set another franchise record last night. The team is a franchise best 15 games over .500
• The Rays earned win #46 in just 77 games. It took 120 games last year to win 46 games.
• The Rays clinched their 15th series victory this year.
• The team also clinched the 2008 Citrus Series against the Marlins. It is the fourth time the Rays have won the season series since 2002.
• The Rays are 31-6 in games they score five or more runs. They are 1-0 in games where they score 15.
• Rays pitchers are batting .300 this year
• The Rays officially dropped their push for a November referendum on a waterfront stadium. They also announced a coalition of community leaders, who will work on ways to ensure community support for a long-term commitment to the Rays and Major League Baseball.
• Evan Longoria now leads the team in HR and is one behind Crawford in the RBI category.  He’s hit seven HR in his last 17 games. The Rays record for HR by a rookie is currently 21(Jonny Gomes). At this pace Evan could have that by August.
• Poor Aki Iwamura.  He had his first error of the year as a second basemen trying to turn a double play in the 9th inning. It was a play you try with a 13 run lead. I doubt Aki tries that play in a one run game.
• Aki’s appeal was also heard and he could receive a reduced suspension. However, he is expected to miss Friday’s game.
• Congratulations to Jason and Kelly Bartlett, who welcomed their first child, Jayden Anthony Bartlett, into the world today. We wish them luck and can’t wait to see Jason back on the field on Friday in Pittsburgh
• Carlos Pena could join Bartlett and the Rays in Pittsburgh as early as Friday. He is scheduled to play in a rehab game today for Vero Beach and met up with the team later. 

 ”I can’t wait,” Pena said. “I was like that a week and a half ago … but I understand that I have to be smart, especially when the doctors tell you, you can’t play with that [injury].”

• As much as we might think he needs to go on the DL, Troy Percival and the Rays do not, yet at least. 

“My arm feels fantastic, everything feels good,” Percival said following Tuesday night’s save. “My leg is still a little bit weak so I have a tough time getting out on top of it. … It’s nothing I can’t deal with. I just have to find a better way to get out in front.”

• Rocco Baldelli continues to play well on his rehab assignment. Playing for Class A Vero Beach, Baldelli,  was 1-4 with a double and 2 RBI last night. He also drew another walk, his fourth in five games.
• 2008 #1 draft pick, Tim Beckham, will play in his first pro game today. He will DH for the Rookie League Princeton Rays.

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 26th, 2008 at 9:46 am and is filed under MVN Rays. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.