The Skinny: The Tampa Bay Rays have split their last two games in Toronto against their AL East Rivals, the Blue Jays. They won on Tuesday 5-4, but lost on Wednesday night by a score of 6-2. They are now 17-16 on the season.
The Pitching: Andy Sonnanstine started on Tuesday and won his fourth straight decision to run his record to an impressive 5-1 on the year. Sonnanstine lasted six innings and bent plenty but never broke. He allowed 10 hits and four runs in his six innings but kept the Jays from getting the big inning. The Rays then used their top relief combo of Dan Wheeler (two scoreless innings) and Troy Percival (a scoreless ninth inning) to end the ball game. On Wednesday night the Rays handed the ball to Matt Garza to try to get back to back wins. Garza was very sharp but took the loss. He pitched 6.2 innings and gave up only 1 ER. Garza struck out two and allowed six hits in his outing. The bullpen really is what let the Rays down. Dohmann, Miller, and Hammel combined to give up five runs in 1.1 innings, cementing the fate of the Rays.
The Hitting: On Tuesday the Rays got two hits a piece from Iwamura, Upton, and Erick Hinske. Carlos Pena had a rough night as he went 0-4 with 4 strike outs. Hinske had a double and home run on the night and his home run came in the sixth the put the Rays up 5-3. On Wednesday the Rays didn’t pick up their first run until the 9th inning, when BJ Upton hit a two run double, but the game was pretty much out of reach. The Rays mustered only four hits as a team on Wednesday as they struggled against Jays starter, Shawn Marcum.
What’s Next?: The Rays and Jays will play the rubber game of their series tomorrow night in Toronto. Edwin Jackson will start for Tampa Bay. Game time is 7:07pm.
