[Art Deco]

Game 1: The Rays rolled in this one, clobbering Cleveland 12-2. They were up 6-0 by the 4th and kept pouring it on, blasting 4 homers in the process. Joe Barker's fielder's choice put them on top to stay in the 1st, and then he added his first homer of the year, a 2-run shot in the 3rd to make it 4-0. Keibert Ruiz had a big game, continuing his hot start by going 3-4 with 2 RBI tonight, including an RBI double in the 2nd. He's now 7 for 11 in the young season. Also cleaning up was Isaac DeLeon, on base all 4 times tonight with 3 hits and a walk, homering for the 2nd time this season and scoring 4 runs. Joining the party with his season debut tonight was Julio Cedillo, starting in CF for Jasson Dominguez and doing his best Dominguez impression by homering, driving in 2 and scoring 3 runs. Throw in RBI triples from Nate Clark and Bobby Witt Jr. and it was all Rays. Mack Anglin was the beneficiary of all this run support, and held up his end by shutting out Cleveland through 6 before allowing a 2-run inside-the-park homer to Bo Naylor in the 7th. He finished 6.1 6 2 2 2 8 and Christian Chamberlain (1 2/3 scoreless) and Evan Godwin (1 inning) closed it out as the Rays went to 4-0.

Game 2: The Rays' roll continues with a 10-3 win over Cleveland that was over when the Rays put up a touchdown and extra point in the first inning. Cleveland starter Cristian Javier was wild, walking a pair and hitting a man to load the bases for Spencer Torkelson, whom he walked to force in a run. Isaac DeLeon followed with an infield single to make it 2-0 and then Bobby Witt Jr. sent everyone home with a grand slam, his 1st HR of the season. Keibert Ruiz then went back-to-back with Witt and it was 7-0 before many of the Trop faithful were even in their seats. Tork added a 2-run double in the 4th and then pulled up lame, hyperextending his knee, a moderate 5-day injury. Nate Clark singled in a run in the 5th to cap the scoring. Tork wasn't the only injury, though; Jasson Dominguez continues to have back issues, straining it for a moderate 1-2 week injury so he'll go on the IL. This is why I didn't rush to deal Julio Cedillo despite Dominguez taking his job. Jack Leiter got the start today and went 5 4 0 0 1 4. That looks like an efficient line but it actually took him 92 pitches, so Andy Aparicio came on in the 6th and served up a HR again and gave up another run in his 2 2/3 which saw him strike out 4. Aparicio has had a bad habit of giving up HRs despite being rated an average 50 in movement, as he's now allow 10 in only 28 1/3 MLB innings. Mike Mooney pitched the final 1 1/3 and gave up a dinger of his own for the 3rd Cleveland run. So the Rays are now 5-0, but so are the Yankees who we'll face off with in a little over 2 weeks.

April 8: Placed OF Jasson Dominguez on the 10-day IL with a strained back, recalled OF Dayle Jenkins from AAA Durham.

With Tork also hurting, I figured we needed another outfielder so hello Dayle Jenkins, ranked by BNN as the #69 prospect in MLB. With Durham not starting its season for four more days he hasn't played since Spring Training, where he hit very well and opened a lot of eyes. Cedillo will start in center primarily, but we'll get Jenkins into a few games.

Game 3: Another day, another rout as the Rays beat Cleveland 10-2 and outscored them 32-7 in the 3-game series. Julio Cedillo took advantage of his return to the lineup with Jasson Dominguez out, and had a big day which started with a 2-run single in the 2nd. After Bobby Witt Jr. stroked a 2-run homer, his 2nd of the season, in the 4th to make it 4-0, the Rays added 4 more in the 5th to blow it open. That rally included another RBI single from Cedillo to go with an RBI single from Judson Fabian and a Jhon Diaz RBI double as well as an Isaac DeLeon groundout. Cedillo then had an RBI groundout in the 7th to give him 4 for the day and Joe Barker added an RBI double in the 8th. Christian Little wasn't quite as dominant as he was on opening day, but 6 5 2 2 1 9 will always play as he went to 2-0. Only a 2-run Austin Hendrick homer in the 6th blemished his day. Christian Chamberlain, Evan Godwin and Jordan Diaz threw scoreless innings to finish the game. Dane Ayers saw his first action of the season and went 1-4 with a steal while Dayle Jenkins came on as a pinch-hitter in the 8th and struck out in his first MLB at-bat.

Team record: 6-0. Next up: We head to Arlington for 3 vs the Rangers in an ALCS rematch. At 0-6 it's been a brutal start for Texas, but don't blame Wander as he's hitting .476 with a homer and 4 RBI.