Game 1: After winning 8 straight, the Rays dropped their third in a row tonight to Oakland 7-5 at Publix Park. Danny Medina, who had allowed a
total of 3 homers over the previous two seasons, allowed his 3rd homer of the year, a 2-run shot in the 8th to provide the A's the winning margin. Jon Soranno turned in another poor start after being staked to leads of 2-0 and 4-2, finishing 4.2 6 4 4 3 5 with his ERA now at 6.31. On offense Danny Ayala had an RBI triple to tie the game at 5, Omar Rodriguez drove in a pair, and Eric Titcombe was 2-3 with an RBI. Toronto remains uninterested in losing and their lead over the Rays grew to 2 1/2 games.
Taking a bit of a deeper dive into the standings, much of Toronto's record is due to smoke and mirrors as they're already 7 games over their Pythagorean record and have already won 13 1-run games. We just need to stay the course:
Game 2: Things looked bleak again when Kevin Kerstetter turned in another in a string of brutal outings from Rays starters of late (2.2 9 5 5 1 3) and they found themselves in a 6-1 hole. But the bullpen came through and the offense came to life with consecutive 4-run innings in the 6th and 7th to come back for a 12-6 win. And with Toronto losing 2-1 in 10 innings, the Jays' lead is down to 1 1/2 games. Eric Titcombe kept the team alive early with a pair of homers (#10 & 11) to get within striking distance at 6-3. Then the bats went to work with Will Quintana's 2-run double capping the 4-run 6th to put the Rays ahead, and Jaiden Hardaway's 2-run single highlighted the 4-run 7th. Bo Angeac, who walked 3 times and scored 4 runs, added a solo shot (#11) while Danny Ayala had 3 hits. Tony Rey took over for Kerstetter and kept them in the game allowing only one run over 3 1/3 for his 2nd win.
Game 3: The Rays took a 4-0 win over Oakland as four pitchers combined on a 3-hit shutout, but the win was costly as reigning AL Cy Young winner Nate Thompson was lost for the season and his Rays career is effectively over. Thompson, who missed his last start with a sprained elbow, was clear to pitch tonight and did well, going 4.2 2 0 0 0 4 but had to leave in the 5th with what turned out to be a torn labrum. As Thompson is a free agent this winter, this will likely be the last time he's seen in a Rays uniform. Tim Gates, who along with Jeremy Curtis is a candidate to replace him in the rotation, retired all 7 A's he faced for his first win with Tampa Bay while Tim Siqueiros and Chris Toombs contributed a scoreless inning each. Not a ton of offense, but Danny Ayala got them on the board in the 1st with an RBI, Omar Rodriguez doubled the lead in the 5th with HR #9 and Jon Jimenez added a sac fly. Toronto remains a team a destiny by scoring 3 times in the bottom of the 9th to beat Seattle 5-4, so they remain 1 1/2 up on us.
May 24: Placed P Nate Thompson on the 60-day IL with a torn labrum, activated P Jim Golunski from the 10-day IL.
Chris Toombs gets a reprieve, and deservedly so as he's pitched quite well.
Game 4: Josh Carsello pitched well and the Rays offense waited out Oakland ace Alex Santamaria in a 5-2 win to make it 3 of 4 in the series. Carsello went 6 6 1 1 3 5 but left trailing 1-0 as Santamaria held the Rays in check through 6. But in the 7th Omar Rodriguez took him deep with HR #10 to put the Rays up 2-1, and former Ray Romulo Canelon served up a 3-run Bo Angeac shot (#12) to make it 5-1. Danny Medina got his first win of the year with 2 scoreless innings in relief of Carsello, with Jim Golunski struggling a bit in his first game back in 19 days, loading the bases with two out. Kikuo Kawase came in and walked in a run, but struck out Chris Robles to end the game and notch save #9. And the Blue Jays actually lost today 8-3 to Seattle, so the Rays move within 1/2 game of the division lead.
Team record: 31-14. Next up: Those Mariners come to town for 3 games.