Another good series for the Rays and no matter how congested things are in the AL East (they remain so with the top 4 separated by a game), winning 2 out of 3 in every series going forward will do just fine and that's what they did against Seattle.
The opener was a Rays rout until it wasn't and then it was again as they ultimately downed the Mariners 13-6. They jumped out to a 7-1 lead into the 6th when
Shane Panzini couldn't handle prosperity and gave up 5 runs in the 6th to allow Seattle back within one.
JT Ginn got him out of the inning and he still picked up the win to go 6-5 despite going 5.2 8 6 6 1 5 with two more homers allowed.
Kelly Crumpton got things started with a 2-run homer in the first off former Ray Reggie Lawson (#21) while
Ed Howard and
Brendan Rodgers had huge games. Howard was 3-4 with 4 runs scored, 2 steals, a HBP, a homer (#5) and 2 RBI while Rodgers was 4-4 with a walk, double, 3 runs scored, and a solo homer, his first as a Ray.
Heston Kjerstad added HR #13 for good measure.
James Hays dominated in the second game and the Rays took a tidy 5-2 win over Seattle. Hays has become Mr. Reliable again and won his 4th start in 5 with a 7 4 2 2 3 10 outing which saw him improve to 7-3, 3.09.
Yasunari Uehara handled the 9th for save #9.
Ed Howard came up big again, going 3-4 with a steal and an RBI,
Diego Cartaya had a 2-run single, and the revived
Victor Robles doubled and drove in a pair as he's over the .300 mark.
Like their last series against Miami the Rays had a chance to sweep and couldn't as
Joe Ryan was battered once again and they dropped a 10-6 decision to the Mariners that really wasn't that close. Ryan has reverted to his 2026 homer-happy form and gave up 2 more in a 3.2 8 6 4 0 4 outing which dropped him to 6-5, 4.88.
Wennington Romero gave up 4 more in relief as they fell behind 10-1.
Brendan Rodgers continued to rake going 2-4 with a double and 2 RBI while
Jose Aguilar was 3-4 with an RBI.
Team record: 41-32, 1/2 behind the Yankees and tied for 2nd in the AL East. Next up: An off-day then we travel to Chicago to play 3 against the White Sox.
We made another big trade! He didn't know it but
Shane Panzini was pitching for his spot in the rotation on Monday and he failed the test as his ERA sits at 5.57 with 14 homers allowed in 72 IP. We can't have two
Joe Ryans in the rotation. So we dealt starter prospect A.J. Kelsey whom OSA likes better than our scout and who drew a lot of interest from other teams to get us another starter, one we can keep for a while. Here are the details:
Baumeister is the key and while his numbers with the Reds aren't eye-popping he's a rare starter who boasts 70 stuff (yes with 45 control and 45 movement) and is under team control for three more years. And we aren't just mortgaging the future either as we acquired a pair of teenage prospects with interesting upside, especially the 17-year-old Ortega. This is an interesting hitting profile, especially in the plate discipline department:
He also projects to be an average outfielder defensively.
Gutierrez:
This looks like the profile of a speedy leadoff guy, or at least an very useful middle infield backup. Chavero, the other guy we sent to make the deal work, has potential 55 stuff but only 30 movement and 40 control and doesn't look like much.
Panzini is out of options so he'll move to long relief and as a result
Slade Cecconi will go to Durham since he has one left, while Baumeister of course goes into the rotation and will make his debut over the weekend in Chicago.