Rays win after a wild ninth

[Scott Kazmir congratulates J.P. Howell after Howell came in for Troy Percival in the ninth and closed out the 5-4 win. James Borchuck, Times]

ST. PETERSBURG – Rays starter James Shields was sharp, and Gabe Gross delivered a key two-run homer to lift the Rays to a 5-4 win over the Red Sox Monday night. (View photo gallery)

In one of the biggest games ever played at the Trop, the Rays took advantage of timely hitting (two, two-out homers) and held on after an adventurous ninth to move 1.5 games ahead of Boston in the American League East.

B.J. Upton gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the first with a homer to centerfield. After Mike Lowell added an RBI single in the fourth, Gross answered with a two-run blast in the bottom half, giving the Rays a 3-1 lead.

The Rays held a 5-2 entering the ninth, when it got interesting. Closer Troy Percival struck out Manny Ramirez, but Lowell hit a double, and advanced on an infield single by Kevin Youkilis. On a weird play, Brandon Moss hit a catwalk in rightfield, which dropped in for an RBI double.

A Jason Varitek sacrifice fly made it 5-4 before Percival was pulled after a spirited discussion with manager Joe Maddon on the mound. With the tying run on third, lefty J.P. Howell got ex-Ray Julio Lugo to line out to shortstop Jason Bartlett to end the game.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

[Bill]

Believe me, I watched every moment......I was just clarifying the first comment....which is there are advantages and disadvantages to both places........I like the trop for many reasons but I'd love an outdoor place for many reasons as well.

[Brian]

Let's make sure we don't eat our own guys. Let's blow the top of completely tonight, this thing is starting to feel more and more real.

[rayray]

Get used to it sux fans, it's the Rays time to shine.

[Ray F]

Awesome, awesome, awesome.

That was the first ever Rays/ Red Sux game where-

1. There were clearly more Rays fans than Red Sux fans

2. I didn't see one fight (on or off the field)

Great atmosphere. Great crowd. Great game. Great win. Now gimme my damn Donuts.

It's ironic that Dunkin Donuts is based in Massachusetts... We're gonna put 'em out of business with all these free donuts!!!

GO RAYS!!!

[MLNFL]

Biggest game of the year and a key out
is lost because the ball hits a catwalk? If there ever was evidence of need for a new stadium that was it. Imagine that happening in a playoff or even worse a world series game.

[JL]

1)Percival only scares me when he's not 100%, which at present, he clearly is not.

2)Jackson does not have the mindset to be converted into a closer on the fly(possibly a project for the off season).

3)Percival is clearly a leader, and arguably the key component of the locker room turn around. He seems to believe that, in order to continue in that vein, he must be available to close at least 3 out of every 4 games. That is not neccessarily true at this point, as his warrior mentality commands the respect of everyone on the team. I concur with the idea that he needs to spend as much time on the DL(4 to 6weeks?)as possible to maximize the quality of his availability for what we all hope will be the stretch run for the playoffs.

4)In the interim, the best candidates
for the closer slot are in order: Wheeler, Balfour, and, remembering his effectiveness last year, possibly even Reyes(if he's 100% healthy).

5)The role of closer is not for just
anyone. It requires a special kind of
mentality and demeanor. You can have Goose Gossage stuff(anyone remember Jesus Colome?), but unless you also have his mental approach you're not going to be a consistent closer.

[MLNFL]

Biggest game of the year and a key out
is lost because the ball hits a catwalk? If there ever was evidence of need for a new stadium that was it. Imagine that happening in a playoff or even worse a world series game.

[nick]

What do you care if the game was still in delay Bill. You were in bed by the 2nd inning. Your right dont make the waterfront. You dont deserve it. Move them across the bridge. Plenty of room in Tampa. I love watching Sox fans leave early.

[md]

What about asking Jackson to take a shot at the closer role. If he only needed 3 outs, he hit 100 on his fast ball. Percival did a good job early, but now the Rays need at least a 3 run lead. His ERA is climbing fast.

[Brian]

The waterfront stadium would have the sail up. And SHUT UP about the damn thing already. You won. Now go die, you stupid old fart.

[Brian]

The waterfront stadium would have the sail up. And SHUT UP about the damn thing already. You won. Now go die, you stupid old fart.

[Wade]

Can you feel it!!!??? Can you hear me now!!!?? Don't look now you St. Pete scumbags but the Rays are for real. They are here to stay!

[Mark]

GO RAYS! BIGGEST WIN ALL YEAR!!!!!!

Percival scares the crap out of me!

anyone else agree??!

[Yes]

Time for a demotion: Percival should be put on the DL...let that hamstring heal. Then, when he's healthy, start using him in the 7th or 8th inning. In the meantime, bring up Niemann and convert him into a reliever.

[Dave T]

Percival needs to sit, and Maddon needs to make him sit. He almost single-handedly blew the biggest game ever for the Rays. Know your limits.
I thought Wheeler was doing great. 1-2-3 8th. Why not get a 1-2-3 9th for a change?

[rocky]

Great game...but time to move Balfour as the closer while Percival gets healthy. Keep on winning..

[sevenyearhawk]

Whew!

What, what's that I hear from the Northeast ...

*crickets chirping*

What say you NOW, BoSox fans?

[Bill]

The game would still be in delay if there was a waterfront.

[Jon]

There wouldn't have been a catwalk on the waterfront...