Jays, Burnett beat Rays 3-1

TORONTO - A.J. Burnett matched a career-high with his 12th win, Matt Stairs hit a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 on Monday night.

Burnett, who also won 12 games in 2002 and 2005, allowed one unearned run and six hits in seven innings. He walked four and struck out 10. It was the 20th time Burnett has struck out 10 or more in a game, and the fourth time this season.

Asked before the game whether the Blue Jays would deal Burnett by Thursday's trade deadline, general manager J.P. Ricciardi was emphatic.

"He's not going anywhere," Ricciardi said.

The Rays scored a single run for the second straight game, both losses. Toronto won for the sixth time in seven games.

Burnett (12-9) has won six of eight starts for Toronto, which improved to 3-7 against Tampa Bay this season.

Scott Downs worked the eighth and B.J. Ryan pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save in 22 opportunities.

Tampa Bay right-hander James Shields lost for just the second time in his past seven starts. Shields (9-7) allowed three runs and five hits in 7 1-3 innings. He struck out five without a walk.

Sloppy defense by the Blue Jays helped Tampa Bay open the scoring in the third. With runners at first and second, Burnett fielded Carl Crawford's bunt but threw high and wide to third, pulling Scott Rolen off the bag and allowing Akinori Iwamura to slide in safely. One out later, Iwamura scored when Lyle Overbay fumbled Carlos Pena's grounder.

Shields cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one hit, but stumbled in the fifth. Rod Barajas led off with a single and Stairs followed with a two-run drive to center, his 11th.

Shields set down 10 of the next 11 batters but was knocked out in the eighth, after a diving B.J. Upton couldn't reach Brad Wilkerson's sinking liner. The ball rolled to the wall, putting Wilkerson at third. Joe Inglett chased Shields with a triple over Upton's head.

Grant Balfour came on and got Marco Scutaro to pop out before Alex Rios lined out sharply to right.

Burnett kept Toronto's 2-1 lead intact in the seventh when Upton drew a one-out walk, stole second and advanced to third when Crawford reached on a wild-pitch third strike. Evan Longoria ended the inning by grounding into a 6-4-3 double play.

Associated Press

Comments

[Jason]

It is not the matter of how inexperiened the fans are of the playoffs. It is the matter of getting the players that are slumping jump started. Adding/subtracting players is not the answer, its that one player can get out of the slump with the help of advise and when that advise has ran out where do you go from there. Is it the player or the management? Whatever it is it needs to be addressed. Thats why everyone is so hard on the players and management. We need answers not it looks good and feels good.

[Evan]

Does anyone else find it incredibly amusing that Rays fans are now complaining about a team that is nearly 20 games over .500, in first place, and about to surpass last year's win total?
We can all compain as much as we want, but many of the suggestions people are making sound like they are coming from fans who have never epxerienced a playoff race.
Trading for players because others are in a slump, sending quality players down to the minors to "work on their swings" are things that shouldn't even be discussed.
Bringing up Price in a month to pitch out of the bullpen (see Rodriguez in '02) or Baldelli for a part-time DH/RF are moves that could improve this club while not doing anything extreme.
I, personally, would prefer no move to a stupid move that we would regret in a month.

[Ray F]

Hey Kincaid,

Watch for flying bats. You made Jo-Bu very, very mad.

You're telling me the Sux bullpen or the Stankees bullpen are so much better???

I'd take the Rays or the Jays bullpen any day. Even the Orioles 'pen looks good compared to the beasts of the east.

I seem to remember Shields going into the 8th last night and if BJ didn't try to make an impossible catch, we would've been in good shape to win.

Nothing on BJ... but you don't attempt that type of play unless there's 2 outs and a man on 3rd. It isn't the pitching... starting or relief. It's hitting in clutch situations.

[Kincaid]

Most Rays fans jumped into the deep end way to soon.

The Fun in the AL East doesn't even begin until Aug 1.

What was called strong starting pitching can go south in a big hurry.
The bull pen isn't close to Al East caliber, so if the starters can't deliver 7 inning consistantly, then its next year.
Don't discount Minny and Toronto either for the wild card.

[Dave]

Here's looking at ya, Jo-Buu.

[Jo-Bu]

You should all pray to me...

It worked for Pedro Cerrano against the Yankees.

All I require is a good cigar and a shot of fine dark rum before the game. Gone are the days where I required a live sacrifice before the game. However, that practice has still been known to stretch a double every now and then.

If I see any of you clowns preaching the word of the Buddha, Jo-Bu help you. All I can say is, watch for flying bats!!!

[Dave]

My thanks to the Lord and Satan please stay away.

The baseball owners are already the most immoral group around placing a tight 2nd place finish to the Bush administration.

[The Devil]

From Hoboken New Jersey,

Hey it's me, The Devil. I got a call on my cell phone last night from Babe Ruth. I figured he was just upset I missed our 11am tee time last Wednesday. I let the call go straight to voicemail because I was texting Yogi Berra to see whether he wants his room close to the other Yankees or if he prefers a promenade view.

Anyway, when I called the Babe back, he let me know that he was on the phone for 3 hours with BJ Upton trying to talk him out of selling his soul for a homerun swing. I says to him, "Bambino, what are you doing? I put a quote package together for BJ the other day. I was going to give him a swing, plus a wider outfield range for his soul plus an exponential reduction in stolen bases for the next 3 years."

Long story short- I just got off a conference call with BJ and he's decided to hold off on his deal. He wants to keep swinging at fastballs that have already reached the catcher's mit. So, Rays fans, don't blame me I tried to help.

...even though you dropped me from your name last year. Remember who loves you.

[The Lord]

A reading from the book of Psalms:

12:26
"Yay, and here me," sayeth the Lord unto his flock or Rays...

From hither forward, thou shalt not covet bases loaded situations. Nor shalt thou covet 89mph fastballs down thy middle of thy plate.

Henceforth,

Thou shalt covet the bases loaded suicide squeeze with no outs.

Thou shalt covet the stealing of homeplate with 2 outs.

Thou shalt refrain from taking a 3-0 pitch with a man on 1st'eth base.

Thou shalt always swing on 3-0.

Thou shalt covet Jonny Gomes in the clean-up spot.

I am the Lord and I have spoken.

...hell, playing the way the game is supposed to be played isn't working.

[Jason]

Do you really think by aquiring a right handed batt will change the out come of the last 3 to 4 weeks? It is a collective effert by everyone on the team. Eventually, they will come out of this slump and be the team they where in the beginning of the season. There will be a game where they will break out, I hope it is sooner than later. It has only been by luck they are not 3 to 4 games back at this period in the season. It is good that the Yankees and Sox have struggled. If you look at the Sox right now they are in serious trouble. Thier starting pitchers are above average with the exception of Lester. There RF Pitching sucks and there is Mandy. I mean Manny. So look at the bright side we have a good chance to at least get a wildcard or better. I really hope it is better.

[Tone]

Does anyone see the joke that is Troy Percival? Madden is just hooking up his old buddy w/work when know one else would. He has no right to call out anyone when he continues to back that salary waste. This Season is special because both the Sox and Yanks are weak. Lets buy for some proven talent, if they had made a move a few weeks ago we could have had a comfortable lead right now. The thrill is almost gone. Hard to watch our bats for a month, the fielding is really nice though. Starters are good but they have no run support and no hope for run support which effects the way they pitch later in games.

[Demetrios]

Let's take a step back and really look at this objectively. If you told me at the beginning of the season we would be two games up in the L column, I would have been ecstatic! If you also told me we would be up by SEVEN games in the L column and in a matter of three weeks p..s away five of those against below avg. teams, with the exception of two to the Yanks, and look terrible doing it, I would be upset, which I am. To say that we should be happy with where we are is your choice but I don't think many people realize how hard it is to get to this point and we really need to take advantage. It's just so damn frustrating to watch them play with so much apathy.

As far as BJ is concerned, he is a target because it is obvious he has some issues. If anyone watched him play before this season, he looked the same way. Now due to their success, everyone is under the microscope. I don't want to pile on BJ because everyone is basically playing poorly, but there is an issue with BJ when he didn't go to the wall to make a catch a few weeks ago and a replay of Kazmir showed he was upset at his lack of hustle. Yesterday Sheilds showed frustration with him. This is a problem! I don't want to get rid of him but some of the so called leaders on this team need to put their foot up some of these kids as..s.

The fact that we are slumping is not why so many of us are upset. It's who we are losing to and how frustrating it is to watch them look like their going down without a fight.

[Dave]

Dave - you're whining about the whining on this blog.

People are voicing their opinions because they're excited about the team. Anybody watching the majority of the games know we have a young ball club with great pitching - especially the starters.

But there are a few holes and Yes BJ Upton is taking a lot of flack because he is so blatantly lacking of hustle. A comment you can't make about any other player on the team.

Shields really showed last night that he is a professional by not going after Upton. He also probably remembers some of the hits that Upton caught for outs this year.

This streak will hopefully end soon but if I'm Friedman you have to ignite a spark somewhere - get a player or make some moves from Durham. Do something. Staying put is not a competitive position while playing the American East division.

[Jeff Sports Vortex in Maine]

Guess whos back boys.....your Rays are hanging tough...this is going to the last weekend of the season!!!! I would LOVE to see a Rays Sox ALCS!!!!! Anyway join us those shows were fun! www.centralmainesportsblog.com

Look for the Vortex link on the left

[Craig]

That's really incredible how a blog poster can read BJ Upton's mind. Can you read mine?

[Marc]

Upton need to be further down in the lineup. All these hitters need to stop swinging at balls outside the strike zone. Crawford looks like he's playing golf. Upton's swing looks ridiculous. Someone suggested maybe he should spit out that big wad of chewing tobacco.. he can't see the ball over it..lol. Aki needs to stop stepping in a bucket in pitches on the corner. Aybar needs to stay on the bench. I'm way past tired watching him pop up with runners in scoring position. This is not metaphysical. It's not rocket science. See ball.. hit ball. Basic stuff. Perhaps because these guys haven't been in this position before, they aren't mentally prepared for the pressure.. however, it still comes down to executing the basics.

[Mark]

Lackluster comments on here as usual. Can I ask why B.J. Upton is the only target of poor play? It's quite obvious our entire lineup is playing poorly. They're putting alot of pressure on Longo in the 4 spot. He's going to fall because of it I fear and we'll see how that plays out. I'm just sick of everyone thinking BJ is the main reason we're losing games.

Ray, I've watched Navi and Longo do the same as everyone in the lineup lately. I'm looking at the box scores after the game and it appears as I thought. No production from ANYONE! There isn't one player on this team playing good right now unless its maybe Balfour.

[Dave]

WOW! All you people sound like Red Sox fan before 2004. Whiners!

This a VERY YOUNG team that is going to learn from this stretch. For you guys that say we are lucky to be where we are? We are in FIRST PLACE! The Rays have dynamic young pitching staff and one of the top 3 defenses in baseball! That's why we are in first place the end of July!

We may not bust out of this slump this year, but our Rays are set up to win for many years.

[Dave]

To Harold,

I realize Longo is a rookie and a damn good one at that. I was kinda lazy with my comment - Burnett made Longo look like weak last time he pitched but Joe had in in the 4 hole anyway. It's a tough spot - you can't make wholesale changes - this is the team that worked its way to 1st place. Hopefully this won't be a season ender slump.

[Jason]

As I see it right now, BJ is the biggest problem. I dont know how Shields did not get in a fight in the dugout last night with him. I am seeing base hits or better by everyone execpt BJ Upton, DH hitter, and our right fielder. Burnett made everyone look like a rookie hitter last night not just Longo. The veterns looked bad at swinging the ball. I am getting tired of watching BJ swing the bat at non-sense pitches and not swinging at the close strikes and even the strikes. Unfortunately we are stuck with what we got till the end of the season. The Rays will not trade for rental players, they will use what they have in the minors.

[Harold]

Dave

Uhhhh Longoria is a rookie....
Burnett is an experienced big time pitcher
I agree with you on Reyes. I also agree that Crawford and Upton need some help at the plate. As for Upton in the Outfield, Im willing to give him some more time in making a complete transition to an outfielder. I continue to worry more about our Starting rotation holding up over the next two months than I do about an additional Bat
Out

[Brian]

I just read a book, TRUE KIN, by local author (actually living in Arizona right now, but a must read for any fiction readers,especially those who like hometown flavor-much of it is set in St.Pete/Tampa). Anyway, in the last story a brother has trouble accepting the reality of his sister's sudden and unexpected death; just had me thinking about the potential denial of the death of our magical season.

[Dave]

The Rays unfortunately are in a slump that will continue until one of the players simply has a breakout game. Pena is horrible swinging at junk all over the place, Longoria looked like a rookie against Burnett last night and Upton is at the point where he may need to be sent down to Durham to get his stroke fixed. he simply is lost at the plate and looks late on any swing he wishes to try which usually is a swing at a pitch out of the zone. People dump on Gomes but if Crawford, Upton, Pena and others hustled like Gomes I think the results would be different.

The pitching staff should be fixed by placing Reyes on the 60 day DL with Dohmann, Salas or Thayer called up. Trevor Miller will be fine he's just in a funk like all the hitters. He'll snap back. Percival will be shaky for the rest of the year and hopefully his hammys will hold up. It's been a great year for this team and they lost last night but so did Boston and New York. The Rays FO can boost their ticket sales now by making a block buster trade. Now is the time to do it.

[Alex]

I'm way past sick and tired of the Rays players saying "We have got to tip our caps to the opposing pitchers" It's time to knock their caps off!!

[Ray]

"Mr. Allstar is NOT producing in the 4th spot, Mr Navi-star isn't producing at catcher or at the plate."

Hey Mike, they're the only 2 on the team that's doing anything right now. Longo's got more RBI's than anybody and Navi's batting way above his head and has done pretty decent at throwing runners out. Get on CC, BJ and Pena if you want to rag on anyone. And the rest of the line-up ain't hitting either, thus the 0-fer again tonight with RISP.

Nuff said!

And the NDRO sits on their hands again when it comes to getting a right-handed bat that can actually hit. Gomes and the rest of the DH'r's can go bye-bye for all I care, because they're not pulling their wait.

And they let Josh walk?

[justin]

comparing Upton to Pujols in any way is the most moronic thing I have seen in print. Ahead of albert Pujols in walks--what the hell does that mean???
Different position, different league and how you could use Upton and Pujols in the same sentence is beyond me.

[juatin]

For White Castle--you had best ck your facts as it WAS Upton who refused to be moved from SS, He emphatically stated he would play SS or nothing else and that is why he stayed down. When he was brought up and attempted to play SS, he sucked really bad and bck down and then realized he had best play OF or he would not move up. As for trade bait, I doubt the Rays could get much for a punch and judy hitter who is proficient at getting walks and striking out. His lax play is becoming more and more evident, even drawing the ire from the partial Rays announcers when he doesn't run out ground balls. Here you have a CF, struggling to hit 265, no power, low RBI's, no power, can't bunt on a team that needs him to produce. Sure, on a team already proficient on offense, he might just fit in--he doesn't fit on this team in any way, especially attitude.

[White Castle]

B.J. is an above average center fielder through offense and defensive metrics alike. He's ahead of Albert Pujols in walks.

As for complaining in Durham you're incorrect, that was Delmon Young who brought B.J. into the mess. Trading B.J. Upton right now would be as stupid as trading Evan Longoria.

[Edgar]

I call the firing of hitting coach Steve Henderson b/c this team is beyond pathetic. That is a shame that James Shields was on the verge to throw a complete game but it did not happen. What a wasted outing. Somebody has to take responsibilty for the pitiful offense. Steve Henderson is the guy that has to go. I am running out of patience with this crap. First, fire Steve Henderson, next to go is Jonny Gomes, Al Reyes, and Trever Miller. Gary Glover's move is the first step in the right direction. It should be a zero tolerance policy based on performance. This is getting out of hand. If they are relying on Baldelli to comeback, get him up immediately before he gets hurt AGAIN! Get Ruggiano up as well and leave him there on the roster. I had seen enough of Jonny Gomes; he should follow in the footsteps of Glover(out the door). Make an effort on getting Jason Bay and if it takes Jeff Niemann and Jason Hammel/Mitch Talbot to make the deal, do it. That is what happens when you are buyers, you have to give up something to get something.

[JB]

Nice routes by Mr Bojangles in center tonight. Nice pitching by Shields. Nice D by Bartlett. Otherwise boring baseball. If nothing else shake up the lineup. Aki looks tired. Bring up some fresh bodies.

[Mike]

They can't hit with RISP. Or other times for that matter. 0-10 tonight with RISP. Dionner has the only avg. on the team above .280. You know and I know that this team is much better than that. Fire Steve Henderson. He's the hitting coach and the hitting is our most glaring problem. Anyone else have any other ideas? Am I barking up the wrong tree here?

[Allie]

Anyone think that B.J. is possibly in trade talks, and knows it, so he doesn't feel the need to put forth any effort? These past few games he's been even more lacksadasical than usual...

[Mark]

Great team play to correct the previous comment. Everybody is on B.J. Upton and I don't see anyone helping him out. Mr. Allstar is NOT producing in the 4th spot, Mr Navi-star isn't producing at catcher or at the plate. This is a total team lapse right now....and they need help fast.

[justin]

Totally agree with you Matt, Upton is a prima-donna who thinks he is great when in fact, he is an average player, at best. If you remember, this is the same kid who felt "dissed" when he languished in the minor league because he wanted to play SS and nothing else and wouldn't consider a switch to OF. However, it isn't ALL Upton's fault we are where we are--the only consistent offensive players for the year have been Navarro and Longoria. Longoria really remarkable for a rookie and the top producer on this team and a potential golden glove at 3rd. We are indeed fortunate to be where we are and if you compare stats, there is no reason we are. It has been a great ride but the way these guys are swinging doesn't leave much room for optimism, even for positive Maddon. Please bring me up from Durham !!!!

[matt]

Great defense by Upton in the 8th. That's about as pathetic as it gets.