Longoria slams Rays past Jays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Rookie All-Star Evan Longoria hit his first career grand slam during a five-run sixth and Matt Garza threw 7 2-3 scoreless innings to help the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays past the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 on Saturday night.

Longoria has struggled recently, going 3-for-23 with no RBIs in his previous seven games. He broke out the slide in a big way with the bases-clearing drive off Toronto ace Roy Halladay (11-7) to put the Rays ahead 5-0.

Garza (8-5) allowed two hits - coming on singles in the third by Scott Rolen and Marco Scutaro during the seventh - and struck out six. The right-hander was coming off a start on July 12 when he gave up seven runs and 11 hits in five innings of an 8-4 loss at Cleveland.

The Rays have won two in a row following a seven-game losing streak. Tampa Bay has a 1 1-2 game lead over Boston, which lost 4-2 to the Los Angeles Angels.

(Pictured: Aki Iwamura, left, Evan Longoria, center, and Carl Crawford, right. Times photo -- Edmund D. Fountain. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[Sharpie]

How about this scenario, Since price has pitched a hell of a lot this year w/ just getting out of college then starting right into minor leagues, bring him up to be the closer. We would finally have a closer with nasty stuff and could go for longer then 5 batters without hurting himself. SP through 6 Balfour/Howell 7 price 8-9

[Shane]

Sorry guys, i was drunk last night and when you add in the fact that I don't know too much about baseball you get some pretty dumb responses.
I'll save my nickels & dimes and see if I can get a ticket to a Sat game before spouting off my ignorance.

[Bodog]

Shane, all the more reason for you to get to the stadium on Saturday nite. The reason those Saturday nite games aren't televised has something to do with MLB and there policy about games being televised before their prime time of 7:00 p.m.

[Bodog]

Shane, all the more reason for you to get to the stadium on Saturday nite. The reason those Saturday nite games aren't televised has something to do with MLB and there policy about games being televised before their prime time of 7:00 p.m.

[Helene]

I would be happy never to see Reyes on the mound for us again, but I agree with the commenter who said Miller is useful as a left handed specialist. I wanted to wring Maddon's neck when I "saw" (via MLB Gameday) two right handers come up to face him last night. (Though in fairness to Miller, one of them reached on an Aki error, if memory serves.)

[Shane]

yea i know reyes was the one who got us out now i wasnt watching the game i basically had an updating scoreboard to show me what was happening. it really pisses me off that the rays aren't on tv on saturday nights

[Danny]

Shane, Wheeler didnt do anything wrong? He is the one that got us OUT of this mess. You need to start paying attention. Miller and Reyes need be dropped.

[Mark]

They would have put Balfour in if it was originally a save situation going into the 9th.

Do you think the Yankees would put in Mariano Rivera with a 6-run lead in the 9th just because he's Mariano Rivera? Not that I'm comparing Balfour to Rivera, rather one closer to another.

[Bodog]

Mentioning Price, comes to mind, we're probally see him no later than 9/23 that daytime doubleheader with the Orioles.

[Shane]

i think DP will make opponents pay the price when he does come up to the majors especially if he comes up as a MR or Closer cause if what i've heard about him is true he has the potential to crack the starting rotation next year

I agree that Salas needs to be on the big league club, but Miller is someone we need to keep. He's not supposed to be used as a regular reliever, he's a lefty specialist, and with that kind of side-arm delivery I can understand why lefties are hitting .231 against him and he has a goose-egg as his ERA against lefties. Without him the only lefty in the bullpen is Howell, and he's WAY too good to be used as a situational reliever against left-handed hitters. I still think when it gets to crunch time David Price will be in the bullpen and will maul some guys come September and October.

[what]

wheeler is not a closer, he is a set up man and basically has been the best one in the majors this year i dont think there has been a better set up man than wheeler he is basically automatic in the 8th inning. but i do agree with miller he makes me cringe anytime he comes in the game he doesnt throw consistent strikes and reyes needs to improve. What i suggest is bring up salas from durham he has thrown like 10 straight scoreless innings and has been dominating down there he is to talented to be in aaa.

[what]

wheeler is not a closer, he is a set up man and basically has been the best one in the majors this year i dont think there has been a better set up man than wheeler he is basically automatic in the 8th inning. but i do agree with miller he makes me cringe anytime he comes in the game he doesnt throw consistent strikes and reyes needs to improve. What i suggest is bring up salas from durham he has thrown like 10 straight scoreless innings and has been dominating down there he is to talented to be in aaa.

[Shane]

if maddon is reading these blogs then heres a reality check for him and management either we trade for another closer/put balfour as our closer or we will lose a majority of our 2nd half games because wheeler miller and reyes are not getting it done(miller and wheeler almost cost us the game and reyes isn't doing much better). how do three closers give up 4 runs in the 9th(the close)?

[Andy]

Gomes wasn't in the lineup because he never starts versus right-handed pitching. I'd suggest watching some Rays games before blogging in the future.

At least it seems Maddon finally started reading these blogs. No Gomes in the lineup and Upton was finally moved down.

[Longo]

Ok, but will you be my running mate, Timmy?

[Tim]

Longo for president!!!!!!!!!