Bullpen shines in Rays' victory

ST. PETERSBURG - Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria hit solo homers and Tampa Bay's bullpen limited Detroit to one hit over the last 4 1/3 innings, helping the AL East-leading Rays beat the Tigers 5-2 on Friday night.

Grant Balfour (3-1) struck out three of the four batters he faced in relief of All-Star Scott Kazmir to get the victory. The right-hander, who began the season in the minors, lowered his ERA to 1.20 with just four runs allowed and 45 strikeouts in 30 innings.

Pena is one of the players the Rays are counting on to step up offensively after failing to add another bat to the lineup before Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline. He was last year's AL Comeback Player of the Year when he hit .282 with 46 homers and 121 RBIs, but has struggled much of this season.

His homer off Zach Miner (5-4), snapping a 2-2 tie in the sixth, was his fourth in eight games and briefly lifted him into a tie with Longoria for the team lead with 19.

Longoria, leading all major league rookies in home runs, hit No. 20 off Joel Zumaya to make it 5-2 in the seventh.

Dan Wheeler escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh after J.P Howell gave up a double to Curtis Granderson, hit Magglio Ordonez with a pitch and walked Miguel Cabrera, bringing Gary Sheffield to the plate.

Sheffield, who drew a bases-loaded walk from Kazmir in the first, grounded to shortstop to end the threat.

Troy Percival worked the ninth to finish the four-hitter, moving ahead of Randy Myers for sole possession of eighth place on the career saves list with 348. The 40-year-old closer has converted 24 of 26 opportunities this season.

The strong performance by the bullpen made up for a subpar performance by Kazmir, who fell behind 2-0 when he walked four of the first six batters of the game and then gave up a RBI triple to Cabrera in the third.

Although the left-hander only allowed two runs and three hits, he tied a career high with six walks in 4 2-3 innings.
Since winning a club-record six straight decisions from May 10 to June 6, Kazmir has only won twice in 10 starts. He's lasted fewer than six innings in seven of those starts, exiting early more often than not because of high pitch counts.

He threw 110 pitches Friday night, departing after giving up a two-out single to Ordonez and issuing a walk to Cabrera. Balfour replaced him and struck out Sheffield to end the inning.

Miner, making his fourth start of the season after 32 appearances out of the bullpen, allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Tampa Bay tied it with two runs in the third. Akinori Iwamura hit an RBI double and eventually came around to score when Brandon Inge, who became Detroit's regular catcher when Ivan Rodriguez was traded to the New York Yankees, failed to handle a low pitch and was charged with a passed ball.

Associated Press

Comments

[dick]

I just ckd the players contract status and it "appears" that Upton's present contract is up after this year, if I'm reading it right and I hope I am. I agree completely with your take on similarities with those guys we let go.

[JeffC]

When is Upton signed through? The Rays Media Guide says he's signed through '08, but I know he's signed for longer. I can't find anything on the internet about that.

In my opinion, BJ is the Rays last link to the terrible trio of Dukes-Upton-Young that stirred up so much
!@#$ and had a sense of entitlement about them.

If he hustles and plays to his potential, he can become an elite player. But if not, the Rays don't need him and his attitude.

He never seems engaged in the game. He seems aloof to me.

100% agree on Aki. He hustles.

[dick]

When Maddon called out Aki in public, that really pissed me off as Aki plays the game the way it is supposed to be played and I honestly believe his teamates like him and trust him more than Upton. Other teams manage to discipline players when they dog it or do something stupid on their own, REPEATEDLY, and that's what this is, repeatedly. He refuses to sign a long term deal and will opt for free agency when present contract expires. Doubtful this ownership will bring him back at what he "thinks" he is worth and I believe the "team" will be better off because of it.

[JeffC]

Dick - Agree. I REALLY want to be able to give BJ the benefit of the doubt, but he hasn't exactly earned that.

Meanwhile, compare and contrast BJ to Cliff Floyd who hit a double on 2 bad knees that was ALL hustle. Gets to third on a FC, and hustles home on a wild pitch.

While I didn't expect it, I was hoping that Maddon would take BJ out of the game right on the spot. I recall a few weeks ago when Jimmy Rollins didn't run out a grounder and Charlie Manuel took him right out of the game.

[dick]

For Jeff C--what's new. Upton pulls some of that nearly every game now--either lack of hustle, even when he manages to hit the ball and get on, he attempts to steal 3rd with 1 out and your clean-up hitter at the plate???? I can't believe Maddon gave him the light to do that and this young lad needs to be sat down and have the book read to him..Can't believe someone like Cliff floyd hasn't done so yet.

[JeffC]

Can someone tell me what happened to BJ on Cabrera's triple? Did BJ lose it, or did he think it was a HR and just stop running.

I was in upper deck and from my view looked like he just gave up on the ball.

[JeffC]

Anyone at the game last night? I saw a Rays fan behaving VERY badly. he got in the face of a Tigers fan and kept screaming "TAMPA" until the guy wanted to punch him.

We've waited a long time for the Rays to be good, and we need to be good winners.

Show your pride Tampa/St. Pete, but let's do it the right way and not give Rays fans a bad name.

I love the Aussie. Seemed like Maddon kind of used him out of order last night. Balfour's approach seems to be this "OK, MR Batter. I am going to throw you 3 straight fastballs at various eye levels. Let's see if you can catch up." And not many have caught up so far. Sheffield really had some bad swings last night!!

[mm]

I'm taking Brandon's comment to mean he is talking about Kazmir. If so, i am sure glad you're not the Rays manager.

[Steve]

Balfour our future closer? He certainly has the stuff, and seems to have the moxie for it.I think he leads all MLB relievers in Ks per 9 IP,and batting average against.

[Andy]

Bradley,

Not really sure what that's supposed to mean. Legend? Jim Leyland? Got a problem with Percival? Sheffield?

[Bradley]

I'd replace the Legand that isn't before its to late.