Jackson takes shutout into eighth as Rays win 3-2

ST. PETERSBURG — Edwin Jackson took a shutout into the eighth inning, Cliff Floyd and Willy Aybar each homered, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Thursday night to guarantee they will finish no worse than .500 for the first time in franchise history.
Tampa Bay, 81-51 and an AL-best 49-19 at home, took two of three from Toronto and are 11-0-1 in series play since the All-Star break. The Rays extended their lead in the AL East over Boston to 4½ games. The Red Sox lost 3-2 to the New York Yankees.
Jackson (11-8) gave up one run and six hits over seven-plus innings in winning for the sixth time in his last seven starts. He departed after allowing Alex Rios' double to start the eighth.
Rios scored on Adam Lind's infield single and Rod Barajas added a two-out RBI double later in the eighth, cutting the Toronto deficit to 3-2. Jose Bautista, mired in an 0-for-24 slide, struck out to end the inning.
Dan Wheeler pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 12 opportunities.
Floyd put Tampa Bay up 2-0 with a first-inning sacrifice fly and a solo homer in the third.
Tampa Bay took a 3-0 lead when Aybar homered off Jesse Litsch (9-8) in the sixth. Aybar, who entered in an 1-for-16 slide, had three hits in four at-bats.
Litsch allowed three runs and 10 hits in 6 2-3 innings.
Toronto had at least one baserunner in each of the first six innings, but failed to score.
Thursday's announced attendance was 14,039, making it the sixth consecutive Rays' home game with a turnout under 20,000. Wednesday's crowd was 12,678.
"I'm really proud of the fact that we've really raised the level of our intensity despite only having 12,000 people in the stands," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said before the game. "They've been very professional about this. That's the part I really appreciate about it also. You'd like to see 36,000 every night, but for right now, the way our guys are going about our business, I'm very proud of them."

Associated Press

Comments

[Dave]

Congrats to EJ on a great game pitched. He came up big when we needed him. He certainly looks like he's turning the corner and will become a standout in this league.

[Terri]

I too am a Hinske fan - he comes through almost every night he plays. I support the Rays - I am over an hour away and try to go at least twice a week when they are home. I am going Saturday and Sunday this week. It saddens me when I see the empty park and these guys playing as well as they are.

[I Believe.]

BTW, James Borchuck's photos of the RAYS have been terrific. Hinske's diving grab above the fold today was a prize winner. Thanks for all the good photos, Mr. Borchuck.

[9equals8.com]

I do agree - instead of the standard response from players "we are disheartened" how about "we appreciate the fans that have stuck with us through 10 years of last place and hope we can build on that base going forward". It's definitely frustrating to see so few come during the week, but they should also give props sometimes. I did hear Maddon say somethign to this effect the other day, not not from the players so much.

[fan]

The attendance is embarrassing but it is also double what it was last year for a similar game. I do have a problem though, as a season ticket holder and avid fan we come to every game screaming, hollering, cowbelling etc for our team and do all we can to make noise but it doesn't seem to be enough. They just want more people. Are the loyal fans appreciated? Don't get me wrong, I would love to see the place full every game. Those who do not come are missing out on something very special. The Rays need to know that the Loyal Rays Republic do care and are there at every game.

[9equals8.com]

Marc, Joe and other St. Pete Times guys. I hope you will also report on the fact that the Rays have the largest (aka #1) increase in attendance in MLB this year. Yes, we are starting from a smaller base than most teams, but this is significant in my mind. Maybe you can balance out the discussion by given some credit where it's due rather than focusing on a headline #.

Here's the data YTD (avg. per home game):
Rays +24%
Rockies +16%
Phillies +10%
Mets +7%
Brewers +7%
etc.

Here are the worst teams (interesting, esp. White Sox and Dodgers):
Rangers -16%
A's -12%
Padres -12%
Mariners -11%
Giants -10%
White Sox -7%
Dodgers -5%
Cardinals -4%

[Craig]

Yeah I'm pretty sure that the people who post on this blog are already going to the games. Go find some non-attendees to badger, you morons.

Seeya tonight - MAKE SOME NOISE

[Tough Decision]

man, what a GREAT NIGHT! I stayed in my media room and got to watch the Rays and the Bucs as well as 4 different college football games on the 65" screen in my house ... even had a couple of the other baseball games on the split screen plasma monitor view ---- all from the cosy confines of my palatial estate on Lake Tarpon!
Tonight we've got the Rays on tap [along with a keg of St Bernardus #12 & fine cigars], the baseball package and a couple college football games.
LIFE IS GOOD!

see ya when the playoffs get here ... not interested in going until then

[Forclosure Again]

ps- we skipped our yearly Disney trip and beach weekend this summer, haven't been to a movie since 04 and haven't been out to eat in forever.

[Forclosure Again]

CharlieRay,

I have brought the family(and a friends family) out to one game already, which is one more then I have EVER been to.

And we are trying to schedule another
trip. but it ain't easy brother. The work I do, is being saturated with people who are out of work, so when an opp. to make cash comes, I MUST work.

thankfully, I have been keeping ahead so far.

[CharlieRay]

To go to a MOVIE is $8, to go out for dinner $10+, to go to the ZOO $30+, to go to the beach will cost $6 to park. To go to any of the amusement Parks $48+ The ticket price to see the next WORLD CHAMPIONS in baseball The Tampa Bay Rays is $9 in the 300 upper deck with a great view. Free parking with 4 in a car! come on guy we need to support. You may never have such a chance again at theese prices

[Forclosure Again]

You know, I always loved playing baseball/softball as I aged, but I could never stand watching baseball, ever.

At 42, I can honestly say, the Rays style of baseball is exciting to watch,
but unfortunately, a luxury in a time of uncertainty.

I do know there are plenty out there financially stable and able to go to the Rays game, but as a longtime Buc fan, back in the days would people would hand out ticket FREE, I know the fickle bandwagon jumpers will be out there soon.
The closer to the playoffs this team gets, the more 'casual fans' will come out.

[Brian]

It's Friday, we are 41/2 in first, Aubrey Huff is coming to town; car pool to save on gas and park for free, and rock the joint.

[JeffreyS821]

You can buy a ticket for NINE DOLLARS! All I hear is EXCUSES. Come on guys, we look PATHETIC! This is one of the greatest turnaround stories in the history of all professional sports, and THIS is our response??? It's to the point of hurting our players' hearts. They are KILLING themselves out there, and deep down, they feel that they aren't appreciated. That's going to affect them at some level. And you can be SURE it affects the owners' mentality about the future of this franchise in the area.

[Hinske Fan]

I proudly wore the ERIC Hinske shirt and he started the game off with that fantastic dive. He is the best.
I am making 4 games this weekend. I have my deposit down so I can get post season tix.
I BELIEVE.

[The ghost of Hugh Culverhouse]

You know Tampa Bay fans, when I purposely dismantled a NFC Championship-caliber team to empty the stadium of fans, I did it because I made more money not paying for NFL caliber players, yet reaping the rewards of NFL Revenue Sharing.

In baseball its different. You, the fans, must go to games or the owners will not have money to build or maintain a championship caliber club.

So go, spend $15-$25 on a ticket. Get three freinds to join you and you can park for free (tix price and free parking has me now rolling over).

Support your Rays. Or one day you'll be watching the Nashville/Oklahoma City Rays on satellite telling your kids "boy I remember the summer of '08. Unemployement was at an all-time high, Tampa had worst ecomony in sunbelt, gas killed us, I couldn't sell our home for 50% of its tax assesed value, BUT THOSE RAYS MADE IT THE BEST SUMMER EVER!"

[Brian]

Why not comp tickets for weekday games?

[Andy]

If you don't want to watch this team down the stretch I'll gladly take your seat.