Percival leaves game with right knee sprain

UPDATE, 8:49 Percival was on crutches and his knee was wrapped in a compression brace after the game, and even though decisions won't be made until after he is examined in Texas on Friday, it would appear he is headed to the DL.

The Rays likely need a fresh arm for the bullpen anyway, and the two relievers on the 40-man roster at Triple-A Durham are Juan Salas and Kirt Birkins. Another option would be to create space by designating someone for assignment and promoting Scott Dohmann.

Percival said he felt sharp pain in his knee walking back to the mound and was sore.

Also, Carl Crawford's surgery on his right hand was successful.

Baldelli was fine, manager Joe Maddon said, the Rays just didn't want to push things. And Baldelli said he felt good after such an eventful afternoon.

UPDATE, 8:02: The Rays held on to win, 7-6.

UPDATE, 7:48 Now Rocco Baldelli is out of the game, having slid awkwardly trying to score in the 11th. So Jason Bartlett is at short, Ben Zobrist went to left and Justin Ruggiano to right.

UPDATE, 7:39 Word from the Rays clubhouse is that Percival has a right knee sprain and is considered day to day.

- - -

Another sign of trouble for the Rays - RHP Troy Percival was just forced to leave the game with a problem in his right leg after fielding a bunt and racing to tag out Mark Ellis in the ninth inning.
Percival has been on the DL twice already this season with left hamstring strains.

Grant Balfour is replacing Percival as the Rays have a 5-4 lead and Oakland has a man on second. And that didn't last long either, as Frank Thomas singled in the tying run. And now extra innings.

Comments

[Tom]

Perhaps if Percy could limp his somewhat rotund girth to a salad bar now and again this kind of thing would not be so re-occuring!

[Troy Mercyful]

Grandpa!
I told you to watch yourself out there!
You know the doctors said you shouldn't be running on routine plays.

It's time to call it a career percy when you can't even run without going on the DL...

[Helene]

"Freakin' Percy and his damn walks. Came back to bite us. I love Balfour, don't fault him."

As much as I hate, hate, HATE leadoff walks (especially in one run games...grrrrr) I will "fault" Balfour for this one...well, as much as you can "fault" someone when we eventually won the game, anyway. ;) I was actually afraid that he was going to give up a HR to Thomas because he was overthrowing and getting the ball up. Luckily he didn't throw the gopher ball I was dreading, but it was still a very linedriveable pitch that Thomas saw coming a mile away. Guy's still been awesome this year though, no question.

[Tom]

Thank you Marc 11:49. Why, why, why do people hate Edwin Jackson so much?

He has won 4 straight games and given up 3 runs or less in 8 of his last 9 starts. Can any other Rays starter say that? NO! (Only a handful of pitchers in all of baseball can).

Besides him being our MOST CONSISTENT starter over the past two months, he is our back-up super utility guy. He was ready to pitch yesterday in case Miller faltered. He was ready to play in the OF in the game where Riggins got blasted in the chest. He has good baseball skills outside of pitching, he HATES to lose and his teammates like him. Fans who don't like him need to understand that the Rays wouldn't be where they are without him.

[george]

Louie from Seffner -

The attitude is the wrong one. Do you think any of those teams are looking forward to playing the Rays? Look at it the other way around, say, from the Red Sox' vantage point: Six games against the Rays, six games against the Yankees, 3 games each against the White Sox, and at Texas. Look at the rest of August with the Rays having 9 games at home vs. 6 on the road while the Red Sox are on the road for 9 and only 6 at home. We could conceivably be ahead by 5 or 6 when the Rays and Sox meet up starting on Sept. 8. Don't doubt for a minute that the Red Sox would much rather face Toronto than the Rays in any setting, home or away.

[Marc]

Can we please cut it out with the "make Jackson the set-up man" crap? Jackson had his time in the bullpen and was TERRIBLE. He is a thoroughbred starter and that's just how it is.

You'd think people would appreciate the fragile value of a 5-man rotation with a combined ERA of 3.83--something any contending team in baseball--from the Brewers to the Angels--would KILL for! But all we hear is "send dat Sonnanstine down" and "put Jackson in dah pen!" Jesus, this really IS the first time for some of you, eh?

[Brian]

How cool is it that in mid-August there are people complaining about HOW the Rays are winning on the road. To all the Rays fans, let's really enjoy this.

Oh, and slappy, enjoy your video games kiddo.

[mrincredible]

Talbot, Thayer, and Dohmann beat Norfolk 4-0 today on a 6-hitter. Dohmann is 0-2, 3.89 ERA, and 18 saves. Thayer is 3-1, 1.71, 63 innings, 70 k's, but he won't get a sniff because he's not on the 40 man roster?!! He would look good at the Trop. Salas is 4-5, 2.62. He's ready, too. Birkins? Not so much. He's 2-2 with an ERA of 7.00. I assume Topkin mentioned him because he's on the 40 man. I'd move him off and move Thayer on. I'd be good with Thayer, Salas, or Dohmann in the Rays' pen. What do you think?

[growerbull]

what is the status on rocco?

[Louie from Seffner]

Folks, the storm is brewing -- 6 games each with Bos and NY; 4 w/ Minny; and 3 each w/ the Angels and the WSox. Seattle and Oak are Triple A teams, my friends. Get Price up here and let the kid set up Balfour and/or Wheels. I've seen Beer League players in better shape than Percy, who we squeezed as much as we cud out of the dude. Keep those Dunkin Donuts coming boys!!

[Eric]

"I hope Percy is done for the season"??? Real classy. Moron.
On baseball, our starting pitchers have got to go deeper into games. Our Bullpen is getting beat up and September is too tough, we may need every single win. We just need to stop getting hurt, between having three players hit by pitches in one week and this road trip this team needs some time off. Does anyone thing Dom Zimmer is actually giving some advice on how to handle a pennant race mentally? These guys have got to be worn out. Like the never die attitude. GO RAYS!!

[G]

live and let live! go rays!

[george]

As I am reading this thread and looking at the timeline of the comments it is amazing to watch folks like Slappy disappear completely from the discussion as soon as another W was notched, on the road no less.

The Rays are now 7-3 in their last 10 games, which tops the AL. The feat is even more impressive when considering that that 10 game stretch includes 7 road games. Rays are the second-best road team in the AL and the best home team. Give the Rays their due. They richly deserve it.

Next up is Texas for 3 away games while Boston has 3 more home dates. The Rays should still hold a lead over Boston by the time the Texas series is over. After that the Rays will be at home for 9 of the next 12 games while Boston has to travel for 9 of those 12 games.

Point is: Enjoy the frigging ride. They are winning despite injuries to top players and considering the schedule it looks like the Rays have a good shot at putting some more air between themselves and Boston by the time August is over and Longoria returns to the fray.

[dick]

to the anonymous childish entry posted at both 7:18 and 8:04, you are nothing but a class act and should be proud of yourself. Seriously hope you have comfort sutck in your own abyss and surrounded by mediocrity. (I know, you are looking things up in the dictionary to see what I'm talking about)..Do yourself a favor and sign off or act civilized.

[Brian]

People need to relax. Percy would have been runner on second, one out if he hadnt got hurt. He's solid, and we need the veteran in that role in the post season. Someone who's dealt with the pressure.

[Tim]

you all are so critical of Percy .. We have lost ZERO games he has pitched in.. ZERO ... what other closer in the league can say that ?? ............... anyone ...anyone ... Buehler ... anyone ... ???
didn't think so ...

[Dom]

Meanwhile down on the farm-or should I say Olympics? Jeremy Cummings could be moving up to the Rays once Team USA is done in Beijing.

[Dave W]

And I should add that while Rocco is such a great story, we shouldn't count on him to stay healthy.

[Dave W]

Longoria's wrist injury should be a huge cause for concern. David Ortiz is just now getting better. Aurilia and Randy Wynn would be great pick-ups.

[JGarseeya]

No body cares about the Bucs anymore

[Rob]

A win is a win but sheesh! Freakin' Percy and his damn walks. Came back to bite us. I love Balfour, don't fault him. Frank Thomas has owned us since 1998! What's his career stats against the Rays? Well like I said, a WIN is a WIN. 73 on the year. GO RAYS!

[Re: Dick]

Go tell your sister about your morals. We're not interested in a limp dick.

[Re: Slappy]

This win was so in Slappy's face. God, he's stupid.

[dick]

I believe every team has the "mentality" to believe you should win every game when you have the lead in the 9th. However, REALITY says different as the best in the business have been blowing saves all season (Wagner/Rivera/Papelbon, etc)--so, it is what it is and our guys have been better than most. Perhaps this injury to Percival will get the juices flowing of the other guys and they can pick him up. After all, as nervous as he makes me, he is nearly FORTYFREAKIN years old and getting the job done. Referring to the entry (no name)posted at 7:18, for you or anyone to "hope" someone is injured and out for the year is sick and beyond any explanation!!!

[JeffC]

How many closers in baseball are lights out, game over when they come in? You don't even need all of one hand to count that high.

Unfortunately for the Rays, two such guys, Mariano, and Pepelban are in their own division. (Throw in K-Rod on the Angers and that's it!)

Not a lot of automatic closers out there. Balfour's done well, but he's not 1-2-3 each time either.

Maybe the Rays bring Price up now that Percy's out.

"I do hope Percy's done for the season?" What a classy thing to say, by no doubt a true Rays fan.

[Bill]

They'll bring up Juan Salas or someone like that...........it's time for Balfour to see if he can be the full time closer.

[Slappy]

Ask Eric Gagne if it's important to not blow saves. Or, hell, Mariano Rivera. If you can't ratchet it up a notch, particularly in this situation where Oakland is a team mailing it in from here on, then you're not going to win. There seems to be ZERO sense of urgency around this team right now. Laid back is one thing, but you can't slack your way to a World Series.

[Andy]

Jeff,

WHO?

[Andy]

Dave, what exactly about Jackson's performance makes you think he is suited for late inning work. The walks he gives up, his inability to get Ks, or how incredibly flukey is performance has been this year?

[Jeff]

The Rays neglected to address their closer at the trade deadline. They needed a legitimate closer. They were available.

[Slappy]

Dude, whatever. Yes, in a penant race, when you have a freaking lead on the road, you have to close that deal every time if you want to win the whole thing. But, yeah, you're right, I'm just some newbie who doesn't know anything. Up yours.

[Re: Slappy]

A win every time? Just another guy who is new to baseball, and doesn't know a thing. That being said, I do hope Percival is done for the season. I say bring Price to the bullpen.

[Slappy]

I realize we're on the road, but Oakland???!!!! I hate the Chicken Little mentality, but we're in trouble if we let Baston re-take the AL East lead.

[Dave P]

We have gotten more than could have been expected from Percy .
Bring up Price make him our#5 starter , promote Balfour to closer and make Jackson a setup man. And pick up anyone possible who will improve the team now. Getting into the playoffs makes BIG Money for the team so why not exhast all options ?

[Slappy]

Can we address the closer situation and stop worrying about Longo and CC? I'm not necessarily going to pin this on Balfour (he inherited the runner), but CTFO! A lead on the road in the 9th has GOT to be a "W." EVERY time!