Rays rally for improbable win

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Carlos Pena's three-run homer capped a six-run rally in the ninth inning that carried the AL East-leading Rays past the Cleveland Indians 10-7 today.

Eric Hinske had an RBI double and Gabe Gross tied it 7-all with a two-run homer off Edward Mujica, who was trying for his first major league save.

Masa Kobayashi (4-5) replaced Mujica and gave up an infield single to Akinori Iwamura and then walked Ben Zobrist before Pena homered to center.

Comments

[mike]

Great win! Nice distraction from the endless FARVE coverage. This is the baseball season and the Rays are in it hot & heavy. Who cares where Farve goes. Go Rays!

[T]

Aybar is next on the block. When Bartlett is ready, Aybar has to go. I can't figure out why they kept him over Zobes last time. Zobes has more HR's(in less AB's) and can play more positions that Aybar.

I gotta figure the new regime will run out of patience with BJ as well (like they did Delmon and the wife beater). If he doesn't get his act together, he will be gone too. Actually, you can throw Rocco into this too (since they didn't renew his contract and he is now playing for his baseball life).

[Ray F]

I figured Rocco would be up yesterday after the game. I would think the likely candidate to go down would be Aybar. Or they may dump Reyes and go a man short in the bullpen until September (unlikely) to make room.

I still think Rocco will have his first AB of the season on this road trip get some jitters out before coming back to face the Angels at the Pit.

I will be wearing my no.5 jersey and give the Roc a standing-O.

[mario]

rocco will be back in a week or less

[mo]

they're waiting for crawford to get healthy before activating rocco.. just to not put too much pressure on rocco to perform

[Bill]

I honestly think they are waiting until September 1st. Who would they drop to put him up? Gomes was the obvious but he's gone.....and with Bartlett hurt, and Zobrist playing well(and he can play right field now).......it might be a while.

[Skentzos]

Why don't they activate Baldelli - he is better than everyone and will hit 25 HR's in two months. And if you don't believe me NYT.a hey hey

[Ray F]

I've called Upton a lollygagger numerous times on this blog, however, when it comes to fielding the best 9 guys everyday, Upton has to take the field in center field.

I agree that he deserved to be sat and I'm absolutely thrilled that they won without him.

I think Ruggiano will be a #3 outfield guy one day, but unfortunately, he isn't a better athlete than Upton. I hope the game on the pine humbled him a little to let him know the team will win without him. Back to business today VS the worst team in the AL. If we can get 3/4 from the M's, awesome.

How about we get our own suggestions for new rally songs??? The TroxBlog is full of activists who care more about Darden Rice's perfume scent than baseball...

are you scumbags with me???

[Kericr]

See Tyrone, it's comments by people like you that piss me off. You people don't have the mental capacity to understand exactly what I mean.

[Bill]

I'm glad Upton isn't signed long term......either they will trade him when the time comes or he'll have to sign for less......he's not all that but he thinks he is............

[dick]

As a long time critic of Upton's performance, both sides of the ball, the best analysis I have seen thus far regarding Upton was on this blog today, posted at 9AM but unsigned. I think this opinion is right on and cannot be argued with. Nice entry!!

Tyrone,

Joe Maddon had nothing to do with Dukes being sent down or continuing to be paid for doing nothing. That was Andrew Friedman. Managers make on-field calls. General managers make personnel decisions. No, Maddon is not racist. But the treatment of Dukes had nothing to do with him, as it was not his decision to make.

[Mike S.]

Ooops... Gross hit to Right... sorry, I'm direction challenged. :)

[Mike S.]

A MOST incredible game.

As the seventh inning came to a close and many faithless fans departed the Trop, the stars aligned in some strange way (maybe it was just the Cleveland bullpen), the Rays gathered for their final 6 outs. Though there was little excitement through the 8th, but one felt a storm brewing (and it wasn't the clockwork afternoon thunderstorm). The Rays held the Indians in the top of the 9th. Although the Rays' offense has been in a drought of late I could feel the electricity growing as they left the field. The fans were on their feet cheering on the tired troops. The first clap of the pent up charge blasted off of the bat of Gross, a earth shattering blast to the left field stands; the ear-splitting bolt from a 2-run shot from Pena... the thunderous roar of Rays' bats put the game away.
One my be mystified why Percival was brought in in the 9th. I understand now or I think I do. In his 27 previous appearance (including the blown saves), the Rays have won. So I figure the secret Rays weapon is letting Percival pitch no matter what he does because, if history is an means of molding the future, the Rays would figure a way to win this one too. Maddon must have thought, "let's go for 28." Yep, good call though I seriously wondered at the time. Maybe it's just fate.
Awesome, simply awesome!

Watching Gross, Pena, Iwamura, Zobrist, and Hinski pull this one out was amazing. As always, the bullpen kept their end of the bargain and did their very best.

[RaysFan81]

It's a great sign when we win on a day where our "Ace" pitches poorly and exits early and our lineup is the weakest it's been all year on paper. It goes to show how much hard work and hustle matter. Let's go strong on this road trip. It's not going to get any easier from here on out. September is a brutal schedule for us so we need as many victories against these lower tiered teams like Seattle and Texas.

Upton gets the heat THIS YEAR (not last year) because he has gone backward in his development. Last year he seemed to be a lock to hit .300 w/20 jacks. Now they are hoping for "mediocre" .275 and, at best 10 homers. On top of that he doesn't run out ground balls-not just Tues., but several times (remember the KC series, it was BJ who was thrown out because he thought they were only making a play at 2nd). I think Maddon will excuse bad routes to balls hit in the OF because of experience, but this is his 3rd go-round at the plate (remember, Sweet Lou used him for 1/3 of the season in '05) and he should have a clue what he's doing at the plate by now.

[RFN]

Upton was one of the first out of the dugout to greet Pena and was very much a part of the team during the game. His teammates like him (surprised there's not a stupid Dukes/Young/Upton post here) and they know they need him.

The Rays are so young that sometimes they need a jolt (like the Garza/Navarro dust-up in TX) to get their perspective straight. Hopefully, the one game sitdown is that jolt and BJ becomes a model (hustling on every play) ballplayer from now on.

[Dave]

Upton is getting the heat because he foes dog more than any other player but has probably the most talent on the team. I know he's frustrated because the league now has a decent book on how to get him out but doggin out weak hits won't break his slump. The kid is good I wish he would he would try harder.

[Tyrone]

Yep Joe doesn't care about black people. Look at the way they treated Elijah Dukes - the poster child for "How not to be a Black Man" - they paid him his salary while they gave him a position doing nothing while the heat died down after Elijah sent a picture of a gun to his X. Yep Kericr Joe doesn't care about black people. This is a baseball forum keep your racist comments confined to the approppriate forum

[Gus]

The SPT Sports staff act like Brittany Spears paparazzi wannabes. A top of the fold headline about that retired prima dona from GreenBay going to the Jets on the most amazing day in Rays play? A pot hole in the Bucs Stadium parking lot would get more ink than the Rays' 6 run blowout in the 9th against the Indians.
Everyone does not worship at the feet of football. Your layout person on the front page of Sports today must be getting kick-backs from Brett's publicist.
Stop it. It's so pitifully weak.

[Kericr]

Joe Maddon doesn't care about black people.

[Carl]

Justin, my comment was tongue in cheek, in fun and was in no way caustic. This is a forum for an exchange of thoughts and ideas about the Rays, not a place to rip other's opinions, which I have done and have apologized for doing. I am simply surprised how few people here are willing to look at baseball from a different perspective, to look at it with an open mind. The statistical facts point to bunting being a poor strategy, regardless of the situation and other arguments are without foundation. Just because people have done something for a long time doesn't make it a good strategy. I will also say new strategies aren't always better either but when numbers back up a new strategy, how can it be wrong? Emotion doesn't play or nostalgia like Joe Morgan wishing for someone to revive the lost art of bunting. My argumnet is very simple: If you can't score after recording three outs, why would you give up an out? This isn't ridiculous by any stretch. Go Rays! (something we can all agree upon)

[justin]

Carl, I saw your ridiculous reasoning for not bunting yesterday and today's comment is even more pathetic than yesterday. "gosh, why didn't Hinske bunt in that situation?"---Well, the simple answer would be that the score was 7-4 Cleveland and a sacrifice would not make any sense when you are trailing by 3 runs. However, lets throw this scenario at you--Cleveland is ahead 7-6 or the score is tied 7-7 and Bartlett is on 2nd with nobody out and we're playing at home. Is the sacrifice in order then?? Absofreakinlutely !!!!

[Brian]

I watched the Rays game on mlb.com in my hotel room in NY.....I'm sure my neighbors were not happy with my cheers....Down with the Yanks! No need to look at the Yearbooks Bos and Stankees fans, it won't do any good!!! See you fellow Rays fans on the 18th at the Trop !!!!!

[CJ]

Hey buttheads, quit with the Farve crap, this is about the Rays, baseball, not football.

Good game Rays, loved that 9th

[shane]

how bout the rays trade scott kazmir to Green Bay for Brett Farve?

[jeff]

It was scary Tone

[Matt]

you said it, Mark...I am appalled at the utter lack of Favre discussion here. You're all going to make ESPN very mad and you know what happens when they get mad? They keep talking AND THEY NEVER SHUT UP.

Join the mantra...

FavreFavreFavreFavreFavreFavreFavreFavre
FavreFavreFavreFavreFavreFavreFavreFavre
FavreFavreFavreFavreFavreFavreFavreFavre

Favrely,

Favre

[Dom]

If Upton knew Ruggiano was sitting in the dugout for his chance, the dude would hustle. Wake up Rays! You're weak in the outfield. Forget about the (old) kid from Rhode Island.

[Carl]

Gosh, why didn't Hinske bunt in that situation? It would have saved him from running all the way to second base on his RUN-SCORING DOUBLE and then later on the home run, all the way home. What a waste of energy! Go Rays!

[Mark]

brett favre?

[Tom]

This is why we check back! Way to go!

[Amanda]

From where I sit at the games, I have a perfect view right into the dugout. During today's game, BJ was laughing and joking around, hi-fiving the guys who played today, and probably cheering and whooping (and towel waving) louder than anyone else down there. Don't doubt that this kid loves the game, his team, and his teammates. Said and before and I'll say it again (and I'm not the only one to say it today), he just needs to grow up a bit. He'll be fine.

[Terry]

I can't believe that I am actually checking the "magic number" every day in the Times. Go Rays! And we all love you BJ.

[what]

im sick and tired of everyone bashing upton, he still is one of the top 3 players on this team. we dont win tuesdays game without him running down that ball in cf who only a handful of guys can even come close to making that play. yeah he sometimes does have a lack of hustle but if you watch he is clearly not the only one. so i would say lets sit back enjoy this amazing year

[Jason]

I don't understand why people hate BJ so much? He is one of the best young CF's in the game, only Grady Sizemore has more talent. Maddon is just giving him a kick in the pants to remind him that you have to go full steam every play.

Let's not forget he is still a kid.

[Andy]

You guys really think Upton was mad that we won today? This is pro baseball, not some silly reality TV show. They ALL want to win.

[Warren]

GOOOOOOOO RAYS! What an unbelievable finish. Hope this kicks off a successful (.500+) Roadtrip.

You guys so totally rock!

[TTguy]

Now that's Ray's ball. How did it look from the bench, BJ?