2 Game Double Header SWEEP, Magic Number Down To 2 AND It’s Time To GIT-R-DONE 2 Night!
By Joel Verlin | September 24th, 2008 | Posted in Discussion, Game Thread
Okay so maybe that last one was a bit of a stretch but who cares…the Rays can, quite possibly clinch the American League Eastern Division Crown tonight. Ahem. Let me say that again one more time. THE RAYS CAN CLINCH THE AL EAST TONIGHT! With a combination of a Rays win and a Red Sox loss, it’s in the bag, book it done, we”ll get the gusto… (takes a breath) well let’s just do it first, right?
And the Rays stand a good chance of clinching tonight. James Shields had seven good innings for the first game leading the Rays to a 2 – 1 win. For the second game the Rays came from behind thanks to Evan Longoira and Dioner Navarro and a six run eight and ended up winning 7 – 5.
Boston has so far split the series with Cleveland taking the middle game of the series (a Cliff Lee loss, no less!) setting up tonight’s game (Carmona for the Tribe and Byrd for the RedSox) as the rubber game for the series. As Richard mentioned, let’s hope that the Tribe plucks Byrd’s feathers tonight!
So let’s all think positive energy to EdWIN Jackson. For Jackson could very well help his team win the AL EAST tonight!
An interesting tidbit from MLB.com on the Orioles and doubleheaders:
Baltimore played its fourth doubleheader of the season on Tuesday. The O’s have been swept three times and have split once.
It looks like the O’s were in the right place in the schedule after the buzzsaw of AL Contenders that the Rays had to face earlier this month.
Probable Pitching Previews (Also From MLB.com)
BAL: RHP Radhames Liz (6-6, 6.69 ERA)
Liz achieved two milestones in his last two starts, marking the first time he’s completed six innings or thrown a quality start in back-to-back outings. The right-handed rookie appears to be coming along, mastering the use of his fastball and mixing in his offspeed stuff for the second and third times through the batting order.TB: RHP Edwin Jackson (12-11, 4.19 ERA)
Jackson extended his career-high season win mark to 12 with a dominating 7 2/3-inning performance Friday night. The hard-throwing right-hander allowed just one run to the Twins, retiring nine straight batters at one point. Jackson threw 78 of his 114 pitches for strikes, fanning five and walking just one. He is 1-1 in four starts against the Orioles, with a 7.50 ERA.
September 24th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Bot 1st: Jackson already in trouble… and it’s Aubrey Huff of all batters…
September 24th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Bot 1st: Ugh.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Hey we’re back in it. Never panick with this team TAKE a deep breatth Joel. Keep the champagne cooling.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
You’re right, Richard! How about a clutch triple to go for Aki? Wow! Boston and Cleveland all tied up 4 all in the 7th. The Rays get the heart pumping!
September 24th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Come on Carlitos!!!!
September 24th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
6th inning…come on dirtbag! Longo has a higher AVG and SLG against righties than lefties. Just a base hit for some insurance. I would even take a passed ball. (thought we would get a passed ball in Gato’s at bat. It was close.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Bradford gets out of the 6th. On to the 7th.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I was big on Fernando Perez – including on this site – since early in the 2007 season. This guy is sure playing his way onto the 2009 roster! Ruggy will likely be traded and Perez and Gross kept. Question is if Johnson will replace Floyd or if they go for Ibanez.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Evan Almighty with an RBI walk! Boston won their game already tonight 5 – 4.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Rays Win!. That means the magic number is down to one, right?
September 24th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Joel had to put my Dom back on Ice for tommorrow afternoon. Looks like a duplicate of last week. Kaz going to get the honor again. God that pennants going to look good in St Pete. Hear they are running out of Kleenex in Beantown.