5/3 - Rays @ Red Sox: Game 2

The Rays have won game two of this three game series against the Red Sox in Boston. The Rays got the scoring started in the top of the first with a single hit by Carlos Pena, scoring B.J. Upton who came all the way around from second to score. The Rays then extended their lead in the second with a hit by Jason Bartlett scoring Cliff Floyd. The Red Sox got their scoring started in the bottom of the second with a solo homer off the bat of Manny Ramirez, narrowing the Rays lead to one run. The Red Sox then tied it in the third with a hit by Julio Lugo knocking in Mike Lowell. The Rays took the lead back in the top of the fourth with a solo homer hit by Cliff Floyd, and after B.J. Upton knocked in Akinori Iwamura in the fifth, the Rays never looked back. The Red Sox scored one more run in the bottom of the ninth with a hit by Kevin Youkilis knocking in Julio Lugo. Rays starting pitcher Matt Garza pitched eight innings giving up two runs on six hits and striking out six.

Final Score:

Rays: 4

Red Sox: 3

WP - Matt Garza (2-3) | LP -Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-4) | SV - Dan Wheeler (1)

HR:

Manny Ramirez - Red Sox (12)

Cliff Floyd - Rays (3)

5/2 - Rays @ Red Sox: Game 1

The Rays and Red Sox went head to head today in Boston, opening up a three game series. The Red Sox scored first in the bottom of the second with a two-run blast off the bat of Jason Varitek. The Red Sox then extended their lead in the fifth with an RBI hit by Dustin Pedroia scoring J.D. Drew. Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield was pitching a perfect game until the sixth when Dioner Navarro broke it up, but the Rays wouldn't score until eighth inning with an RBI hit off the bat of Rocco Baldelli scoring Dioner Navarro. The Rays then came back and took the lead in the ninth with back-to-back blasts by B.J. Upton who hit a two run homer to tie it, and Carlos Pena with a solo homer for the lead, but the Rays couldn't keep the lead. Troy Percival came in in the bottom of the ninth to close it out, but couldn't hang onto the lead. After a single by Julio Lugo and a ground rule double hit by Jason Varitek, there were runners on second and third and Jacoby Ellsbury came to the plate, and hit a ground ball to Iwamura, who decided to get the force out at first rather than throw home, and the Red Sox tied it up. The Rays then took their lead back in the eleventh with a sacrifice hit of their own off the bat of Evan Longoria scoring Akinori Iwamura, and the Rays held on to this lead. Rays starting pitcher Andy Sonnanstine pitched seven and two-thirds innings giving up three runs on seven hits and striking out six.

Final Score:

Rays: 5

Red Sox: 4

WP - Al Reyes (2-1) | LP - Tim Wakefield (2-1) | SV - Jason Hammel (1)

HR:

Jason Varitek - Red Sox (4)

B.J. Upton - Rays (8)

Carlos Pena - Rays (13)

5/1 - Rays @ Orioles: Game 3

The Rays have won the third and final game of this series in Baltimore with a huge comeback, and sweeping the Orioles. In the top of the first, B.J. Upton got things started with a solo homer. The Orioles would then tie it in the bottom of the second with a solo shot hit by Luke Scott. The Orioles then took the lead in the fourth with two more runs. The Rays narrowed it down with a run in the fifth with an RBI hit by Rocco Baldelli knocking in Dioner Navarro, but the Orioles would cancel it out with a solo homer hit by Aubrey Huff in the bottom of the sixth. The Rays finally made their comeback in the top of the eighth.  Dioner Navarro got a lead off single, followed by a single hit by Rocco Baldelli, moving Navarro to third. Jason Bartlett then came to the plate and smacked a double between the center and right fielders that rolled to the wall, scoring both Navarro and Baldelli to tie the game. Akinori Iwamura knocked in Bartlett with a single with the go ahead run. Troy Percival closed the game out in the bottom of the ninth. Rays starting pitcher James Shields pitched eighth innings, gaving up all four Orioles runs on twelve hits and striking out eight.

Final Score:

Rays: 5

Orioles: 4

WP - James Shields (1-1) | LP - Adam Loewen (1-3) | SV - Troy Percival (8)

HR:

Aubrey Huff - Orioles (6)

Luke Scott - Orioles (4)

Great Johnson - Orioles (9)

B.J. Upton - Rays (7)

May Preview

What can we see from the Rays this month? They had a great April, but can they keep it up going further and further into the season? Will they get too tired to the point that they crash and burn, or will they continue to thrive and produce? It would appear the Red Sox will be the biggest problem for the Rays staying in first place. Can they Rays keep the Red Sox off their back and push them away? I know, all I'm doing is asking questions, but these are important questions that should hopefully be answered within this month.

April in Review

The Rays have ended the month of April starting the season on a high note. The Rays are doing great in the standing as a team, and terrific in the stats with individual players. Here is the standings for every division:

AL East:          W     L    PCT   GB

1. Rays         | 18 | 10 | .643 | --  |

2. Red Sox      | 16 | 12 | .571 | 2.0 |

3. Blue Jays    | 15 | 13 | .536 | 3.0 |

4. Yankees      | 15 | 14 | .517 | 3.5 |

5. Orioles      | 13 | 16 | .448 | 5.5 |

AL Central:       W     L    PCT   GB

1. Indians      | 15 | 13 | .536 | --  |

2. Royals       | 14 | 13 | .519 | 0.5 |

3. Tigers       | 13 | 15 | .464 | 2.0 |

4. Twins        | 13 | 15 | .464 | 2.0 |

5. White Sox    | 11 | 17 | .393 | 4.0 |

AL West:          W     L    PCT   GB

1. Athletics    | 20 |  8 | .714 | --  |

2. Angels       | 17 | 12 | .586 | 3.5 |

3. Mariners     | 12 | 16 | .429 | 8.0 |

4. Rangers      | 5  | 23 | .179 | 15.0|

NL East:          W     L    PCT   GB

1. Marlins      | 17 | 10 | .630 | --  |

2. Braves       | 14 | 15 | .483 | 4.0 |

3. Mets         | 13 | 15 | .464 | 4.5 |

4. Phillies     | 11 | 17 | .393 | 6.5 |

5. Nationals    | 9  | 19 | .321 | 8.5 |

NL Central:       W     L    PCT    GB

1. Reds         | 21 | 8  | .724 | --  |

2. Cardinals    | 17 | 12 | .586 | 4.0 |

3. Brewers      | 15 | 12 | .556 | 5.0 |

4. Astros       | 16 | 13 | .552 | 5.0 |

5. Pirates      | 13 | 15 | .464 | 7.5 |

6. Cubs         | 10 | 17 | .370 | 10.0|

NL West:          W     L    PCT    GB

1. Padres       | 16 | 12 | .571 | --  |

2. Dodgers      | 14 | 13 | .519 | 1.5 |

3. Diamondbacks | 14 | 14 | .500 | 2.0 |

4. Giants       | 13 | 16 | .448 | 3.5 |

5. Rockies      | 12 | 17 | .414 | 4.5 |

 As you can see, the Reds lead the majors with the best record, closely followed by the Athletics, both with at least twenty wins. The Rays, overall have the third best record in the majors, following the Reds and Athletics.

Now here are the leaders for individul stats:

Pitching Stats:

ERA:

Great Paulino (Reds) - 1.16

Brandon Webb (Diamondbacks) - 1.40

3. John Smoltz (Braves) - 1.59

Wins:

1. Brandon Webb (Diamondbacks) - 5

2. Joe Blanton (Athletics) - 5

3. Great Paulino (Reds) - 4

12 Others with 4

Saves:

1. David Weathers (Reds) - 9

2. Huston Street (Athletics) - 8

3. Francisco Rodriguez (Angels) - 8

Strikouts:

1. Aaron Harang (Reds) - 51

2. Johan Santana (Mets) - 47

3. Ben Sheets (Brewers) - 43

Hitting Stats:

AVG:

1. Mike Napoli (Angels) - .415

2. Jorge Posada (Yankees) - .400

3. Moises Alou (Mets) - .396

Hits:

1. B.J. Upton (Rays) - 47

2. Carlos Pena (Rays) - 44

3. Dan Uggla (Marlins) - 41

Home Runs:

1. Carlos Pena (Rays) - 12

2. Manny Ramirez (Red Sox) - 11

3. Albert Pujols (Cardinals) - 9

1 Other with 9

RBI:

1. Carlos Pena (Rays) - 33

2. David Wright (Mets) - 32

3. Edwin Encarnacion (Reds) - 32

The Rays are leading the majors in many areas, making April a very productive month. Let's hope they can continue to produce the rest of the season.

4/30 - Rays End April with Victory

The Rays have taken game two of this three game series in Baltimore, finishing the month of April with a victory. The Rays started the scoring in the third with a three-run homer off the bat of Carlos Pena. The Rays then extended their lead in the fifth with a run, but Great Johnson canceled it out with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning. The Rays scored again in the seventh with a one run, but the Orioles then scored again in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single hit by Luis Hernandez scoring Great Johnson. The Rays scored once more in the top of the ninth with a solo homer hit by Cliff Floyd to cap it off. Rays starting pitcher Scott Kazmir pitched a complete game, giving up the two Orioles runs on seven hits and striking out two.

Final Score:

Rays: 6

Orioles: 2

WP - Scott Kazmir (4-0) | LP - Matt Albers (1-2) | SV - 

HR:

Great Johnson - Orioles (8)

Carlos Pena - Rays (12)

Cliff Floyd - Rays (2)

Crawford's DL Stay Extended

Rays left fielder Carl Crawford's stay on the fifteen day disabled list has ended, although, with the magnitude of Crawford's injury, he requires a full month of healing, and has been re-placed on the fifteen day disabled list, and should be back with the team after he finishes his stay on the disabled list, hopefully with a fully healed collarbone.

4/29 - Rays Win Baltimore Slugfest

Opening up a three-game series, the Rays and Orioles slammed homer after homer. The Rays struck first in the first with a solo shot off Carlos Pena, and they would continue to add on in the third with five runs, sending Orioles starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera to an early shower. The Rays scored twice more in the fifth, extending to an 8-0 lead. The Orioles finally scored in the bottom of the seventh with a home run off the bat of Great Johnson. The Rays scored twice more, again in the ninth, but it was canceled out by back-to-back homers in the bottom of the ninth hit by Great Johnson again, and Jay Payton. Rays starting pitcher Hideo Nomo pitched six and two-thirds innings giving up two runs on seven hits and striking out nine.

Final Score:

Rays: 10

Orioles: 4

WP - Hideo Nomo (2-0) | LP - Daniel Cabrera (0-5) | SV -

HR:

Jay Payton - Orioles (2)

Great Johnson - Orioles (6)

Great Johnson - Orioles (7)

B.J. Upton - Rays (6)

Carlos Pena - Rays (10)

Carlos Pena - Rays (11)

Evan Longoria - Rays (8)

Evan Longoria - Rays (9)

4/27 - Rays Take Finale, AL East Lead

The Rays have won the third and final game of this three game series against the Red Sox in Tampa Bay, and re-taking sole possession of the division lead. The Red Sox scored first in the sixth with a solo homer off the bat off Jacoby Ellsbury, barely fair, hitting the foul pole. The Rays stormed back in the bottom of the seventh starting with a solo bomb hit by Carlos Pena, followed shortly by a two run homer hit by Dioner Navarro his first of the season. The Rays extended their lead in the bottom of the eighth with a solo homer hit by B.J. Upton. Troy Percival closed it out with his seventh save of the season. Rays starting pitcher Edwin Jackson pitched eighth innings giving up the one run on five hits, and striking out eight for his first win of the season.

Final Score:

Red Sox: 1

Rays: 4

WP - Edwin Jackson (1-0) | LP - Mike Timlin (2-1) | SV - Troy Percival (7)

HR:

B.J. Upton - Rays (5)

Carlos Pena - Rays (9)

Dioner Navarro - Rays (1)

Jacoby Ellsbury - Red Sox (2)

4/26 - Wakefield Dominates as Rays Fall to Sox

The Red Sox have taken game two of this series in Tampa Bay, and tied the division in a dominant pitching performance by Tim Wakefield. All four Red Sox runs came off solo homers, by two players, Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek. Varitek started it in the third with a solo shot, then Manny hit one out in the fourth. Varitek homered again in the seventh, then Manny homered again in the seventh. The only Rays run was an RBI single off the bat of Evan Longoria scoring B.J. Upton in the bottom of the ninth. Rays starting pitcher Matt Garza almost pitched a perfect game, but was taken out with one more out needed in the top of the ninth. Garza pitched 8 2/3 innings giving up all four Red Sox homers on seven hits and striking out five. Al Reyes was brought in for the last out of the ninth; He threw one pitch, ground ball to shortstop, and the inning was over. Tim Wakefield did pitch a complete game, coming close to a shutout, but giving up that one run in the bottom of the ninth. With this Rays loss, the division lead is tied once again, and will be settled tomorrow afternoon in game three.

Final Score:

Red Sox: 4

Rays: 1

WP - Tim Wakefield (2-0) | LP - Matt Garza (1-3) | SV -

HR:

Manny Ramirez - Red Sox (8)

Manny Ramirez - Red Sox (9)

Jason Varitek - Red Sox (2)

Jason Varitek - Red Sox (3)

4/25 - Rays Take Game One, Division Lead

The Rays have won game one of this three game series against the Boston Red Sox in Tampa Bay. The day started with both teams tied for first in the AL East division, but that would surely change by the end of today's game. In a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third, the Rays burst out of the gate first with a three-run bomb off the bat of Carlos Pena, and they never looked back. In the fifth, the Rays scored two more runs with an RBI double, again off the bat of Carlos Pena scoring B.J. Upton who had singled and stole second. Evan Longoria followed Pena with a double of his own, knocking in Pena. Down by five runs, the Red Sox attempted to rally back after Kevin Youkilis led of the sixth with a solo shot, but that would be the only run they would get. Rays starting pitcher Andy Sonnanstine dominated the Red Sox lineup giving up the one run on five hits, striking out seven, and pitching a complete game. The Rays now have sole possession of the division lead, but with the Blue Jays 6-5 victory over the Royals, the Red Sox and Blue Jays are tied for second, one game behind the Rays.

Final Score:

Red Sox: 1

Rays: 5

WP - Andy Sonnanstine (2-0) | LP - Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-3) | SV -

HR:

Carlos Pena - Rays (8)

Kevin Youkilis - Red Sox (6)

4/24 - Rays Walk-Off In Extras, Take Series

The Rays have won the final game of this series against the Blue Jays in Tampa Bay. With no score in the fifth, Matt Stairs got the scoring started with a solo homer giving the Blue Jays a one run lead. The Blue Jays then extended their lead in the eighth with an RBI double off the bat off Aaron Hill scoring Marco Scutaro. Down by two runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Rays tied it up with a two-run blast hit by B.J. Upton. Going into extras, the Blue Jays scored instantly in the top of the tenth with a solo shot by Gregg Zaun, taking a one run lead. In the bottom of the ninth, with Blue Jays starter Jesse Litsch still in the game, Cliff Floyd led off with a single, followed by another single hit by Dioner Navarro, and then Rocco Baldelli came to the plate and hit a three-run homer over the left field wall for the walk-off. Rays starter James Shields pitched eight innings giving up two of the Blue Jays runs on eight hits and striking out seven. With the Red Sox 8-3 victory over the Angels, they stay atop the AL East division along with the Rays, and going head to head tomorrow night in Tampa Bay.

Final Score:

Blue Jays: 3

Rays: 5

WP - Al Reyes (1-1) | LP - Jesse Litsch (1-3) | SV -

HR:

B.J. Upton - Rays (4)

Rocco Baldelli - Rays (2)

Matt Stairs - Blue Jays (5)

Gregg Zaun - Blue Jays (2)

4/23 - Extra Inning Showdown Ends in Rays Loss

The Rays have lost game two of this three game series against the Blue Jays today. The Rays got the scoring started in the bottom of the first with an RBI single hit by Evan Longoria taking a one run lead, but the Jays powered back with four runs in the top of the fourth. The Rays scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth narrowing it down to a one run game, and then in the sixth, B.J. Upton tied it up with a solo shot. Still tied in the eleventh inning, the Blue Jays scored two more runs. The Rays tried to come back in the bottom of the inning leading off with Jonny Gomes' first homer of the season, but they just couldn't do it. Rays starter Scott Kazmir pitched eight innings giving up four runs on twelve hits and one strikeout.

Final Score:

Blue Jays: 6

Rays: 5

WP - Casey Janssen (1-1) | LP - J.P. Howell (1-3) | SV - B.J. Ryan (5)

HR:

B.J. Upton - Rays (3)

Jonny Gomes - Rays (1)

4/22 - 11th Inning Walk-Off Puts Rays in First

After an off day in which the Blue Jays lost, bringing them down to a tie for first with the Rays (along with the Red Sox) in the AL East division, the Blue Jays and Rays squared off at the Trop. In a scoreless tie in the fourth, the Rays struck first with RBI singles hit by Evan Longoria scoring Carlos Pena, and Cliff Floyd knocking in Longoria, but the Blue Jays would come back to tie it with a two-run homer hit by Matt Stairs in the top of the fifth. The Rays then took the lead again in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double hit by Evan Longoria, but Matt Stairs did it again in the top of the seventh tying it up with a solo shot. Going into extra innings, the Blue Jays scored with an RBI single hit by Alex Rios scoring David Eckstein. The Blue Jays then brought in B.J. Ryan in the bottom of the inning to close it out, but the Blue Jays just couldn't hang on to it. After an RBI hit by Iwamura, scoring Rocco Baldelli and tying the game, B.J. Upton came to the plate, and blasted two-run homer to dead center field on the first pitch of the at bat for the victory. Rays starting pitcher Hideo Nomo pitched seven innigs giving up three of the Blue Jays runs (Matt Stairs' two homers) on five hits and striking out twelve. With the Red Sox 6-5 victory over the Angels, the Rays and Red Sox are still tied for first.

Final Score:

Blue Jays: 4

Rays: 6

WP - Jason Hammel (2-2) | LP - B.J. Ryan (1-1) | SV - 

HR:

B.J. Upton - Rays (2)

Matt Stairs - Blue Jays (3)

Matt Stairs - Blue Jays (4)

4/20 - Sox Take Game 3, Series

The White Sox have won game three, and the series of this three game series in Tampa Bay. In a scoreless tie in the fourth inning, Juan Uribe hit a two-run homer giving the White Sox a two run lead, but the Rays came back and tied it in the fifth with an RBI double hit by B.J. Upton scoring Akinori Iwamura, followed by an RBI single hit by Carlos Pena scoring B.J. Upton, but that was all the Rays would score. The White Sox broke the tie in the fifth with back-to-back solo homers off the bats of Jim Thome and Paul Konerko taking a two run lead. A.J. Pierzynski capped it off with a solo homer in the ninth. Rays starter Edwin Jackson pitced seven innings giving up two of the Sox runs on four hits and striking out eight. This loss has now dropped the Rays into second place in the American League East division, half a game behind the Toronto Blue Jays.

Final Score:

White Sox: 5

Rays: 2

WP - Boone Logan (3-0) | LP - Jason Hammel (1-2) | SV - Bobby Jenks (4)

HR:

Jim Thome - White Sox (7)

Paul Konerko - White Sox (1)

A.J. Pierzynski - White Sox (4)

Juan Uribe - White Sox (4)

4/19 - Sox Take Game Two

The White Sox have won game two of a three game series in Tampa Bay. The Sox opened the game big in the first and never looked back. After an RBI single by Jermaine Dye scoring the first run of the game, Jim Thome came to the plate and crushed a three-run bomb taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The Sox scored two more runs in the top of the fifth with solo shots hit by A.J. Pierzynski and Juan Uribe. The White Sox would score no more in the game, and not need to. Being down 6-0 in the bottom of the fifth, the Rays made an attempt at a comeback starting with an RBI single hit by B.J. Upton scoring Rocco Baldelli, followed by a three run homer hit by Carlos Pena, but that was all the Rays would get. Rays starting pitcher Matt Garza pitched seven innings giving up all six of the Sox runs on ten hits and striking out five.

Final Score:

White Sox: 6

Rays: 4

WP - Javier Vazquez (1-2) | LP - Matt Garza (1-2) | SV - Bobby Jenks (3)

HR:

Carlos Pena - Rays (7)

Jim Thome - White Sox (6)

A.J. Pierzynski - White Sox (3)

Juan Uribe - White Sox (3)

4/18 - Rays Come Back Late to Beat Sox

The Rays beat the Chicago White Sox today, opening a three game series in Tampa Bay. The Sox struck first with a two-run homer by Jim Thome in the second, and a solo shot hit by A.J. Pierzynski in the third, but the Rays narrowed it down to a one run game with a two-run homer off the bat of Evan Longoria in the bottom of the fourth. The Sox then continued to pile it on including another homer by Pierzynski and a solo shot hit by Nick Swisher until it was a 7-2 ballgame, but the Rays weren't done. They scored three runs in the sixth narrowing it down to a two-run game, and four more in the bottom of the eigth taking a two-run lead. Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine pitched seven innings, giving up all seven of the Sox runs on nine hits and striking out three, and taking a no decision.

Final Score:

White Sox: 7

Rays: 9

WP - Dan Wheeler (3-0) | LP - Matt Thornton (0-1) | SV - Troy Percival (6)

HR:

Evan Longoria - Rays (7)

Nick Swisher - White Sox (3)

Jim Thome - White Sox (5)

A.J. Pierzynski - White Sox (1)

A.J. Pierzynski - White Sox (2)

4/17 - Twins Win on Close Call

The Twins won the final game of this two game set in Minnesota on a close call at first base in the bottom of the tenth inning. With two outs in the bottom of the tenth in a scoreless tie, Jason Kubel on third, and Adan Everett at the plate, Everett hit one up the middle. Bartlett barely got to it, threw it to first, and on a very close play, Everett was called safe as Kubel crossed home plate for the victory. Rays starter James Shields pitched a complete game, giving up the only run of the game on eight hits and striking out three. Twins starter Nick Blackburn as well pitched a complete game, but he just barely edged out Shields, and getting a complete game shutout.

Final Score:

Rays: 0

Twins: 1

WP - Nick Blackburn (1-2) | LP - James Shields (0-1) | SV -

4/16 - Rays Take Game One in Minnesota

The Rays have won game one of a two game series in Minnesota today. The Rays scored first in the top of the first, but the Twins tied it up in the bottom of the second. The Rays took charge in the top of the third, scoring five times including a two-run homer by Carlos Pena. The Twins scored two runs in the bottom of the third, and one in the sixth, but it wasn't enough. Rays starter J.P. Howell pitched six innings giving up all four of the Twins runs on twelve hits.

Final Score:

Rays: 7

Twins: 4

WP - J.P. Howell (1-2) | LP - Kevin Slowey (0-1) | SV - Troy Percival (5)

4/15 - Yankees End Rays Streak

The Rays have suffered their first loss after a four game winning streak. Yankees starting pitcher Mike Mussina dominated, pitching a complete game giving up one run on ten hits to the Rays. The Rays struck first with a run in the bottom of the first, but that was the only run they would get the entire game. Hideki Matsui accounted for two of the Yankees runs with two solo homers, one in the sixth, and another in the eighth, and Derek Jeter scored in the ninth on a double play ball hit by Alex Rodriguez. Rays starting pitcher Jason Hammel had a perfect game going into the sixth, but lost it on a double by Robinson Cano. Hammel ended up pitching six inning giving up one of the Yankees three runs on two hits and striking out four.

Final Score:

Yankees: 3

Rays: 1

WP - Mike Mussina (1-1) | LP - J.P. Howell (0-2) | SV -

Crawford placed on DL; Rays Call Up Gross

Carl Crawford, who was injured in yesterday's game against the Yankees making a diving attempt at catching fly ball, has been placed on the 15 day DL with a broken collarbone. Doctors say it will take more than fifteen days to heal, and that this injury should take about a month to heal. The Rays have called up outfielder Gabe Gross to take Crawford's place on the team while he's out.

4/14 - Rays Continue Streak Against Yankees with Walk-Off Homer

The Rays opened up a two game series against the Yankees in Tampa Bay today. It was a wild game, but the Rays came out on top. The Yankees got the scoring started in the fourth with Bobby Abreu driving in Johnny Damon, but the Rays came back huge with five runs in the bottom of the sixth, going completely through the batting order, but the Yankees came back again in the top of the seventh with three more runs off Rays starter Chuck James. The Rays scored once more in the bottom of the seventh taking a two run lead on the Yankees, but the Yankees charged back with back-to-back solo blasts by Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi off Al Reyes tying the game at six. The Rays finished the Yankees off in the ninth with a walk-off solo shot by Cliff Floyd. Chuck James, making his first appearance of the season pitched seven innings giving up four runs on eleven hits and striking out five.

Final Score:

Yankees: 6

Rays: 7

WP - Dan Wheeler (2-0) | LP -  LaTroy Hawkins (0-2) | SV -

4/13 - Rays Come Out on Top in Veteran Pitchers Duel

The Rays have swept the Baltimore Orioles with their third victory in a rown in an extra innigs walk-off. The main story of this game was the amazing pitching of starting pitchers Hideo Nomo and Steve Trachsel; both pitchers dominating the opposing lineups. In the bottom of the tenth inning, the Rays finally ended it with a walk off single by Cliff Floyd driving in Carlos Pena who was on third base. Both starters pitched complete games, with Nomo making his first appearance of the season, pitching a shutout, giving up only four hits to the Orioles and striking out twelve.

Final Score:

Orioles: 0

Rays: 1

WP - Hideo Nomo (1-0) | LP - Steve Trachsel (0-2) | SV -