The Tampa Bay Rays are turning home this week after a successful road series in which they swept the Yankees in a key AL East matchup in New York and took 2 of 3 against the beleaguered Houston Astros. The best record in the league, at 32 and 12 now return home to the Trop to take on the surging Red Sox that took 2 of 3 against the powerful Phillies and return Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury to the lineup.
The Rays are on a hot streak, with offense beginning to click again, Zobrist hit two homeruns in the Houston series and Blalock hit his first as a Ray, which is half of what Burrell had hit all season long, seems like an upgrade to me. David Price improved to 7-1 on the season and Rafael Soriano is a perfect 12 for 12 in save chances this year.
The Rays are 20 games above .500. The last two teams that had this record in May were the 1998 Yankees and the 1984 Tigers, both teams went on to win the world series, it is way to early to take any bets or to dream that far, but history appears to be on our side and a playoff birth is in reach if they continue to dominate and win games.
Tonight, rookie Wade Davis (4-3), coming off an impressive win against the Yankees where he struck out 7, will take on John Lester, the ace of the Red Sox staff and dominant left hander. It will be a tight game as both teams struggle against the left handed pitching, hopefully the Rays will be able to jump on Lester early and get to the Boston bullpen that is often shakey. Wade will have to be in control to handle the hot hitting Red Sox, especially Youkilis, who is hitting over .400 the last few games. So, get out to the Trop and cheer on the Rays!
No comments:
Post a Comment