Power Pros Forum

8/30 - Orioles (51-84) @ Rays (83-51): Game 2
Daniel Cabrera: (1 - 19), 7.49 ERA vs. James Shields: (8 - 7), 2.44 ERA

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays have won their sixth straight with a win over the Orioles, taking the first two in this three game series. The first run was scored in the third on a fielder's choice that allowed Jason Bartlett to score from third. Aubrey Huff tied it up in the fourth with a solo homer, but the Rays came up with four runs in the sixth with an RBI single by Cliff Floyd, and a bases-loaded, bases-clearing, three-run double hit by Jason Bartlett, chasing Daniel Cabrera from the game. The Orioles scored once more in the ninth with a solo blast hit by Great Johnson, but the Rays hang on to win.

Final Score:
Orioles: 2
Rays: 5


Daniel Cabrera (L, 1-20): 5 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Dennis Sarfate: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Aubrey Huff: 1-4, HR (26), RBI, R, 2 K
Great Johnson: 2-4, HR (20), RBI, R


James Shields (W, 9-7): 8 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Dan Wheeler: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Troy Percival: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Carlos Pena: 0-4, RBI
Carl Crawford: 1-4, 2B, R
Cliff Floyd: 1-4, RBI, R
Dioner Navarro: 2-4, R
Rocco Baldelli: 1-4, R
Jason Bartlett: 3-3, 2B, 3 RBI, R

Cabrera's 1-20 that's amazing

8/31 - Orioles (51-85) @ Rays (84-51): Game 3
Steve Trachsel: (8 - 7), 3.53 ERA vs. Andy Sonnanstine: (13 - 3), 2.49 ERA

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays have ended the month of August on a seven game winning streak, with a sweep of the Oriokes at home, and their second sweep in a row. The Rays scored all of their runs early, scoring two in the first on a Carlos Pena two-run single, and two in the third with an RBI double by B.J. Upton and RBI single hit by Carlos Pena. The Orioles scored their first run in the fifth on a Great Johnson RBI single, and another in the eighth with a Nick Markakis RBI double.

Final Score:
Orioles: 2
Rays: 4


Steve Trachsel (L, 8-8): 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Greg Aquino: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Nick Markakis: 2-4, 2B, RBI
Jay Payton: 1-4, 2B, R, K
Great Johnson: 1-4, RBI
Norton*: 1-3, R


Andy Sonnanstine (W, 14-3): 7.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Dan Wheeler: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Troy Percival (SV, 41): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Akinori Iwamura: 2-4, 2B, 2 R
B.J. Upton: 3-4, 3 2B, RBI, 2 R
Carlos Pena: 2-4, 2B, RBI

It is very much so. I couldn't believe it when I saw it, then couldn't wait to give him loss number twenty.

August in Review
The month of August ended on a high note for the Rays, bring their winning streak to seven games in which they will be taking into August, as well as for the Brewers, Dave Bush of the Brewers throwing a perfect game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh on the last day of the month, the first no-hitter of the season, and first perfect game since Randy Johnson in 2004. The Rays went 20-8 in the month of August, bringing their overall record to 85-51, half a game back of the Yankees for first in the AL East. Both teams have the two best records in the majors, and it's sure to be a tough fight to the finish even though both teams will most likely end up in the playoffs anyway. The Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks are the only two teams with magic numbers, both at twenty, for their division, and expected to be contenders in the playoffs.





League Leaders:


Pitching Stats:


ERA:
1. Rich Hill (Cubs) - 2.29
2. James Shields (Rays) - 2.38
3. Andy Sonnanstine (Rays) - 2.49

Wins:
1. Aaron Harang (Reds) - 15
2. Roy Halladay (Braves) - 15
3. Curt Schilling (Red Sox) - 15

Saves:
1. Troy Percival (Rays) - 41
2. Francisco Rodriguez (Diamondbacks) - 32
3. Joe Nathan (Twins) - 31

Strikeouts:
1. C.C. Sabathia (Indians) - 221
2. Aaron Harang (Reds) - 213
3. Johan Santana (Mets) - 190



Hitting Stats:


AVG:
1. Jorge Posada (Yankees) - .422
2. Dan Uggla (Marlins) - .366
3. Joe Mauer (Twins) - .357

Hits:
1. Jorge Posada (Yankees) - 198
2. Carlos Pena (Rays) - 195
3. Johnny Damon (Yankees) - 187

Home Runs:
1. Carlos Pena (Rays) - 47
2. Dan Uggla (Marlins) - 42
3. Manny Ramirez (Red Sox) - 42

RBI:
1. Hanley Ramirez (Marlins) - 132
2. Dan Uggla (Marlins) - 131
3. Alex Rodriguez (Yankees) - 128

September Preview
Finally, it's the last month of the regular season. Summer is turning to autumn; the leaves on threes are turning red, and yellow, and orange, and the air will be getting cooler. Students will be going back to school, but the 2008 baseball season is in full swing, as many teams make their one last shot at the playoffs. September is the only month of the regular season in which teams are allowed to have forty players on their rosters as reinforcement to the everyday starters who are all tired, unless you are team in a heated race, in which you would want your regulars out there every day till the end, do or die. The Rays and Yankees, both with the top two records in the majors are separated by half a game in the American League east division, both with hopes of clinching the title. The Rays in fact, will open up a series at home against the Yankees to start the month of September, in hopes of passing them up. This will be a tough race to the finish, but only eight teams will make it to the playoffs.

9/1 - Rays Make Call-Ups
The Rays have made their first call-ups of the month, calling-up four players from triple-A, and more are expected to come as the month goes on. Being called up to the majors as of the first of the month are:

- Scott Dohmann (RHP)
- Gary Glover (RHP)
- Kurt Birkins (LHP)
- Willy Aybar (3B)

You should be fine for the Wild Card if you can't get the division, I think the closest team is about 10 games back.

HA! FINALLY! I noticed you weren't updating your blog anymore so I came over here to find the log. I'm all caught up now and I can't wait for the September updates.

9/2 - Yankees (86-51) @ Rays (85-51): Game 1
Andy Pettitte: (11 - , 4.51 ERA vs. Matt Garza: (10 - 7), 3.07 ERA

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays have retaken the American League east lead with an extra innings walk-off win against the Yankees at home. With both pitchers shutting each other out, we went to extra innings still tied at zero. In the top of the tenth, Matt Garza had to be taken out after getting into a bases-loaded, no out jam, but Dan Wheeler came on and managed to get three outs without giving up a run on a force groundout and back-to-back strikeouts to end the top of the inning. Then, in the bottom of the tenth with runners on first and third with one out, Cliff Floyd knocked in the winning run with an RBI single to left.

Final Score:
Yankees: 0
Rays: 1
F/10


Andy Pettitte: 7.2 IP, 11 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Michael Wuertz (L, 1-3): 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Bobby Abreu: 2-4, K


Matt Garza: 9 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Dan Wheeler (W, 12-0): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Carlos Pena: 2-5, R
Carl Crawford: 2-5, 3B
Cliff Floyd: 2-5, RBI

9/3 - Yankees (86-52) @ Rays (86-51): Game 2
Mike Mussina: (14 - 5), 4.05 ERA vs. Derek Lowe: (10 - 12), 4.67 ERA

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays have lost game two of this three game series against the Yankees, giving back up the division lead. There was poor pitching on both sides in this game, but more so for Derek Lowe, who struggled in the fourth. The Rays scored first in the second with a two-run jack off the bat of Cliff Floyd, but the Yankees retaliated big time in the fourth, putting up a seven run frame off Derek Lowe, most of the runs scored before even one out was recorded. It started with an RBI double by Alex Rodriguez for their first run, then Jorge Posada followed with his own RBI double, followed again by Robinson Cano with an RBI single to take the lead, then Melky Cabrera belted a bases loaded three-run triple to really break away from the Rays. The inning was topped off with a Bobby Abreu RBI single, sending Derek Lowe to the showers before completing even four innings. The Rays then began their almost comeback in the fourth when Evan Longoria jacked a solo homer to left. Jason Giambi gave the Yankees that run back in the top of the fifth with his own solo homer, but in the bottomo f the fifth, Carlos Pena jacked a long awaited homer, a three-run shot to narrow the Yankees lead to only two, and sending Mike Mussina to the showers. The Rays then came within one in the sixth when Jason Bartlett belted a solo shot, but after a Robinson Cano solo homer in the eighth, the Rays couldn't make the ultimate comeback.

Final Score:
Yankees: 9
Rays: 7


Mike Mussina: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Carl Pavano (W, 8-6): 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Mariano Rivera (SV, 22): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Bobby Abreu: 2-5, 2B, RBI, R, K
Alex Rodriguez: 1-5, 2B, RBI, R, 3 K
Jorge Posada: 1-4, 2B, RBI, R, K
Jason Giambi: 2-4, HR (28), RBI, 2 R, K
Robinson Cano: 4-4, 2B, HR (23), 2 RBI, 2 R
Hideki Matsui: 1-4, R
Melky Cabrera: 1-4, 3B, 3 RBI, R


Derek Lowe (L, 10-13): 3.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Edwin Jackson: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Al Reyes: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

B.J. Upton: 2-4, R
Carlos Pena: 1-4, HR (48), 3 RBI, R
Evan Longoria: 1-4, HR (30), RBI, R
Carl Crawford: 2-4, 2B, R
Cliff Floyd: 1-4, HR (15), 2 RBI, R
Jason Bartlett: 2-4, HR (6), RBI, 2 R



This one was tough. Lowe had only given up one hit going into the fourth and them BOOM, the Yankees offense exploded like an atomic bomb. It was crazy. And I promise, I didn't lower the settings after that inning, to try to make a comeback. The seven runs I scored, and the nine I gave up were all on the same settings I've been using this whole time.

9/4 - Yankees (87-52) @ Rays (86-52): Game 3
Phil Hughes: (8 - , 5.49 ERA vs. Hideo Nomo: (8 - 2), 2.47 ERA

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays have lost the third game of this series, losing two of three to the Yankees in St. Pete. The Yankees got on the board first in the second with a Hideki Matsui RBI single, and added another in the third with a Jorge Posada RBI single. The Rays scored their only run in the fifth when Akinori Iwamura hit an RBI single. In the sixth, Alex Rodriguez blasted a solo homer, his five-hundred and fiftieth of his career. In that same inning, Hideo Nomo struck out Robinson Cano looking to end the inning for his two-thousandth career strikeout, but unfortunately takes a loss in this one. Phil Hughes dominated the Rays with a complete game giving up just the one run.

Final Score:
Yankees: 3
Rays: 1


Phil Hughes (W, 9-8): 9 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Johnny Damon: 1-4, R
Alex Rodriguez: 2-4, HR (32), RBI, R, K
Jorge Posada: 1-4, RBI
Jason Giambi: 1-4, 2B, R, K
Hideki Matsui: 1-3, RBI


Hideo Nomo (L, 8-3): 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Gary Glover: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Dan Wheeler: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Scott Dohmann: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Akinori Iwamura: 3-4, 2B, RBI
Dioner Navarro: 2-4, R
Jason Bartlett: 2-4

It takes real skill to do that bad.

It sure does. You think he's just slacking? No, he's TRYING to be the majors first single season triple digit loser.

9/5 - Rays (86-53) @ Blue Jays (65-75): Game 1
Scott Kazmir: (9 - 5), 3.28 ERA vs. A.J. Burnett: (8 - 13), 6.19 ERA

TORONTO -- The Rays losing streak continues to three with a loss today to the Blue Jays. In the first inning, Carlos Pena came through with an RBI single to take a one-run lead, and in the second inning, Gabe Gross belted a solo homer, extending the lead to two. In the fifth inning, Vernon Wells jacked a lead-off solo homer to break up Kazmir's perfect game, and in the sixth, Alex Rios hit a two-run double to take a one-run lead that would hold.

Final Score:
Rays: 2
Blue Jays: 3


Scott Kazmir (L, 9-6): 8 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Akinori Iwamura: 2-4, R, K
Carlos Pena: 3-4, RBI
Gabe Gross: 1-4, HR (2), RBI, R


A.J. Burnett (W, 9-13): 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Brian Wolfe: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
B.J. Ryan (SV, 30): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Aaron Hill: 1-3, R
Alex Rios: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Vernon Wells: 1-3, HR (14), RBI, R
Gregg Zaun: 0-3, R