Rays-White Sox: Spectacular Sonnanstine Shuts out Chicago

Andy Sonnanstine showed last night exactly what the image change for the once Tampa Bay Devil Rays was all about, because, after nine innings of three hit, one walk pitching, it certainly didn't look like the same team.

Andy's performance wasn't luck either: he had fantastic control all night. Other the singular walk issued in the eighth inning, he pounded the strike zone for 77 of his 106 pitches.

He also showed great prowess, setting up his fastball with his off-speed pitches time and time again, with lots of ground balls which in turn led to two double plays. The White Sox did not get a base runner past second.

And of course, no pitcher is complete without a solid defense behind him. Sonnanstine had a flawless Rays fielding team backing him up, turning two (nearly three) double plays to end innings.

A leaping Evan Longoria saved a base hit in the eighth and the super-speedy outfield made hard catches look easy thanks to their unearthly velocity.

And of course, the bread and butter of a defense: an error-less infield. They made some excellent plays on the run, bare-handed, and they never once made Eric Hinske do anything out of the ordinary.

Despite all this, the offense still appeared to have its problems. This may sound shocking due to its 12 hits and five runs, but looking at it from a different perspective:

-Four of the five runs came with two outs

-Including the two bases-on-balls the Rays had 14 base-runners. Obviously enough, only five of them made it home. This may have been in part to the lack of base running.

For a team that is quite possibly the quickest in the Major League, only one base was stolen-and that was by Jonny Gomes (Not the name you'd think of first)

Normally I wouldn't make an issue out of this type of offensive production, but it has been an unerring theme for the Rays this year, and it has to stop. The young Rays starters are capable of putting in brilliant performances, like last night, but they've also had not so brilliant performances, like the night before.

The offense cannot rely on its pitching to get it through every game. It has to do its part when the pitching is a little off if the Rays are to break that mythical figure of 70 wins in a season, or if they're to break an even more mythical figure of .500 for the season.

It has come to my attention that some Rays are happier than others. It shows through the effort every player puts in to their everyday tasks. Case in point: Carl Crawford versus Jonny Gomes-both got caught napping at first base by Mark Buehrle and found themselves in rundowns.

Crawford cut once (changed direction) before giving up and running into the tag. Gomes, on the other hand cut twice made a diving lunge for second base, and wound up with his second stolen base of the season.

It's things like this that will make the difference between winning and losing tight games. Those who want to succeed will do everything they can to do so. I would hope that every member of the Rays organization is willing to do what it takes to succeed, instead of just wanting to.

This includes paying attention. Gomes and Crawford both got caught too far off first, not paying attention to the pitcher's movements.

And B.J. Upton? He might have gone 3 for 4 with an RBI, but even he had a mind lapse and overran third, which resulted in him being tagged too.

All in all it was a good night for the Rays, but all the success of the defense merely highlighted the problems on offense which shouldn't be, and need to be eradicated in double quick time.

When that happens, look out, because the Rays are for real.