Rays Sweep Nats, Finally More Then a Game Over .500

The Tampa Bay Rays surged past the .500 mark and find themselves not only three games over the mediocre mark, but only four games out of the wildcard, five out of first in the AL East and they have moved into a 3rd place tie with the Toronto Blue Jays. Tampa Bay is the hottest team in the American League, winning five straight and seven of their last ten. It was the sweep of the lowly Nationals that helped the Rays to this position for the first time this season. It will be interesting to see if they can maintain while going on the road against the hottest team in baseball, the Colorado Rockies, winners of eleven straight games.

In Game One of the series against the Nats, Tampa Bay had to rally from a three run deficit, falling behind 3-0 in the first inning as Rays starter Matt Garza got roughed up early.  Garza followed a continuing disturbing trend among Rays starters only lasting 5 and 2/3rds innings before giving way to the Rays bullpen. Garza gave up the three runs on seven hits and four walks. On the bright side the Rays bullpen came in and combined for 3 and 1/3rd shutout innings. Tampa Bay cut into the Washington lead on Dioner Navarro's single to right field, scoring Ben Zobrist. Navarro was caught turning wide at first and was run down. In the third, the Rays inched closer, getting their second run on a throwing error by Nats catcher Josh Bard.  Tampa Bay tied the game in the 6th, as Gabe Gross doubled to right scoring Pena. After yet another error by the Nats in the bottom of the 8th, Gabe Kapler blasted his second home run of the season, a solo shot to left to give the Rays a lead they would not relinquish, 4-3.

In Game Two, Tampa Bay fell behind once again as the Nat's Ryan Zimmerman homered in the first, then grounded into a fielder's choice in the 3rd, getting two RBI to give Washington a 2-0 lead. The Rays didn't get on the board until the fourth inning, with Carlos Pena's solo shot. The Rays blew the game open in the bottom of the sixth, getting a three run homer by BenZo (Ben Zobrist), a two run shot by Gabe Gross, then a two run double off the wall by Evan Longoria, a seven run inning to give Tampa Bay an 8-2 lead. The Nats would get a run off of a throwing error by Gross in the 8th, but it wouldn't matter. Andy Sonnanstine again went deep into the ballgame for his second straight quaility start (he must be feeling the specter of Kazmir), going seven and a third, allowing three runs on six hits, while walking just one.

In the series finale, the Rays for the third straight game fell behind the hard luck Nats, this time 4-0 before roaring past the Nats for the 5-4 win. Suddenly potent Gabe Kapler got the rally started in the fourth, singling home Carlos Pena to cut the lead to 4-1. Dioner Navarro followed with a sacrifice to first to score Ben Zobrist and after four, the Rays trailed 4-2. The Rays tied the game in the 6th, on Kapler's 2 run shot to left field. Then, in the 8th, Willy Aybar would be the hero, driving a double to left and scoring Carlos Pena to give Tampa Bay the 5-4 win. The once suspect Tampa Bay bullpen has now gone 22 1/3 straight scoreless innings. James Sheilds struggled early for Tampa Bay but lasted 6 1/3 innings, giving up the four runs on nine hits, while walking four. JP Howell got his third save of the season.

So Tampa Bay lived on the wild side a bit with the snakebit Nats, falling behind by multiple runs in each of their games. The Rays have now had 17 come-from-behind victories this season, showing their championship heart. The Rays are starting to get back their walking wounded as well. Pat Burrell returned to the line up on Friday night, going 1-for-8 with four walks and two runs scored. Jason Bartlett was activated off the DL (Reid Brignac was sent down to make room for him) and pitcher Scott Kazmir completed a 3 inning simulated game, performing well. He will make a minor league start in Port Charlotte on Wednesday and could be back with the big club by next weekend.

Tampa Bay embarks on a six game interleague roadtrip to Colorado to face the red hot Rockies then to New York to face the Mets.