Rays hand series over to Cards

The Rays visited the St. Louis Cardinals to kick off Inter-league play this weekend and made a disappointing showing, dropping 2 of 3. The Rays should have won all three, but sloppy play and a shaky bullpen gave away the matinées on Saturday and Sunday. On Friday night Andy Sonnanstine gave the Rays more than an outstanding pitching performance, going 2-3 at the plate and scoring a run. Sonnanstine moved to 6-1 over all continues to come up big for the Rays. Matt Garza pitched sporadically on Saturday, lasting only 4.1 innings and giving up 7 runs on 10 hits. The Rays were down 7-3 at one point and rallied back to send the game to extra innings, but eventually lost when Dan Wheeler gave up a walk off home run to Ryan Ludwick to end the game. The Rays were sloppy on the bases and made poor pitches in relief contributing to the loss. Edwin Jackson tried to turn it around on Sunday but lasted just over 5 innings, and although he left with a 3-1 lead the bullpen could not hold it and Gary Glover eventually took the loss in the ninth, 5-4. The Rays will try to turn it around as they travel out west to take on the Oakland A's for three before returning home.

The Daily Turn:

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The starting pitching took a drastic turn this weekend, with Matt Garza only lasting 4.1 innings while throwing 85 pitches, and Edwin Jackson going 5.1 innings while throwing 96 pitches. The Rays don't need their young starters to be perfect, but they do need them to go deeper into the game to continue the early success they have enjoyed thus far.

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The Rays pounded out a team high 18 hits on Saturday, but the 8 runs which came from it were not enough for the win. Combine both Saturday and Sunday and the Rays had 29 hits but only 13 runs, a lopsided ratio. The Rays continue to struggle to move runners around the bases and to bring them home when in scoring position, a stat that absolutely must improve. On a better note, the Rays first three hitters were a combined 17-42 in the series and included a Carl Crawford home run.

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The Rays will put their top three pitchers on the mound while in Oakland in Shields, Kazmir and Sonnanstine. Combined these young hurlers have a 3.09 era and a 12-5 record.

Quote of the Day:

"I know I didn't do my part, and it cost us the game."

-Gary Glover, Rays relief pitcher