Rays Sweep Orioles, Posses 1st in AL East.

The Rays jumped back atop the AL East by sweeping the Orioles at home this past weekend. The Rays are a remarkable 30-20, and are tied with the Diamondbacks for the best record in the Majors. I went to the day game yesterday with my friend Maura, and there was a decent crowd and a lively energy from the fans that was never present before. James Shields pitched well, but our nemesis Aubry Huff tied the game with shot to center field...and when I shot, I mean SHOT. He crushed the ball to dead center, and it bounced off the wall just below the Batter's Eye restaurant. So here it was, the 8^th inning, and I took a moment to reflect on the situation. In years past, I would probably have had to come to terms with the fact that the game was over, we would lose. A tie game of any sort in the 8^th innings meant a loss in the old days...but that is not what I felt, and it is not what the rest of the crowd felt, either. I knew the Rays would come back and win, and sure enough, thanks to Longo's hard hit double scoring Pena from first, we got the win. And I must admit, my new favorite thing to watch for at the ball game is the post game jubilation of the Rays. Maura stood and was ready to go once Pena scored, but I refused to leave, and continued to clap and yell as the Rays mobbed Pena and Longo on the field. The excitement on the field translated into the crowd, as I embraced and high fived many people around me. Speaking of people around me, behind us sat 4 mid twenty somethings from Canada, who were down for a wedding in Clearwater and had decided to make a trip to see the game, as well. It was interesting hearing them talk, as they went on about how exciting the game was and how they missed baseball in their native land. They commented on how cool the giant score board was, and I laughed as they tried to figure out what LOB and OPS meant. They finally got LOB, and I debated whether I should tell them was OPS was, but they seemed to let it go shortly after the conversation started. I thought it was great when they told their girlfriends that they should all become Rays fans, and forgo the Blue Jays. Imagine that, the Rays are now international.  Also, I have to give props to Maura who snagged an Aki Iwamura foul ball with one hand.  Ouch.

The Daily Turn:

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The Rays offense woke up this weekend, and it was primarily carried by Pena and Upton. Carlos Pena, who has been struggling at the dish went 5-7 with 5 walks in the Baltimore series and his average is at .226, the highest it has been since April 7^th. Lets hope that this is the series the launches C-los into his game. BJ Upton was 6-10 in the series and is now batting .303.

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The defense continues to be the story for the young Rays, and it seems that there is a Ray making a sparkling play every night. Crawford, Longoria, Bartlett, Upton and Pena continue to dazzle and help their pitchers on a nightly basis.

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Texas come in for a 4 game spread tonight, and all eyes will be on Tampa's former number 1 draft pick Josh Hamilton. Hamilton has been the hottest hitter in the American league thus far, scorching opposing pitchers and whatever they throw at him. I cant help but to imagine what we would look like with Hamilton in a Rays uniform patrolling right field. Obviously the Rays had no idea of what the future was going to hold for Baldelli or Hamilton, and they made the best decision they could, given the history of Hamilton. I hope he receives a warm welcome at the Trop, as the fans have no reason to boo him.