Results tagged ‘ Eric Hinske ’
Sonny Guts out Win #5 in Toronto
Offense helps Sonny win 4th straight.
Andy Sonnanstine gave 6 solid innings in a 5-4 win over the Blue Jays. Sonny had to gut through a bad call at the plate and a mental lapse by Aki Iwamura, but came through for his 5th win of the year.
Erik Hinske hit a monster shot to center field that bounced off the back windows in the large stadium to put the Rays up for good. Tomorrow it will be Matt Garza’s turn to toe the rubber. Garza is 1-0 on the season, picking up his first win agaisnt Baltimore last week. I have mixed feelings about Garza, and it will be interesting to see which pitcher comes to the yard. Garza will have to remain focused and keep the ball down in order to be successful against the Jays.
The Daily Turn:
6
Sonnanstine has won his 4th game in a row and moves to 5-1, the quickest player in franchise history to get to 5 wins. The thing I love about this kid is that he always gives the team a chance to win. He remains so cool on the mound, even when the opposition strings together hits.
4
Eric Hinske continues to be this year’s “Pena”, belting his 7th home run in a 2-4 night which
included a stolen base. Pena, on the other hand, was 0-4 with 4 strike outs. C-Los has not been seeing the ball well at all, and with the return of Cliff Floyd looming, and Hinske’s strong bat, Pena might find himself sitting out a game or two in favor of the hot hitting Hinske.
3
Defensively Jason Bartlett was great, making a bare handed grab on a tapper by Shannon Stewart and a great snag in the hole at short. Coupled with Longoria at third, the left side of the infield is as solid as it ever has been, and I don’t get as tense when balls are hit there with the game on the line.
Quote of the Day:
“I think we are swinging the bats well right now.”
-Rays SS Jason Bartlett on the Rays offense, despite 14K’s in tonight’s game.
Back from Baltimore
Catching the Rays and Orioles game at Camden Yards was great. I finally got to see Matt Garza pitch a solid game, and despite the rain it was a great afternoon. Some of the highlights, besides the win were seeing Jonny Gomes hit a monster HR to left field and Eric Kinske tossing me a ball. I did ask Evan Longoria for an autograph before the game, and he
said “no, the game was about to start”, and proceeded to stand around in front of me doing nothing for 7 minutes. That aggravated me, as he is way to young to start that attitude. But on the flip side I can understand it, he is at “work”, and I am constantly denying people things that I know I can provide for no good reason. In any case, it was a great game to watch. I couldn’t watch any of the Rays-Red Sox games since I was in a hotel all weekend, but it appears that I didn’t miss too much as the Rays got swept out of town. I am stoked that Sonnanstine was kept int he rotation, that gave me some hope that the brass is ready to win now. I am looking forward to a better series north of the border in Toronto…although the Jays have been hard to beat as of late, getting some great starting pitching. Let’s go Rays.
Hammel looks good, gives Rays split
Jason Hammel looked sharp propelling the Rays to a 7-3 win over the Twins giving them a split of the short two game series, and more importantly, stopping the Rays 3 game skid. The Rays showed better mental focus, and didn’t lie down when the Twins tried to battle back. Over all the team looked good, and showed signs of improvement in batting with runners in scoring position, something they historically struggle with.
The Daily Turn:
The 6, the 4 and the 3 all go to one topic today…Eric Hinske. Is he this year’s Carlos Pena? Last year Pena, a non roster invitee to Spring Training, burst onto the scene with big numbers making him the Players Choice 2007 American League Comeback Player of
the Year. Is Hinske next? Last night Eric blasted his 4rth homerun of the season, and second in as many games. He has put together some professional, gritty at bats and seems content to play anywhere they put him, first, third right field or DH. Hinske, like Pena last year, came into spring training fighting for a job. He posted a huge spring, giving Joe Maddon no choice but to make room for him on the big league club. Hinske has not disappointed. The former AL rookie of the year(2002 with the Blue Jays) is a great fit and veteran presence in the club house and can help the team in different areas, on and off the field. I like Hinske, and anointing him the next Carlos Pena
may be premature, but he has given Ray’s fans plenty to be excited about. I think Hinske batting further down in the order has pitchers taking his powerful swing for granted, which has him seeing better pitches. Let’s hope he can keep it up!
Rays take up the White Sox this weekend, and really need to take 2 out of three to bolster their confidence and record!
Quote of the Day:
“It was a fast ball. I was able to get good wood on it.”
-Eric Hinske on his 2nd inning HR
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