Angels 6, 
Rays 1
There has been speculation in the baseball web sites that Rays number 1 pick last season, David Price is in Vero Beach, Florida as a tune up for a fast promotion through the minors starting in July 2008. Price did state before the season that his personal goal is to be at the Tampa Bay level by September.
In a recent game, Price did battle against veteran Pedro Martinez, down doing a rehab assignment and both teams got a good look at the futre of both pitchers. Pedro is again loving baseball, which could be trouble for the NL East very soon. When Pedro is happy playing baseball, he is at his best on the mound.
Price recently got his first taste of defeat in the pros when he got rocked in Fort Meyers, Florida. The Rays are watching closely to see how hr rebounds after his first taste of normalcy in the minors. The next step for him would be the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits.
This might be a great team for Price to be on the same roster as alot of the pitchers’ who will be the Rays backbone in 3-5 years at the major league level. It might be the best barometer to see just how far he has progressed this season, hitting in the batter friendly Southern League.
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Trivia Fact of the Night:
On July 14,1946, Lou Boudreau of the Cleveland Indians set a major-league mark as the first player with 5 exta-base hits in a ballgame.
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Gabe Gross’s 5th homer in the 8th inning became the only run to cross the plate for the Rays aginst the Angels last night. In his last 8 games, Gross is 9-31 ( .290) with 3 doubles, 2 homers and 7 RBI’s for the Rays.
B J Upton again got caught stealing last night against the Anglels. B J was trying to steal second base off Jered Weaver in the 4th innig by Angels’ catcher Jeff Mathis. It was Upton’s 8th caught stealing of the season, making him Tied for first with Chris Gomez of the Twins.
Rays starter James Shields was a bit over hyped last night in his start against the Angels. Shields first three fastball were clocked up around the 94 MPH range, a bit high for him. This might also be a slight cuase to the Angels rocking him in the first inning for 4 runs.
After the game, Rays Manager Joe Maddon remarked about how he also saw the Shields was a bit high on the gun in the beginnig of the game, and his off-speed pitches did not run over like they usually do for him.
The first inning barrage basically was the scoring for the Angels until they got two more insurance runs in the 5th inning off a Vladimir Guererro homer. Shields pitched the entire game for the Rays, going 8 innings of 10-hit, 6-run ball to take his 5th loss of the season.
After the game, Shields announced he would be beginning his 6 game suspension stemming from the Boston fight earler in the roadtrip. Sheilds waited until after this game to get one start against a team he has had great success against in the past.
In other suspension news, DH/Rightfielder Jonny Gomes has now served his time and will be able to play in the Florida Marlins series beginning on Friday night. Gomes served his time during the Texas and LA Angels series and is ready to help the Rays pull back into first place in the AL East.
Evan Longoria continued his hot streak against the Angels by getting 2 doubles in the game. Longoria now has 14 doubles for the season. In his first series in his hometown against the Angels, Evan was 5-7 (All extra-base hits), 3 doubles and 2 homers and 3 RBI’s.
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Anyone wanting to purchase tickets to the Chicago Cubs series during the next week at the Trop., had better hit ticketmaster or the Rays box office soon before the games are reduced to single seats and onstructed views seating. The series has shown brisk sales the last few days as this will be the return of Lou Pinella to the Trop.
Also of importance, is the fact that these two teams have been the hottest teams of late in the MLB, and it should be an excellient series for both teams. This series will show both managers’ what kind of ball clubs they have on their hands. The Cubs have a few playoff vets on their roster, and the Rays are trying to join that exclusive club by making the playoff for the first time in their history.
Last, but not least, the Saturday night game against the Florida Marlins is a 6:10 P.M. start because of the concert after the game. The game will also be blackedout for local television, so the only way to see the game is in person, or by listening to the Rays radio broadcast.
Every Saturday night that the Rays have a concert series event, will not be telecasted, and will be an early start time this year. Just a reminder for the fans.
Rays Renegade 