http://mlb.mlb.com TB Homepage News Sat, 25 May 2013 05:33:43 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_25_nyamlb_tbamlb_1&mode=preview&vkey=preview_web_home&c_id=tb Sat, 25 May 2013 00:12:28 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_25_nyamlb_tbamlb_1&mode=preview&vkey=preview_web_home&c_id=tb While Ivan Nova was activated from the 15-day disabled list Friday, Yankees manager Joe Girardi sent him to the bullpen. Instead, Vidal Nuno will start Saturday's game against the Rays, who send undefeated Matt Moore to the mound. Jason Mastrodonato http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48520404&vkey=news_tb&c_id=tb Sat, 25 May 2013 00:25:21 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48520404&vkey=news_tb&c_id=tb With a little bit of luck, no, make that late-inning relief pitching, the Yankees might be trying to catch the Rays in the AL East. The Rays entered Friday's game suffering from an epidemic of blown late-inning saves, but that didn't even come into play in this 9-4 loss. Hal Bodley http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_24_nyamlb_tbamlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=tb Fri, 24 May 2013 23:43:54 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_24_nyamlb_tbamlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=tb Pitching continued to be the difference between winning and losing for Tampa Bay on Friday night as David Phelps held the Rays without a baserunner until the fifth inning while Roberto Hernandez struggled again as the Yankees drubbed the Rays, 9-4, before 17,825 at Tropicana Field. Jim Hawkins http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48477470&notebook_id=48477484&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Fri, 24 May 2013 19:43:55 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48477470&notebook_id=48477484&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Anyone searching for a reason why the Rays trailed the Yankees by four games in the American League East when play commenced Friday evening, needed to look no further than Tampa Bay's bullpen. Jim Hawkins http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48477470&notebook_id=48477480&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Fri, 24 May 2013 19:43:51 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48477470&notebook_id=48477480&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Matt Moore prefers not to talk about it, but if he beats the Yankees on Saturday, he will become the fifth-youngest pitcher -- and the second-youngest left-hander since Babe Ruth in 1916 -- to begin a season 9-0 exclusively as a starter. Jim Hawkins http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48477470&notebook_id=48477478&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Fri, 24 May 2013 19:43:50 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130524&content_id=48477470&notebook_id=48477478&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Former Rays infielder Reid Brignac, who was acquired by the Yankees from the Rockies last Saturday for cash considerations, admitted it felt "a little different" walking by the double doors leading to the Rays' clubhouse on Friday. Jim Hawkins http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130523&content_id=48383934&vkey=news_tb&c_id=tb Thu, 23 May 2013 11:50:00 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130523&content_id=48383934&vkey=news_tb&c_id=tb Any team with a pitcher like David Price is going to feel the loss. But unlike most clubs, the Rays are able to withstand the loss based on the long line of arms that runs through the organization like one continuous thread. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_22_tbamlb_tormlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=tb Wed, 22 May 2013 21:28:46 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_22_tbamlb_tormlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=tb The Blue Jays took a 4-3 win in 10 innings over the Rays on Wednesday afternoon at Rogers Centre to claim the rubber game of the three-game series. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48310174&notebook_id=48310686&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Wed, 22 May 2013 16:47:30 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48310174&notebook_id=48310686&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Joe Maddon recently commented that Evan Longoria was playing better than he had ever seen him play. Longoria downplayed the Rays manager's compliment Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48310174&notebook_id=48310684&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Wed, 22 May 2013 16:47:26 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48310174&notebook_id=48310684&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Matt Joyce left Tuesday night's game with the Blue Jays due to right hamstring tightness. On Wednesday, the Rays outfielder said what he experienced was only tightness and nothing more, so he did not see the problem lingering. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48310174&notebook_id=48310582&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Wed, 22 May 2013 16:47:25 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48310174&notebook_id=48310582&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Rather than have rookie Jake Odorizzi start Sunday's game against the Yankees' CC Sabathia, the Rays have moved up Alex Cobb to take the spot. Odorizzi will now start the opening game of a two-game series against the Marlins. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48310174&notebook_id=48310480&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Wed, 22 May 2013 16:47:23 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130522&content_id=48310174&notebook_id=48310480&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced Wednesday that Rays Minor League right-hander Angel Yepez has received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for metabolites of Nandrolone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_21_tbamlb_tormlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=tb Wed, 22 May 2013 00:37:17 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_21_tbamlb_tormlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=tb Tampa Bay used some early offense and a solid effort by closer Fernando Rodney to back Alex Cobb and achieve a 4-3 win over Toronto on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre in front of 15,802. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48206104&notebook_id=48216792&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Wed, 22 May 2013 01:20:09 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48206104&notebook_id=48216792&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Matt Joyce left Tuesday night's game with the Blue Jays because of right hamstring tightness. The Rays are calling the move precautionary. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48206104&notebook_id=48206116&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Tue, 21 May 2013 20:21:49 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48206104&notebook_id=48206116&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Jamey Wright hails from Oklahoma City, where his parents and sister live near tornado-ravaged Moore. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48206104&notebook_id=48206110&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Tue, 21 May 2013 20:21:47 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48206104&notebook_id=48206110&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb After Monday's game, Joe Maddon remarked that he planned to talk to shortstop Yunel Escobar about the way Escobar gave a safe signal after hitting a two-run homer. Maddon did talk to Escobar, but he did not tell him to stop making the sign. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48206104&notebook_id=48206108&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Tue, 21 May 2013 20:21:44 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48206104&notebook_id=48206108&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Rays manager Joe Maddon allowed that he was wrong in his interpretation of the home run rules where reviews are concerned, but he voiced a strong sentiment that the rules needed to be modified. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48206104&notebook_id=48206106&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Tue, 21 May 2013 20:21:42 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130521&content_id=48206104&notebook_id=48206106&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Roberto Hernandez, the former Rays relief pitcher -- not the current Rays starter -- will represent Tampa Bay at the 2013 First-Year Player Draft. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48071030&notebook_id=48092654&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Mon, 20 May 2013 18:20:37 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48071030&notebook_id=48092654&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb With the Rays trailing the Blue Jays, Yunel Escobar homered off his former team, going on to celebrate his fourth homer of the season. Rays manager Joe Maddon clearly did not care for Escobar's gesture. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48080884&vkey=news_tb&c_id=tb Mon, 20 May 2013 18:18:48 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48080884&vkey=news_tb&c_id=tb Edwin Encarnacion's bases-loaded double in the seventh led the Blue Jays to a 7-5 win over the Rays on Monday afternoon at Rogers Centre. It was the Rays debut for starter Jake Odorizzi. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48071030&notebook_id=48071156&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Mon, 20 May 2013 14:29:15 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48071030&notebook_id=48071156&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Even before his second-inning leadoff single Monday against the Blue Jays, Evan Longoria was riding a career-high 13-game hitting streak. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48071030&notebook_id=48071154&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Mon, 20 May 2013 14:29:13 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48071030&notebook_id=48071154&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Earlier this year, Alex Cobb noted that getting rid of hitters in two or three pitches, or pitching to contact, would go a long way toward lasting more innings. Alas, his strikeouts are up this season. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48071030&notebook_id=48071044&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Mon, 20 May 2013 14:27:09 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130520&content_id=48071030&notebook_id=48071044&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Before a ruling came, Joe Maddon argued that Matt Joyce's home run Sunday, originally called a double, could not have been ruled a foul ball. Umpire Gerry Davis disagreed. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47996448&vkey=news_tb&c_id=tb Sun, 19 May 2013 18:00:59 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47996448&vkey=news_tb&c_id=tb Rays outfielder Matt Joyce hit his eighth home run of the season Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards, after an official review gave Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead over the Orioles. Brittany Ghiroli http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47984044&notebook_id=47986652&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Sun, 19 May 2013 13:46:03 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47984044&notebook_id=47986652&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Jake Odorizzi joined the Rays on Sunday as the guy the Rays have tabbed to try and fill injured David Price's shoes, and the plan is to wait until the end of Sunday's game to activate the young right-hander. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47984044&notebook_id=47986650&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Sun, 19 May 2013 13:46:00 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47984044&notebook_id=47986650&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb To help cover their bullpen for Sunday's game against the Orioles, the Rays recalled left-hander Jeff Beliveau from Triple-A Durham to serve a one-day stint in the Major Leagues, and they optioned left-hander Alex Torres back to Durham. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47984044&notebook_id=47986648&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Sun, 19 May 2013 13:45:57 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47984044&notebook_id=47986648&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Matt Joyce took manager Joe Maddon's advice and kept trying to be himself, besting the Orioles' extreme shift on Saturday. Joyce went 3-for-5 with a homer and five RBIs. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_19_tbamlb_balmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=tb Sun, 19 May 2013 18:50:52 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_19_tbamlb_balmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=tb The Rays got homers from Luke Scott and Matt Joyce, and Matt Moore limited the Orioles to a run over seven innings in the 3-1 victory on Sunday. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130518&content_id=47899498&notebook_id=47914992&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Sat, 18 May 2013 18:40:11 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130518&content_id=47899498&notebook_id=47914992&vkey=notebook_tb&c_id=tb Jose Molina left Saturday's game vs. the Orioles due to a tight left hamstring. The Rays catcher said he was fine after the game, and he does not expect to miss any time. Bill Chastain http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_18_tbamlb_balmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=tb Sat, 18 May 2013 22:00:53 EDT http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_05_18_tbamlb_balmlb_1&mode=recap_away&c_id=tb Matt Joyce hit a homer and drove in five runs, including the go-ahead two-run double in the ninth, to engineer the game-winning rally as the Rays defeated the Orioles, 10-6, on Saturday. Bill Chastain