Rays Notes- Other Baseball News
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by user Tylersarticles
Note- This was originally posted on mvn.com (as my last MVN post) and will be my last Devil Rays post before I start covering the Rays for scout.com. Just a few Devil Rays notes from today
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays game against the New York Yankees was postponed due to weather yesterday. There is not a definite make up date scheduled yet, but the two teams will most likely play a day/night doubleheader when the Devil Rays return to New York later in the season. The final game of the series is tonight at 7:05. Jae Seo will be pushed back a day and will take the hill for the Devil Rays. James Shields, who was expected to pitch tonight’s game, will start the tomorrow night’s home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Casey Fossum will pitch on Saturday and Scott Kazmir will make his second start in Sunday afternoon’s game.
It should be interesting to see how Seo performs in his first start of the year against the Yankees tonight. Seo may have only earned one win for the Devil Rays after being traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers last summer, but he pitched a lot better than his record indicated. Ironically, his first and only win in the American League during the 2007 season came against New York at Yankee Stadium. Hopefully, we will see a similar outcome tonight. However, even if Seo leaves the game with a lead and a chance for a victory, the game will be decided by the Devil Rays’ bullpen. As everyone saw why on Monday afternoon, that is a scary thought for Tampa Bay fans.
Projected starters for the next four games
Tonight- Seo at Yankees (Mussina)
Friday- Shields vs. Blue Jays (Toma Ohka)
Saturday- Fossum vs. Blue Jays (Roy Halladay)
Sunday- Kazmir vs. Blue Jays (Josh Towers)
Monday- Edwin Jackson vs. Texas Rangers ( Brandon McCarthy)
Rays Notes from DevilRays.com- Rays expect to run
Elijah Dukes had a solid debut on Monday afternoon in the Devil Rays’ 9-5 loss to New York. Dukes became the second player in Devil Rays history to hit a homerun in their first official major league at bat. Surprisingly, the only other Devil Ray to accomplish that feat was a pitcher. Esteban Yan, who was one of the better relief pitchers for the Devil Rays in the late 90s, is the only other Devil Ray to connect for a homerun in his first official at bat. With Pettitte on the mound in tonight’s game, Dukes is scheduled to move up to the sixth spot in the batting order. Akinori Iwamura will move move down to the eight spot.
Down on the Farm- Jorge Cantu has officially reported to Durham and will be in the lineup for tonight’s season opener. Cantu will likely bat in the middle of the order as Durham’s designated hitter. Here is a Durham Bulls Preview. Evan Longoria and Reid Brignac will start the 2007 season at AA Montgomery. The Devil Rays advanced Class A team has moved from California to Vero Beach meaning the “ Rays have a far shorter drive to see thier prospects “.
More Rays content from around the web today- [2] The mastering of American mechanics - The St. Petersburg Times Crawford hopes Upton steals bases - The St. Petersburg Times
Former Biscuits recall, relish their first shot in the big leagues, The Montgomery Advertiser
Repeat Performance? Longoria hopes to lead Biscuits to another title, The Montgomery Advertiser
Tampa too talented to be this bad for this long, The New York Sun
Elsewhere in the world of baseball today-
In his major league debut, Daisuke Matsusaka was phenomenal today for the Boston Red Sox. In seven innings of work this afternoon, Matsusaka scattered only six hits and allowed only one earned run against the Kansas City Royals. Matsusaka also struck out ten Royal hitters and should earn the his first big league win. The Red Sox are currently winning 4-1 at the start of the ninth inning.
Scott Hatteberg went 2-4 with a homerun to lead the Reds to a 5-2 victory against the Chicago Cubs today. In his first outing of the year, Kyle Loshe only allowed 2 earned runs in 6.1 innings, but did not factor in the decision. Victor Santos earned his first win of the season for the Reds and David Weathers picked up the save. Josh Hamilton did not play in the victory.
Looking to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies, the Atlanta Braves are currently up 8-1 in the sixth inning. Phillies starter Adam Eaton was roughed up for seven hits and seven earned runs in 4.2 innings of work. Chuck James is still in the game for the Braves and has cruised through the first five innings.
Scores from Yesterday-
The Atlanta Braves topped the Philadelphia Phillies in extra innings for the second consecutive game last night. Cole Hamels gave the Phillies seven outstanding innings and left the game with a 1-0 lead, but did not factor in the decision. Down two runs in the ninth inning, Brian McCann hit a tw0-run-homerun to off of Phillies closer Tom Gordon to send the game in to extra innings.
Ted Lilly outdueled Bronson Arroyo and the Chicago Cubs (1-1) outscored the Cincinnati Reds (1-1) in their 4-1 win last night. Arroyo (0-1) lasted seven innings, but allowed all four of the Cubs' runs. Josh Hamilton did not play for the Reds in the loss.
