Rays Keeping Top Spot

After the Red Sox took a sweep at the hands of the Angels in Los Angeles and the Rays won their series over Toronto, Tampa Bay held on to first place with a 4–0 victory over the Oakland A's at Tropicana Field.  Scott Kazmir was back to his dominant form, only allowing two hits (with four walks) and no runs in seven innings, striking out nine.  It was his first performance of more than six innings since June 11th.  He threw 103 pitches, about 10 of them sliders, recording four of his strikeouts with his slider.  He mixed in a high amount of first pitch changeups, as even that pitch was working greatly for him.  The A's love to run up pitch counts, but there was no slowing down Kazmir last night.  This was a turning point to his season.  Every pitch was in command early and often, and it will be that Scott Kazmir that leads us into extra October baseball.  The Rays have started advertising postseason ticket packages, so please don't fail us now.

Evan Longoria hit a home run for the third straight game, so he is now up to a team–leading 19.  Had the Rays stuck with their initial option of keeping him in AAA for two months, I don't think they would be where they are right now.  He has started hitting the ball very well and, once his teammates produce more in front of him, may be in line for 100 RBI in his rookie season.  Willy Aybar also homered last night, hitting it high off the left field foul pole for his fourth home run and ninth RBI of the year.  It's about time he started doing something.  B.J. Upton had two hits and two walks as he may be catching fire at the right time.  If guys like Upton, Crawford and Pena start hitting more like they did under the radar last season, this team can possibly be a dominant force throughout the playoffs.

Yes, I just said playoffs.  Hopefully the Rays can use some of their loaded minor league talent to beat the Yankees to a right handed power hitter for the middle of the lineup.  That's just about the last piece of the puzzle they need to fill to get there.  They just beat a left handed starting pitcher last night, but overall that has been one of the weakest points of this team, which has the best record of any team against right handers and a losing record against left handers.  The latter will definitely need to change if the Rays want to succeed at this level.  I think they'll find a way to do it.  So until the A's are sent back to their bay, go Rays.