ST. PETERSBURG — Rays right-hander James Shields was arguably the best pitcher in interleague play last season, winning three of four starts and throwing three complete games against National League opponents.

But Shields shouldered the blame for Friday night’s 5-3 loss to Atlanta, with his two-out walk in the fifth inning and his throwing error sparking a two-run rally that gave the Braves the lead for good.

The loss, in front of 19,689 at Tropicana Field, was the Rays’ second in a row and fourth in their past five at home.

“Two-out walks are unacceptable,” Shields said. “It’s a terrible job by me. That changed the whole game. That was the game right there.”

The Rays had tied it in the third after falling behind 2-0. Shields settled into a rhythm, retiring nine of 10 batters in a stretch before the walk to Martin Prado. Shields then committed a throwing error trying to pick him off first base. Freddie Freeman then ripped a double to knock in Prado, and two batters later, catcher Brian McCann added an RBI single.

“I’ve got to do a better job as a pitcher to bear down and get that out,” Shields said. “I’m definitely going to put that loss on me tonight.”

The Braves struck first in the opening inning. Prado hit a double and Freeman followed with a single to score him. In the second, Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, bringing his farewell tour to the Trop, started a rally.

Jones, who received a standing ovation before his first at-bat, ripped a single to center, then came around to score on a two-out wild pitch by Shields.

Whether Jones plays again in this three-game series remains to be seen. He left the game in the seventh inning with a left calf bruise, having been hit in the left leg by a grounder in the third.

But the Rays bounced back, with Luke Scott and Jeff Keppinger hitting back-to-back singles in the bottom half of the first, putting runners on first and third. Elliot Johnson then laid down a perfect safety squeeze bunt down the first-base line to score one run.

In the third inning, Tampa Bay (24-16) tied it up, thanks to a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Scott, who picked up three hits one night after stranding seven runners in Thursday’s loss to the Red Sox

Shields, who entered Friday’s game with a major-league-leading six wins, saw his pitch count rise quickly in the Braves’ two-run fifth, and he was pulled after six innings and 115 pitches.

“That was the moment right there,” Maddon said. “If we had gotten through that moment, it could have been a different night.”

Atlanta added an insurance run in the seventh, when Prado blasted a solo home run off reliever J.P. Howell.

Lefty Cesar Ramos got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, keeping the Rays within striking distance.

Scott had another RBI single in the eighth, but that was as close as Tampa Bay would get.

For Shields, it was his second loss in his last three starts.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ James Shields dominated opponents during interleague play last season.

The same can’t be said for Tommy Hanson, who hasn’t experienced much recent success against AL clubs.

With a chance to become the majors’ first seven-game winner, Shields takes the hill opposite Hanson on Friday night when the Rays open a three-game set with the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves.

Shields, who enjoyed a career year in 2011 by going 16-12 with a 2.82 ERA, posted especially impressive numbers over four starts against the NL. The All-Star right-hander opened interleague play with three complete game victories before dropping to 3-1 with a 1.32 ERA following somewhat of a rocky display during a 4-3 loss to Cincinnati on June 29. When all was said and done, Shields struck out 42 and walked just four over 34 innings while opponents hit just .145 against him.

In his only career appearance against Atlanta (24-15), Shields gave up three runs over six frames during a 3-1 road loss June 17, 2010. Shields has had his way with Dan Uggla, limiting him to just three hits in 15 at-bats in their matchups.

“We’ve faced a lot of those guys before. I think I’m the only one on the staff who faced the National League East in the past,” Shields told the team’s official website. “They’re a good team. They’re a good squad. We can’t take them lightly. We have to keep playing our game.”

Though his ERA went up to 3.52, Shields improved to 6-1 this season after giving up six runs – four earned – over 6 1-3 innings of Sunday’s 9-8 win at Baltimore. Shields is surely looking forward to getting back home, where he’s gone 8-0 with a 2.48 ERA over 10 starts – all Rays wins – dating to last year.

Hanson (4-3, 3.43), meanwhile, improved to 3-1 over his last five outings after striking out a season-high nine over five innings of one-run ball during Sunday’s 7-4 victory at St. Louis.

“I felt good with everything and for the most part did a good job of locating,” he said.

Hanson, though, could find it difficult to build on last weekend’s effort given his recent struggles in interleague play. Since compiling a 0.75 ERA in winning his first four career starts against the AL, the right-hander has gone 1-2 with a 9.78 ERA over his last four.

Hanson scattered three hits over seven shutout innings of a 6-2 victory over Tampa Bay (24-15) on June 16, 2010.

Winners of nine of 13, the Braves defeated Miami 7-0 on Thursday behind Brandon Beachy’s five-hitter. Beachy struck out six and walked zero in throwing his first career shutout.

Atlanta won nine straight in interleague play June 19-July 2 before falling 5-4 to the Orioles on July 3. The Braves have outscored Tampa Bay 113-77 in taking 15 of 21 all-time meetings between the teams.

Coming off a two-game split with Boston, Tampa Bay’s four-game winning streak was snapped Thursday with a 5-3 defeat. Matt Moore dropped to 1-4 on the season while Luke Scott, Carlos Pena, Elliot Johnson and Chris Gimenez – the club’s 3-5-7-8 hitters, went a combined 0 for 15.

Since winning 13 of their first 14 games on their own field, the Rays have dropped three of four at home thanks in part to going 5 for 34 (.147) with runners in scoring position.

The Tampa Bay Rays rallied for an impressive victory on Wednesday afternoon, scoring four in the ninth to beat the Detroit Tigers, 4-2.

After being held to one hit by Tigers ace Justin Verlander through the first eight innings, the Rays got three off him in the ninth, Evan Longoria singling in Desmond Jennings to tie it.

Jeff Keppinger got them started with a single. After Reid Brignac struck out, Jennings singled to right. Carlos Pena walked, with Keppinger scoring on a ball-four wild pitch. Longoria then singled in Jennings.

After the Tigers went to the bullpen, Elliot Johnson drew a walk and Ben Zobrist singled in two runs to put them ahead.

The Rays were stifled much of the afternoon, with just Zobrist’s fifth-inning single to show for their efforts.

James Shields pitched well for the Rays, allowing a first-inning run on a single by Miguel Cabrera, and the other in the fifth when he balked on a throw to third after Andy Dirks doubled and went to third on a ground out.

The Rays face the Tigers again on Thursday afternoon, with Jeff Niemann on the mound.

TAMPA — Stephen Vogt has earned rave reviews for his comedic impressions of manager Joe Maddon.

But Vogt, 27, is also making an impression on the field, with Maddon saying the Rays’ 2011 minor-league player of the year is “among the contending group” for the second catcher spot.

He’d be a dark horse, as Vogt — despite being a .305 hitter in five minor-league seasons — has played in just 31 Triple-A games, with no experience in the majors like contenders Chris Gimenez and rookies Robinson Chirinos and Jose Lobaton.

“We’ve done awkward things in the past, so we’re not afraid of doing something like that,” Maddon said. “I told him in the meeting, he’s playing for this job.”

Vogt went 3-for-3 with a two-run triple in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over the Yankees, the first of the spring for the Rays (1-4). Maddon likes Vogt’s left-handed bat but hasn’t seen enough of him catching, and defense is most important at that position.

“It’s in the back of my mind, and I’d love to earn a spot,” Vogt said. “But at the same time, I play the game the same way no matter where I am.”

GOOD START: RHP James Shields was sharp in his first spring outing, throwing two perfect innings with two strikeouts against many Yankees regulars. “I was commanding my pitches,” he said. “Definitely get a little geeked for the first outing, but for the most part, I felt really good out there.”

IN HAND: 3B Evan Longoria further tested his bruised right hand in Port Charlotte by taking swings and hitting balls off a tee for the first time and said it was a positive step toward recovery.

Maddon was encouraged, saying Longoria should be “back to normal” in the next couple of days. “We’re going in the right direction,” he said. “As long as we can keep that up on a day-to-day basis, it’ll be a good thing.”

Longoria said his hand “was pretty sore” Tuesday when he took dry (no-ball) swings with a fungo bat (which is lighter). On Wednesday he swung a regular bat and hit balls off the tee, which was a sign of progress.

Longoria, hit by a pitch in the March 1 intrasquad game, said he wasn’t going to set any more dates for his first game, but it should be a matter of days. He was happy after being checked Wednesday morning by Rays hand specialist Dr. Doug Carlan but also is frustrated by the slower-than-expected recovery.

“It hasn’t been as fast as I anticipated or wanted it to be, but as long as I’m not waking up the next day and feeling like I’ve taken a step backward, it’s positive,” he said.

MEDICAL MATTERS: Today is somewhat key for a few Rays, as DH Luke Scott and OF Sam Fuld will take live batting practice in what could be their last hurdles before they start playing in games, and the same for RHP Brandon Gomes, who will be one of the throwers. LHP Matt Moore (lower abdomen strain) also will throw, though he will likely have another session before his exhibition debut.

LINING UP: RHP Jeremy Hellickson will work in relief in the home game today rather than start the road game, a choice the Rays gave him, allowing RHP Chris Archer to start at the Twins. … SS Reid Brignac, CF B.J. Upton, 2B/RF Ben Zobrist, RF Matt Joyce and INF Jeff Keppinger will play in the home game, with 1B Carlos Peña, LF Desmond Jennings, SS Sean Rodriguez and UTL Elliot Johnson on the road.

MISCELLANY: Wednesday’s Rays-Yankees game will be a tape-delayed broadcast on the MLB Network at 9 a.m. today. … Scott and third-base coach Tom Foley will be special guests on tonight’s Countdown to Opening Day radio show on 620-AM from 7-8 p.m.

TAMPA — Stephen Vogt has earned rave reviews for his comedic impressions of manager Joe Maddon.

But Vogt, 27, is also making an impression on the field, with Maddon saying the Rays’ 2011 minor-league player of the year is “among the contending group” for the second catcher spot.

He’d be a dark horse, as Vogt — despite being a .305 hitter in five minor-league seasons — has played in just 31 Triple-A games, with no experience in the majors like contenders Chris Gimenez and rookies Robinson Chirinos and Jose Lobaton.

“We’ve done awkward things in the past, so we’re not afraid of doing something like that,” Maddon said. “I told him in the meeting, he’s playing for this job.”

Vogt went 3-for-3 with a two-run triple in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over the Yankees, the first of the spring for the Rays (1-4). Maddon likes Vogt’s left-handed bat but hasn’t seen enough of him catching, and defense is most important at that position.

“It’s in the back of my mind, and I’d love to earn a spot,” Vogt said. “But at the same time, I play the game the same way no matter where I am.”

GOOD START: RHP James Shields was sharp in his first spring outing, throwing two perfect innings with two strikeouts against many Yankees regulars. “I was commanding my pitches,” he said. “Definitely get a little geeked for the first outing, but for the most part, I felt really good out there.”

IN HAND: 3B Evan Longoria further tested his bruised right hand in Port Charlotte by taking swings and hitting balls off a tee for the first time and said it was a positive step toward recovery.

Maddon was encouraged, saying Longoria should be “back to normal” in the next couple of days. “We’re going in the right direction,” he said. “As long as we can keep that up on a day-to-day basis, it’ll be a good thing.”

Longoria said his hand “was pretty sore” Tuesday when he took dry (no-ball) swings with a fungo bat (which is lighter). On Wednesday he swung a regular bat and hit balls off the tee, which was a sign of progress.

Longoria, hit by a pitch in the March 1 intrasquad game, said he wasn’t going to set any more dates for his first game, but it should be a matter of days. He was happy after being checked Wednesday morning by Rays hand specialist Dr. Doug Carlan but also is frustrated by the slower-than-expected recovery.

“It hasn’t been as fast as I anticipated or wanted it to be, but as long as I’m not waking up the next day and feeling like I’ve taken a step backward, it’s positive,” he said.

MEDICAL MATTERS: Today is somewhat key for a few Rays, as DH Luke Scott and OF Sam Fuld will take live batting practice in what could be their last hurdles before they start playing in games, and the same for RHP Brandon Gomes, who will be one of the throwers. LHP Matt Moore (lower abdomen strain) also will throw, though he will likely have another session before his exhibition debut.

LINING UP: RHP Jeremy Hellickson will work in relief in the home game today rather than start the road game, a choice the Rays gave him, allowing RHP Chris Archer to start at the Twins. … SS Reid Brignac, CF B.J. Upton, 2B/RF Ben Zobrist, RF Matt Joyce and INF Jeff Keppinger will play in the home game, with 1B Carlos Peña, LF Desmond Jennings, SS Sean Rodriguez and UTL Elliot Johnson on the road.

MISCELLANY: Wednesday’s Rays-Yankees game will be a tape-delayed broadcast on the MLB Network at 9 a.m. today. … Scott and third-base coach Tom Foley will be special guests on tonight’s Countdown to Opening Day radio show on 620-AM from 7-8 p.m.

Read More: CC Sabathia (P – NYY), Curtis Granderson (CF – NYY), James Shields (P – TAM), Derek Jeter (SS – NYY), Alex Rodriguez (3B – NYY), Mariano Rivera (P – NYY), Casey Kotchman (1B – TAM), J.P. Howell (P – TAM), Ben Zobrist (2B – TAM), Elliot Johnson (SS – TAM), Brett Gardner (LF – NYY), Eduardo Nunez (3B – NYY), Desmond Jennings (LF – TAM), Hector Noesi (P – NYY), New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees, Sep 21, 2011 1:05 PM EDT

This recap comes courtesy of SBN Tampa Bay.

In a game that should have been an easy win, the Rays (85-69) could not take advantage of the Yankees (94-60) and their cavalcade of relievers. Hector Noesi started the game, but his 50 to 60 pitch count limit lasted him only 2 and 2/3 innings. He was then followed by seven different relievers.

James Shields (L, 15-12) started the game poorly, giving up a two-out RBI double to Alex Rodriguez, but with his team down 0-1, he began pitching lights-out. Over the following six innings, Shields frustrated the Yankees hitters, allowing only two base runners. In the top of the 3rd, Desmond Jennings gave Shields a precarious 1-run lead after hitting a 2-run homer that snuck over the left field wall.

Shields proceed to strike out 7 batters, while walking only 2 — unfortunately, the second of the 2 walks came in the crucial 8th inning. At the bottom of the 8th, Eduardo Nunez homered to left, tying the game 2-2. One out later, Brett Gardner singled to left (following an annoyingly good at bat) and then Derek Jeter walked.

At this point, Joe Maddon elected to bring in lefty J.P. Howell from the bullpen. After falling down 3-1 to Curtis Granderson, Howell left a slider over the outside of the plate and high, which Granderson powered into centerfield for a game-winning 2-run double.

Mariano Rivera came in to pitch a perfect top of the 9th and the Rays, just like that, fell to 2.5 back in the Wild Card standings, and New York clinched it’s 94th win and a postseason spot.

Notes:

• Eduardo Nunez stole second and third base off James Shields today, who had a difficult time controlling the runners for the first time in seemingly a long time. All told, the Yankees stole three bases and were not caught once.
• The Rays, who should have torn through the Yankees relievers today, mustered only 3 extra base hits over 9 total hits. Elliot Johnson and Casey Kotchman both doubled, and Desmond Jennings homered, but the lineup also combined for 10 strikeouts and only 2 walks.
• Ben Zobrist arrived late to the game and had a pinch hit strikeout in the 8th inning. At least he will get a full 4 PAs in the later game because the Rays have a monumental task in the form of solving CC Sabathia.

Game 2 of the double header starts at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Sean Rodriguez is tagged out by Toronto Blue Jays Brett Lawrie trying to steal third base in the fourth inning on Saturday. Lawrie would come within an eyelash of finishing a triple play at third later in the game. (Aaron Vincent Elkaim/Canadian Press)

B.J. Upton hit a three-run homer and Jeff Niemann was solid on the mound Saturday as the Tampa Bay Rays edged Toronto 6-5 to send the Blue Jays to their third straight loss.

Upton homered on his first pitch in the seventh inning after Toronto reliever Jesse Litsch walked Tampa Bay’s Sam Fuld and Evan Longoria.

The go-ahead shot took the sting out of an earlier hit by the centre-fielder that the Rays (72-59) argued was a home run. An instant replay showed it was foul.

Niemann (9-5), who allowed three runs on five hits with six strikeouts through 6 1-3 innings, left after he gave up a triple to Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C., that turned into a run on a ground out by Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia.

Eric Thames and Edwin Encarnacion each added solo homers in the eighth inning to rally Toronto to within one run, but Tampa Bay closer Joel Peralta shut down the Jays in the ninth for his second save of the season.

Luis Perez, pitching in his second major-league start for Toronto (66-66) since being moved from the bullpen, was steady on the mound despite needing several visits from Arencibia.

After loading the bases in the fifth inning, the 26-year-old lefty struck out Ben Zobrist to strand the Rays’ runners. That ended the day for Perez, who gave up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts. He was replaced by Shawn Camp (1-3) in the sixth with the score tied 2-2.

Camp did little to impress the crowd of 24,052 at Rogers Centre when Upton’s belted a ball just to the left of the left-field foul pole that Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon argued was a home run. After the umpires ruled it foul, Camp hit Upton on the next pitch.

After a pretty defensive play by Toronto to catch runners at third and first base, the Rays took a 3-2 lead on second baseman Elliot Johnson’s RBI single.

Jose Bautista opened the scoring for Toronto in the first with a double to drive in a speedy Thames from first base.

But the Rays broke through against Perez in the fourth when Sean Rodriguez hit a ground-rule double just inside the left-field line to score Longoria and Zobrist to give Tampa a 2-1 lead.

The Jays evened the game after a costly mistake by Johnson. After Toronto’s Kelly Johnson grounded out to first, Tampa Bay attempted to catch Encarnacion sliding into second. Elliot Johnson made the tag but dropped the ball, leaving Encarnacion safe and Elliot Johnson debating the call with second-base umpire Marty Foster.

The dropped ball turned into a run later in the inning when a ground-rule double by Arencibia scored Encarnacion to tie the score 2-2.

By Brian Floyd

– Editor, SBNation.com

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Aug 12, 2011 – A third-inning home run outburst and a strong outing from David Price propelled the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-1 win over the New York Yankees in the first game of a three-game series on Friday night. Price pitched eight innings in the win, allowing just six hits and one run while striking out four and walking two. It was a home run fest for the Rays, with each of their five runs coming on solo shots.

Tampa Bay broke a scoreless tie in the third as leadoff batter Casey Kotchman took CC Sabathia deep. The next batter, Kelly Shoppach, made it two in a row, blasting a home run to left. Finally, with two down in the inning, Johnny Damon made it three home runs in the frame as the Rays took a 3-0 lead.

Andruw Jones got one back for the Yankees in the bottom of the fourth, doubling to right-center with two down to bring home Robinson Cano. But the inning ended on the play as Nick Swisher was gunned down at home with the Yankees trailing, 3-1.

In the top-half of the fifth, Tampa Bay answered right away as leadoff batter Elliot Johnson went yard to give the Rays a three-run cushion, 4-1. Evan Longoria added the final insurance run of the night for the Rays with a solo shot of his own in the top of the eighth.

Joel Peralta slammed the door in the ninth, striking out all three batters he faced in a non-save situation. With the win, the Rays improved to 64-54 on the year. The Yankees fell to 71-46 with the loss.

For more on this game, head over to D-Rays Bay, for Tampa Bay fans, and Pinstripe Alley, for New York fans.

Read More: CC Sabathia (P – NYY), Casey Kotchman (1B – TAM), David Price (P – TAM), New York Yankees

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Friday, August 5, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — For a rookie, catcher Robinson Chirinos sure acted like he’d been there before when he delivered his first big-league walk-off hit Thursday, a bases-loaded single in the 12th that lifted the Rays to a 7-6 victory over the Jays.

Chirinos, 27, who had tied the score with a single in the previous inning, tossed his helmet in the air after rounding first base, preparing to be in the middle of a celebratory mob.

“It’s great when you win and see those smiles and everybody,” Chirinos said, with a smile of his own. “That’s where you want to be.”

In a wild and entertaining victory in front of a camp-day crowd of 29,941 at Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay (58-52) — which led by a run entering the eighth inning — overcame two extra-inning deficits for the first time in club history, thanks to scoring in three separate extra innings.

“It was a crazy game,” manager Joe Maddon said. “To grasp victory from the jaws of defeat right there was kind of neat.”

Fittingly, on kid’s day at the Trop, it was the Rays rookies who stole the show, from leftfielder Desmond Jennings keeping them alive with a game-tying, solo homer in the 11th, to reliever Brandon Gomes picking up his first major league win. And, of course, there was Chirinos, who became the first rookie to have a game-tying and game-winning hit in extra innings since the Braves Nick Green in July 2004.

“These guys are definitely showing us that they want to be big leaguers, that they belong,” veteran Johnny Damon said. “And that they can help this team win right now.”

Right-hander Wade Davis gave the Rays a chance, once again overcoming a rocky first inning before settling in to allow just three runs over 7 2/3 innings. His one main mistake was his 108th and final pitch, a hanging breaking ball with two outs in the eighth that Jays slugger Jose Bautista hit into the stands to tie the score 3-3. Evan Longoria had put the Rays on top with a three-run homer in the fifth.

The score stayed tied until the 10th, when new Jays outfielder Colby Rasmus ripped an elevated Jake McGee fastball for a run-scoring double. “Right pitch,” McGee said. “Bad location.”

The Rays would battle back, with Jennings continuing his sparkling play by leading off the bottom half with a solo homer to left, his third of the season and one of his three hits in the game. It was the first extra-inning homer by a Rays rookie since Evan Longoria May 19, 2008, giving Jennings multiple hits in seven of his 12 games.

“We’re seeing Desmond grow up right before our eyes,” Damon said.

But the fight was far from over, as Jays veteran catcher Jose Molina hit a two-run triple in the top of the 11th — the third of his 12-year big-league career — to put Toronto up 6-4.

B.J. Upton, for the second straight inning, sparked a comeback with an extra-base hit, a one-out triple, before scoring on a Matt Joyce ground out. Ex-Ray reliever Shawn Camp would load the bases with two intentional walks, striking out Elliot Johnson, leaving it up to Chirinos.

Chirinos, who has felt his confidence grow following his first career homer Wednesday, drew a 2-1 count and knew Camp “was the one in trouble — he had to throw strikes.”

And when Camp left a fastball over the middle, Chirinos smacked it into the hole at short, pumping his first as he jogged to first. Said Chirinos: “A great feeling.”

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com,

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Friday, July 29, 2011

OAKLAND, Calif. — The theory going into this week was that if the Rays didn’t get back into the postseason race, they were likely to consider trading a number of veterans before Sunday’s 4 p.m. deadline for nonwaiver deals.

But manager Joe Maddon said Thursday that he doesn’t expect them to make many, or even any, deals.

“I know how this thing works,” Maddon said. “But I really would anticipate that we’re probably going to have the same guys over the next week or two weeks or three weeks or four weeks.”

That would include CF B.J. Upton, who has been the subject of rampant trade speculation, with the Braves surfacing again. Of course, executive vice president Andrew Friedman, who remained at the Trop to work through the deadline, may decide otherwise, and players such as Upton, DH Johnny Damon, RHP Kyle Farnsworth and other relievers and any of their starters except LHP David Price could end up moved.

Upton, who returned to the lineup after Wednesday’s unexpected day off, said he does not expect to be dealt, noting trades that sent Carlos Beltran to the Giants, Colby Rasmus to the Jays and Kosuke Fukudome to the Indians.

“Nobody else needs a centerfielder; everybody that needed a centerfielder just got one,” Upton said. “… I still don’t think I’m going anywhere.”

Upton, who hit several balls hard before homering in the eighth Thursday, said there was nothing wrong with his left quad, which was reported to be tight.

Maddon said he never interferes in trade talks during his frequent conversations with Friedman, but he would like to keep the current group together.

“At the end of the day, I always want the guys that I’ve got,” he said. “I always believe the guys we’ve got here are capable. And maybe like a week or 10 days ago, everybody felt the same way. We’ve had a couple bad days and all of a sudden people want to blow things up. I’m not cut from that cloth. I’ll say it again, I still believe there’s a good run in us.”

ON THE OTHER HAND: The Rays did make a deal Thursday, sending INF Felipe Lopez, the 10-year veteran who had been playing at Triple-A Durham to Milwaukee for cash considerations.

Lopez, who had two stints with the Rays (including one when he was benched for lack of hustle), was hitting .305 with seven homers and 37 RBIs for the Bulls. The Brewers needed help after 2B Rickie Weeks was injured Wednesday, though Lopez initially will report to Triple-A Nashville.

COME ON DOWN: RHP Mike Ekstrom was the latest member of the bullpen shuffle, summoned from Triple A (and flown in early Thursday) to replace RHP Rob Delaney, who on Wednesday replaced RHP Jay Buente, who on Tuesday replaced Cesar Ramos.

The shuttling is being done to compensate for being shorthanded, as they are carrying only six relievers, to make sure there is always a fresh arm to handle multiple innings, so each reliever has been sent down after being used.

Ekstrom looked headed for extensive duty Thursday, and thus a trip back, when Davis struggled in the first inning. But Ekstrom wasn’t used and instead got to accompany the Rays to Seattle, near his family’s Oregon home.

“I’m a big Wade Davis fan after he got through the six innings,” Ekstrom said.

MISCELLANY: Fifth-round draft pick 3B J.D. Davis is close to signing, as is 28th-round C Blake Grant-Parks. … 2B/RF Ben Zobrist extended his hitting streak to eight games. … Elliot Johnson was to start at shortstop Thursday but since he played four innings in Wednesday’s loss Maddon switched back to Sean Rodriguez.

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Thursday, July 28, 2011

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Rays seem to have found a way to make their shorthanded bullpen work.

They keep bringing in fresh arms.

For the second straight day, and the fourth time in 10 days, the Rays on Wednesday brought up a reliever from Triple-A Durham to take a spot on the six-man staff, and they will do so again for today’s game.

“We thought we could deal with it,” manager Joe Maddon said. “And we have been able to, the fact that we have all these different candidates that can fulfill that role.”

The new reliever of the day Wednesday was RHP Rob Delaney, who worked three innings in their 13-4 loss to Oakland. Delaney took the place of RHP Jay Buente, who came up Tuesday and worked two innings after LHP Cesar Ramos had been sent down. (All three have been in the same locker.)

The Rays went through a similar routine last week, when they brought up LHP Alex Torres and pitched him, then replaced him with RHP Dane De La Rosa, then sent him down to make room for RHP Wade Davis‘ return from the disabled list.

Delaney, 26, who was put right to work as starter James Shields lasted only four innings, didn’t stick around long, as he was sent back to the minors after allowing three runs. The Rays did not announce who would be coming up today.

“Rob sucking up those three (innings) were huge for us,” Maddon said.

Delaney pitched extremely well for the Bulls, working on a 172/3-inning scoreless streak. He was 2-0 with two saves, 18 strikeouts and three walks in 10 July appearances (14 innings) and allowed a .109 average. Overall he was 4-1, 1.78 in 35 games for Durham. He spent two weeks with the Rays in May, making three appearances, two good, the other not so much.

Delaney got a call at 9:30 Wednesday morning that he was being called up, caught a 12:40 p.m. flight to Detroit and then another to San Francisco and arrived a half-hour before the game. Afterward, he was making plans to head back this morning.

“It went by fast,” Delaney said.

Maddon said he didn’t get word from executive VP Andrew Friedman until well after Tuesday’s game that they were making the latest change, so he had to deliver the news to Buente in unusual fashion. Buente, who had flown from Durham to Miami and then to San Francisco, had already gone back to the hotel, and since Maddon wanted to talk in person he found Buente in the hotel bar.

The Rays are going with six relievers because they are using six starters as a way to limit innings. They believed it would work given how infrequently RHP Andy Sonnanstine, the seventh reliever for the first half of the season, was used.

MOORE WOWS: Top prospect Matt Moore, in his second Triple-A start, struck out 13 Gwinnett Braves in eight innings and allowed only three hits and two walks and one runner past first. He threw 104 pitches. … SS Reid Brignac was 3-for-4 in his first game for the Bulls after his Friday demotion. He had one three-hit game for the Rays all season.

DRAFT BREEZE: Third-round draft pick SS Johnny Eierman, an LSU commitment from Warsaw High in Missouri, signed for $550,000 according to Baseball America, more than double the recommended slot bonus.

MISCELLANY: Ben Zobrist extended his hitting streak to seven games. … Elliot Johnson is scheduled to start at shortstop today. … Maddon, who has had issues with several calls this season, said he was pleased to see MLB issue a statement acknowledging the blown call in Tuesday’s Pirates-Braves game. … According to Stats Inc., 3B Evan Longoria this week became the fourth player in the past 55 years to strike out four or more times one day and draw four or more walks the next.

[Last modified: Jul 28, 2011 02:18 AM]

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Sunday, July 24, 2011

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Rays appeared to be quite right about Desmond Jennings, who made an electrifying season debut Saturday.

But the night ended up once again being about all they did wrong, losing another game they had ample opportunities to win, 5-4 in 10 innings to the Royals.

Closer Kyle Farnsworth blew a one-run lead with two outs in the ninth, the hitters showed more staggering futility as they loaded the bases to start the 10th and got nothing out of it, then Brandon Gomes lost it on just two pitches.

Manager Joe Maddon acknowledged before the game the Rays (52-47) were in a “kind of limbo position” regarding their postseason possibilities and the looming trade deadline, and a second straight loss to the lowly Royals didn’t help as they stayed 6½ games behind the wild-card-leading Yankees and dropped 9½ behind the first-place Red Sox in the AL East.

“This is a game that we had, we had so many different ways, and we did not win it,” Maddon said. “Can’t do that. Can’t do that.”

“We should have won it,” said centerfielder B.J. Upton, whose fate could be most affected by a fall from the race. “Bottom line.”

With Jennings tripling and doubling in his first two at-bats, then later showing his blazing speed by scoring from first on a routine double, the Rays took a 4-3 lead into the ninth and seemed set to reward Jeff Niemann for his solid six-inning outing in the sweltering heat (101 degrees at first pitch, feels-like of 105).

But Farnsworth failed first, allowing a one-out walk and a two-out double to Alex Gordon to tie it, blowing his fourth save.

Evan Longoria and Upton walked to open the 10th and Matt Joyce singled, but Casey Kotchman grounded back to the mound, then both pinch-hitter Sam Fuld and Elliot Johnson went down looking at strike three from Joakim Soria.

Maddon said he “really believed” Fuld would at least put the ball in play. Johnson said he knew in retrospect he should have: “I’ve got to get the bat off my shoulder.”

Those failures, though, are routine. They also had the bases loaded in the first and didn’t score and the first two on in the fourth, leaving 11 on total, going 4-for-18 with runners in scoring position and striking out a season-high 15 times.

“Those are the things that are really biting us badly,” Maddon said.

The end came quickly in the 10th, Billy Butler blooping a single on Gomes’ first fastball and Eric Hosmer lining a double on his second.

“Certainly something we should have won,” Johnson said.

Jennings at least provided a sense of excitement, which may be all the Rays have to offer in August and September. He reached his first four times up — two extra-base hits, two walks — showing off the athleticism and instincts the Rays believe can make him an impact player.

“Desmond had a wonderful day,” Maddon said.

Jennings, who hit .190 in 17 games last season, will get the chance to play every day, primarily in leftfield (unless Upton is traded) and at least initially at the top of the order. He was promoted Friday night after hitting .275 with 12 homers, 39 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 89 games at Triple-A Durham.

Despite spending three seasons at Durham, accruing nearly 1,000 plate appearances (and hitting .283 with an .806 OPS), Jennings, 24, insisted he wasn’t frustrated by the lack of progress or doubting his future.

“I figured I’d get here when they felt like it was time for me to be here,” he said. “I feel as though I did enough for them to call me up. I wasn’t frustrated at all. … You can only control what you can control. I wasn’t really thinking about it. I was just playing in Durham. I was enjoying it. I’m glad I’m not there now.”

[Last modified: Jul 24, 2011 12:16 AM]

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Friday, July 22, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — After watching James Shields outduel CC Sabathia in pitching the Rays to an important 2-1 win over the Yankees on Thursday night, manager Joe Maddon was quick with his answer to the pressing question of the veteran right-hander possibly being traded:

“I really don’t see him going anywhere,” Maddon said.

Besides, after perusing the box score, Maddon had a question of his own. “You look at his record, 9-8. How is that possible?” Maddon said. “How is that possible? You see Sabathia 14-5; that’s what Shieldsy’s record should look like.”

The reason is obvious, given the Rays’ often-anemic offense. And that’s what made Thursday’s win, before an enthusiastic 29,279 at Tropicana Field, even more impressive. For the 10th time in Shields’ 21 starts, the Rays got him no more than two runs — on Evan Longoria’s frustration-powered homer in the first and a Sam Fuld triple in the fifth. But Shields, against the Bronx Bombers no less, made it stand up, with help from relievers Brandon Gomes and Kyle Farns­worth.

“You have to outpitch a guy like Sabathia to win the game that night,” Maddon said. “James was absolutely fantastic.”

The Rays (52-45) needed him to be. The win allowed them to split the series and take some satisfaction in going 4-6 (including two 1-0 losses) in their 10-game All-Star-break spanning gantlet against the Yankees and Red Sox. It also left them 5½ games out of the AL wild card and 7½ from first in the East with 65 to play as they head out on a 10-game road trip that takes them through the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline.

“We talked about trying to win this game in order to give us some momentum going forward on the road,” Longoria said. “This is one of those defining stretches of the season, where you look to the schedule and say, ‘This is kind of a make-or-break point for us.’ … We still have plenty of games left, with the amount of games that we’re back, to make up ground and continue to push for the postseason.”

The win was also important for Shields, who had lost his past four starts, including 1-0 to the Yankees and Sabathia on July 10, the only scoring on Shields’ errant pickoff throw.

“That was a good battle tonight,” Shields said. “It’s nice to come out with a win, especially with what happened last time we faced each other in New York. Anytime you’re going to face CC, you’re going to go through a battle, and fortunately for us we got just enough runs to win the ball game.”

Shields repeated after the game what he said the day before, that he doesn’t want to be traded: “This is the team I want to play for.”

The Cardinals and Reds have already been identified as interested, and the Tigers surfaced Thursday as another possibility.

The Rays didn’t figure to get much against 31st-birthday boy Sabathia, who had won his past seven starts. Longoria’s homer, his first in 10 games, gave them a charge and some confidence (they are 38-10 when scoring first). They made it 2-0 in the fifth when Elliot Johnson drew a two-out walk, and Fuld, starting ahead of All-Star Matt Joyce, laced a triple.

Shields took them into the eighth before allowing a run (lowering his ERA to 2.53), then Gomes, the rookie, got one big out (Nick Swisher, with the tying run on second), and Farns­worth the final three.

“I felt,” Shields said, “like this was an important game to win.”

[Last modified: Jul 22, 2011 12:06 AM]

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