The Tampa Bay Rays have been extremely successful in producing quality home grown talent in their short 15-year history.

The Rays — were heralded as having the second best farm system in 2011 by Baseball America — have continually developed top-notch talent through their minor leagues. A few examples include current Rays’ David Price, Matt Moore, Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton.

This article will look at five players in the Rays’ system who could have an impact in the near future.

Chris Archer – relief pitcher

After dominating the minor leagues in 2009 and 2010, Archer took a step back in 2011.

The 23-year old Archer — the Rays number three prospect — was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in 2011 as part of the Matt Garza transaction. Archer could reach the majors later in 2012 if he improves his control as well as his strikeout totals.

Archer — possesses a major league quality fastball and slider — was effective in his three innings of work (.100 batting average against) though he did have control issues (three walks).

In 2011, Archer posted a 9-7 record with a 4.09 ERA with 130 strikeouts and 86 free passes in 147.1 innings. While his strikeout total wasn’t awful it was lower than his two most productive years of 2009 and 2010. Archer — a combined 21-7 with 268 strikeouts and 121 walks in 251.1 innings in 2009 and 2010 — has averaged 4.7 strikeouts and 2.6 walks per game in his last three seasons.

Tim Beckham – shortstop

The 22-year old Beckham — the overall number one draft pick in 2008 — will start 2012 at triple-A Durham. Beckham played for Team USA in the XM Futures game in 2011 and was tabbed as the seventh best prospect by Baseball America prior to 2012. Baseball America also named Beckham as having the best arm in the entire Rays organization for a third straight year.

Beckham — set career highs in offensive numbers in 2011 — started to show the power last year that has always been expected of him. Beckham hit .271 with 12 homers, 70 RBI and 17 stolen bases last season while spending time with double-A Montgomery and triple-A Durham

Beckham — 2-for-12 with Durham so far in 2012 — struggled in his 24 spring training at-bats as he recorded just one hit. Beckham isn’t expected to arrive in Tampa until 2013

Cole Figueroa- utility

The 24-year old Figueroa was acquired by the Rays as part of the deal that sent shortstop Jason Bartlett to San Diego in 2010. Figueroa — is off to a sizzling start to the year at double-A Montgomery — is probably the most major league ready of any of the five prospects listed here.

Figueroa — 1-for 1 during spring training — is currently batting .500 (6-for-12) with a 1 homer, two doubles and 6 RBIs. Figueroa hit .283 with 5 homers and 51 RBIs in 2011.

Figueroa — can play both second and short — has good knowledge of the strike zone and has decent speed.

Hak- Ju Lee – shortstop

The 21-year old Lee was acquired by the Rays in the deal that sent pitcher Matt Garza to the Chicago Cubs in 2011. As long as Lee — is superb with the glove— continues to hit he could reach the majors before Beckham.

Lee — currently hitting .333 (4-for-12) with 2 RBIs at double-A Montgomery — hit .278 with 4 RBIs in 18 spring training at-bats.

Lee – named the Florida State’s League most exciting player by Baseball America following the 2011 season — has been selected to participate in the Futures game twice.

Mikie Mahtook – outfielder

The 22-year old Mahtook made his major league debut in the 2011 Arizona Fall League after being selected by the Rays with the 31^st pick in the 2011 draft as a junior out of LSU.

Mahtook — a very good all-around hitter — is off to a fast start with the high single-A Charlotte Stone Crabs in 2012. Mahtook is currently hitting .455 (3-11) with 3 RBIs and 1 stolen base to go along with 2 walks. In 18 AFL games with Saguaros, Mahtook hit .338 with 3 homers with 14 RBIs and 5 stolen bases in 78 plate appearances.

Daniel Benjamin has played fantasy baseball for three years.

Source:

MLB.com

MILB.com

Baseball America

Editor’s note: The News periodically catches up with
former prep stars as their careers have continued beyond the varsity level. 

As he prepares for his second
full season in the Tampa Bay Rays’ minor league system, Austin Hubbard wonders
where he will land in 2012.

“I have no idea,” Hubbard said via a phone interview from Port
Charlotte, Fla., the Rays’ spring training home. “I’m taking it one day at a
time and leaving the big decisions to the people who are paid to make those
decisions. I’m just trying to get batters out.

“I’ll find out in the next week what team I’ll make. It would be
good to take the next step up.”

The “next step up” would be with the Port Charlotte Stone Crabs,
the Rays’ high Class A affiliate in the Florida State League.

Hubbard, a 23-year-old right-hander, spent the 2011 season with
the low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Midwest League and put together a season
worthy of a promotion. He compiled a 5-3 record with a 2.51 earned-run average
and 10 saves in 46 relief appearances. He almost had 2-1 strikeout-to-walk
ratio with 68 strikeouts and 35 walks in 68 innings pitched.

“I think I had a pretty good season,” Hubbard said. “I learned how
simple the game is and to try not to think about things too much. It’s about
throwing good pitches, keeping the ball down in the strike zone, mixing your
pitches and forcing guys to make contact.”

Hubbard was the Rays’ 14th-round pick in the 2010 draft out of
Auburn. He served as Auburn’s closer, recording 10 saves and finishing with a
team-best 2.44 ERA his senior season.

Before going to Auburn, Hubbard played baseball and football at
Homewood High School. He played quarterback for the Patriots and led them to
back-to-back Class 5A football championships in 2004 and 2005, the latter being
Homewood’s only undefeated season (15-0) in school history.

Despite his success on the gridiron, Hubbard
is glad he chose baseball instead of football.

“God blessed me with a passion for this game,” he said. “I love
it. If you didn’t love it, you couldn’t make
it the minor leagues with those long bus rides, getting in at 9 or 10 in the
morning and playing a night game after a couple hours of sleep. I enjoy every
second of it.”

After signing with the Rays in 2010, Hubbard was assigned to the
Hudson Valley Renegades in the short-season New York-Penn League. He made 19
relief appearances, posting a 3-1 record with a 0.39 ERA, 12 saves, 25
strikeouts and nine walks in 23 1/3 innings.

He was named to the midseason New York-Penn League All-Star team.

Although he has averaged more than a strikeout per inning pitched
in the minors, the 6-foot-2, 206-pound Hubbard is not a power pitcher. He
relies mainly on a sinker and a slider, and this spring has been developing a
changeup.

He throws his fastball anywhere from 86 to 93 mph, sitting consistently at
88-90 mph. ”For the most part, I’m able to use my fastball more
than I did in college,” Hubbard said. “It makes it a lot easier that the
hitters are using wooden bats instead of medal bats. But you still have to
locate it and be able to throw your second and third pitches for strikes
because all these guys can hit a fastball.”

Hubbard expects to continue relieving no matter where he winds up
this season.

“Last year I closed a little bit, set up a little bit and pitched
in the middle innings a little bit,” he said.

“The later in the game you pitch your heart beats a little more
and the adrenaline flows when you’ve got to get that last out, but ultimately
you have to make good pitches to get guys out, whether it’s the sixth inning or
the ninth inning.”

During the offseason, Hubbard lived in Auburn and worked out.

“It was nice and relaxing,” he said. “I got to see some of the
guys I played with in college. I’d come home to Homewood on a lot of weekends
and do baseball lessons with younger kids.”

Just before he reported to spring training at the end of February,
Hubbard practiced with the Homewood baseball team with the consent of Patriots
head coach Doug Gann and assistant coach Keith Brown.

“It was gracious of Coach Gann and Coach Brown to let me throw
some bullpens and hang out and talk with the guys,” Hubbard said.

“It’s baseball. It doesn’t matter whether you’re 23 like me or 16
like some of them, you still have to throw strikes, hit the ball and catch the
ball.”

Nov 14, 2011

| Orlando Sentinel

Central Florida Varsity the Blog – Orlando Sentinel

Olympia High School teammates Walker Weickel and Jesse Winker and Eustis High’s Chris Okey find themselves teammates on the USA Baseball 18-and-under team. The team has spent the past week playing exhibition games and preparing for play at the AAA  Pan…

Nov 14, 2011

|Story| Orlando Sentinel

Nov 4, 2011

| Orlando Sentinel

Swamp Things – Gators Blog – Orlando Sentinel

Thursday brought a resolution in the cases of two UF football players. Cornerback Marcus Roberson agreed to deferred prosecution for a September arrest for underage drinking. He will pay $50 in court costs and has the option to either pay $100 to Peaceful…

Nov 5, 2011

|Story| El Sentinel

AGENCIAS COMBINADAS

El ex lanzador de Grandes Ligas Roger Clemens podría jugar con los Indios de Mayagüez en la Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico, publicó el periódico El Nuevo Día.

Clemens, uno de los mejores lanzadores en la historia, participó en un…

Tags:

Joakim Soria,
Derek Lowe,
C.C. Sabathia,
Fausto Carmona,
Jason Frasor

Nov 3, 2011

|Column| Orlando Sentinel

The St. Louis Cardinals deserved that World Series win in one of the most exciting matchups ever. It’s too bad that someone (the Texas Rangers) had to lose. The Cards have 11 World Series championships, the most of any team in the National League. Who’s…

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Margin Call (movie),
Lionel Richie,
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Music,
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Oct 28, 2011

| Orlando Sentinel

The TV Guy – Orlando Sentinel

Sunday’s lineup is packed with strong dramas. I can tell you “The Walking Dead,” at 9 on AMC, delivers another harrowing hour. The episode mixes disturbing action scenes with wrenching moments of family drama. The hour concludes with another shocker…

Oct 28, 2011

|Story| Orlando Sentinel

Patricia Shaughnessy was a devoted Boston Red Sox fan. In 1946, at age 12, she was glued to the radio listening to a baseball game, heart pounding, when she asked her mother: “If I say the rosary, will Ted Williams hit a home run?”

“My mother, an Irish…

Tags:

Roman Catholicism,
Government,
Boston Red Sox,
Literature,
Mergers, Acquisitions and Takeovers

Oct 28, 2011

|Story| Orlando Sentinel

Dallas TV station KFDW jumped the gun on Thursday night by sending out a text alert during the ninth inning of Game 6 of the World Series that prematurely proclaimed the Texas Rangers as champions.

The Rangers, who led St. Louis in the ninth and tenth…

Tags:

David Freese,
Television Industry,
FOX (tv network)

Oct 25, 2011

| Orlando Sentinel

Sentinel Sports Now – Orlando Sentinel

Devon La Russa, daughter of St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, deleted an offensive tweet on her twitter account @devonkai in reference to Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington, Yahoo! Sports caught….

Oct 11, 2011

|Column| Orlando Sentinel

Oct 25, 2011

|Story| Orlando Sentinel

This is the transcript, as provided by Major League Baseball, of the press conference Sunday in which Ken Griffey Jr. was given the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award in Arlington, Texas, before Game 4 of the World Series.

Harold Reynolds, who was…

Tags:

Kirby Puckett,
American League,
World Series,
Rickey Henderson,
Willie Mays

Oct 25, 2011

|Story| Orlando Sentinel

For the second time in his six year career as manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, Joe Maddon was named American League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

The announcement on Wednesday, November 16, came as no surprise to baseball fans who watched the upstart Rays defy the odds in earning the AL Widcard on the final day of the regular season. Maddon, who also won the award in 2008 when he guided Tampa Bay to its only World Series appearance, received 26 of 28 first place votes to become the overwhelming selection.

Jim Leyland of the Detroit Tigers finished a distant second, with the Texas Rangers’ Ron Washington coming in third place.

In spite of entering 2011 as reigning AL East champs, not much was expected of the Rays. Due to financial limitations imposed by ownership because of attendance struggles, the team drastically cut payroll. The $71 million budget that led to Tampa Bay’s 96 win season in 2010 was mercilessly slashed to $41 million for 2011—second lowest in baseball, ahead of only the Kansas City Royals.

As a result, numerous veterans were not retained during the prior off-season, including former all-stars Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, and Jason Bartlett, as well as 2008 ALCS MVP Matt Garza.

To compensate, the 58 year-old Maddon shrewdly oversaw the team experiment with any means available, provided it did not involve opening up the checkbook. These measures included the use of multiple lineups, platoons at catcher and left field, calling up vaunted rookies like Desmond Jennings, position changes like the move of Sean Rodriguez from second base to shortstop, and signing free agent overachievers off the scrapheap, such as Casey Kotchman.

In no area was Joe Maddon more challenged than overseeing the rebuilding of the team’s bullpen. Though his vaunted starters were largely immune because of their youth, the Rays had experienced a near total departure of its bullpen, with Rafael Soriano, Grant Balfour, Joaquin Benoit, Chad Qualls, and Dan Wheeler all departing for richer pastures.

In place of these veterans, Tampa Bay gradually pieced together a solid bullpen during the course of the 2011 season. Rookies Brandon Gomes and Jake McGee made positive impacts and both look like keepers. However, more surprisingly was the success of Maddon’s various reclamation projects, including Kyle Farnsworth turning into one of the game’s most reliable closers.

Despite all of these individual achievements, Joe Maddon’s greatest trick was convincing his team that they were still in the pennant race when the calendar reached September. Overcoming an 0-6 start, much of 2011 was actually quite rocky for the Tampa Bay Rays, who endured several losing streaks and saw Manny Ramirez retire abruptly after failing a PED test.

However, Maddon’s squad peaked at the perfect time and historically overcame a 9 game deficit as late as September 3rd. While the Boston Red Sox were collapsing during September, the Rays went 17-10 when games mattered the most. Tampa Bay’s never-say-die attitude certainly originated from its quirky manager, a mad scientist who stays positive in the face of all obstacles and obsessively focuses on team unity.

Playing in the same division as the New York Yankees, there is little doubt that equally daunting tasks await the Rays in 2012. If anything, the team’s finances may have declined. Yet, fans can take comfort in knowing that a two-time manager of the year is in charge.

Hopefully, the Tampa Bay Rays can still afford to pay him.

Source:

Yahoo! Sports, About.com

More by Jeff Briscoe from Yahoo! Contributor Network:

Contract Decisions Approach for Tampa Bay Rays

Rays Reach Baseball’s Playoffs on Magical Night

Jeff Briscoe is a dad of three kids and a follower of the Tampa Bay Rays. He hopes the franchise can keep baseball viable in the Sunshine State until his own children can wear the uniform and usher in the golden age of baseball in Florida.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Angels remain highly interested in Tampa Bay General Manager Andrew Friedman, but their chances of luring the 34-year-old executive away from the Rays are slim, according to people familiar with the team’s GM search who are not authorized to speak publicly on the topic.

Owner Arte Moreno and team president John Carpino met last week in Florida with Friedman, who has helped build the small-market Rays into perennial playoff contenders despite extremely limited resources — their $42-million payroll this season was less than one-third of the $142 million the Angels spent on players.

Friedman appears to be the favored candidate to replace Tony Reagins, who was fired as GM two days after the season.

But Friedman’s loyalty to Tampa Bay owner Stuart Sternberg, who has referred to Friedman as “a partner,” appears to be the biggest obstacle to the Angels luring him to Anaheim.

If the Angels are able to land Friedman, he would be offered a position as club president, with the team likely hiring one of its other finalists as GM, a hierarchy similar to the one the Chicago Cubs used to lure GM Theo Epstein from the Boston Red Sox.

In addition to Friedman, the Angels have formally interviewed Jerry Dipoto, Arizona’s senior vice president for scouting and player development; New York Yankees executives Damon Oppenheimer (vice president of amateur scouting) and Billy Eppler (director of professional scouting); Chicago White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn; and former New York Mets GM Omar Minaya.

Former Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng, who is now a senior vice president for baseball operations with Major League Baseball, will be interviewed this week.

The Angels hope to interview Texas assistant GM Thad Levine after the Rangers finish the World Series. Former Dodgers GM Dan Evans is being considered for the job but has not been formally interviewed.

The Angels sought permission to interview Detroit Tigers assistant GM Al Avila and Florida vice president of player personnel Dan Jennings but were denied.

The team did not seek permission to interview San Diego Manager Bud Black, the former Angels pitching coach who was on a front-office track with the Cleveland Indians before joining Manager Mike Scioscia’s staff in 2000.

The Angels are expected to narrow their list of finalists and conduct a second round of interviews this week, and they hope to have a GM in place by early next week.

The new GM will be given the authority to hire a new assistant GM, player personnel director and farm director.

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

twitter.com/MikeDiGiovanna

Starting pitcher James Shields(notes) has been with the Tampa Bay Rays since breaking into the big leagues in 2006. He’s won 72, lost 63, struck out 1,027, and maintained an ERA of 3.96 along the way. Shields had his best season yet in 2011, winning 16, striking out 225, and posting a 2.82 ERA – all career highs.

This offseason, ESPN reports, there is another team in the Sunshine State that would also like to have him on its roster. The site reports that the Florida Marlins are thinking of making a “serious run” at getting Shields from the Rays.

One of the players that could help make that deal happen, the site notes, is Logan Morrison(notes), who fell out of favor with the Marlins after he made it clear that he wasn’t a fan of the management there.

Don’t forget to follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.

Source: ESPN

Related: Florida Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays

MIAMI – Baseball fans in South Florida wish they had a team like the Tampa Bay Rays.

“They are the most refreshing team in Major League Baseball,” says Mike Levine, host of a baseball talk show on Miami radio station WQAM. “The Marlins should emulate the Rays. They have a payroll far less than the Marlins.”

But even as the Rays overachieve on the field, the Marlins are getting what the Rays have wanted for years: a new ballpark. It’s a 37,000 seat stadium with a retractable roof on the edge of Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.

“I like it. It’s beautiful,” says Little Havana resident and Cuban Immigrant Raul Rodriquez.

The $515 million dollar ballpark is more than 80 percent complete.

“It will promote urban sprawl,” says Marlins president David Samson. But in this case, he says, urban sprawl will be good.

Samson and other stadium backers believe the ballpark will be an economic engine to create a new business district, stretching more than a mile from Downtown Miami to the stadium in Little Havana.

How Miami Is Paying

Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is kicking in around $155 million for the ballpark. Most of the rest is being bankrolled by Miami-Dade County. The local government issued bonds backed by the county’s tourist tax, mostly collected from visitors to the area.

The county owns the stadium, and the Marlins have a 35-year lease.

The team has played for years in what used to be known as Joe Robbie stadium, home of the Dolphins, designed mainly for football. With no roof, the Marlins and their fans have suffered through countless rainouts and rain delays.

The team, now under its third owner, has fought long and hard for a new ballpark. But, not everyone is a fan of the deal that was finally done.

The Man Who Cried Foul

Norman Braman, owner of numerous car dealerships in south Florida, filed a lawsuit to stop the stadium deal.

“I’m against corporate welfare,” says Braman, who once owned the Philadelphia Eagles.

Braman’s suit was dismissed. But he later led a successful campaign to remove the Miami-Dade mayor from office. Among other things, the recalled mayor supported the stadium deal.

“It’s just not right for the taxpayers to have to bear the burden of constructing sports stadiums when these teams have a great value themselves,” he says.

Braman fought for a public vote on the ballpark, but he was unable to get one. He believes if a vote had happened, “It would have gone down overwhelmingly.”

“No government action gets 100 percent approval,” says Samson. “This deal was done without creating any new taxes.”

Can It Happen Here?

In the Tampa Bay area, the Tourist Tax is paying for part of the debt on Tropicana Field. It’s scheduled to be paid off in 2015. But it’s not clear if Pinellas County Commissioners will extend the tax to pay for a new stadium.

Commissioner Norm Roche has suggested using the money to maintain county parks, or to renourish beaches.

The outlook is further complicated with talk that the Rays could be more successful in Tampa or Hillsborough County. St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster opposes any move out of Pinellas because of the team’s long-term contract with the city and the Trop.

Do They Talk?

The new Miami ballpark is similar to the one the Rays would want, with a retractable roof and relatively small seating capacity. And, the ownership in Miami knows a thing or two about a hard fight for a new stadium, including legal battles.

The president of the Marlins is good friends with the owner of the Rays, Stuart Sternberg. It’s not going out on a limb to speculate they may discuss their common challenges. When I asked Samson what advice he’s given Sternberg, he said, “Not anything I’d like to share publicly right now.”

But, the Rays may look for advice from across the state. As Miami’s quest for a new ballpark moves to conclusion, Tampa Bay’s is just beginning.
 

Updated Sep 28, 2011 12:54 AM ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)

Strong pitching, solid defense and just enough offense. Call it the Rays way.

Tampa Bay continued its improbable bid for the AL wild card with a 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, taking the chase down to the last night of the regular season after getting home runs from Matt Joyce and Ben Zobrist and turning a triple play that helped them stay in the game.

Seeking their third playoff berth in four seasons, the Rays are tied with Boston after making up nine games in the standings since Sept. 4.

The Red Sox beat Baltimore 8-7, and if the teams remain tied after Wednesday’s season finales, they will meet in a one-game playoff Thursday at Tropicana Field.

”We don’t feel like we have anything to lose. We’ve had a great run,” Zobrist said. ”We’re hoping to cap it with a playoff berth.”

Joyce’s three-run homer off former teammate Rafael Soriano (2-3) was the All-Star’s first in more than three weeks and it wiped out a 3-2 deficit in the seventh. Zobrist hit a two-run drive off Bartolo Colon in the second, and the Rays kept the score close by turning the third triple play in franchise history after falling behind in the sixth.

”Everybody’s thirsty for offense, and we’d like to score more,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. ”But we’re built around pitching and defense.”

Jake McGee (4-2) pitched one scoreless inning to get the win. With a crowd of 22,820 standing and cheering, Kyle Farnsworth got the final three outs for his 25th save in 31 chances. The victory was the fourth straight for Tampa Bay, which trailed the Red Sox by nine games before battling back into the wild-card race.

”Catching Boston was a big thing, but we still haven’t accomplished what we set out to do from the beginning of spring training,” Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon said.

Russell Martin hit a solo homer for the Yankees in the third, but also grounded into the triple play that helped Jeremy Hellickson escape further damage after Nick Swisher’s RBI double gave New York a 3-2 lead in the sixth.

The Yankees, who clinched the division title and homefield advantage throughout the AL playoffs last week, rested Derek Jeter and plan to play most – if not all – of their regular lineup again on Wednesday. Manager Joe Girardi remained undecided on a starting pitcher for the finale, but it figures to be a reliever.

New York general manager Brian Cashman reiterated how nice it is to be in a position to not have to go down to the wire.

”I’m not pulling for anybody. I know I’m glad that we were able to do what we did,” Cashman said. ”I know that both parties involved, Boston and Tampa Bay, are having sleepless nights. They’re hungry. Rather than have to live to through it, I think both want to fast forward it to see what happens. I’ve been there.”

Zobrist has homered five times in his last 10 games after going 39 games without hitting one. Martin’s solo homer trimmed the early lead to 2-1, and the Yankees tied it in the fourth when Brett Gardner, who had singled, scored from third as Curtis Granderson grounded into a double play.

New York wasted a couple of opportunities to take charge against Hellickson, who allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. Mark Teixeira flied to right field with the bases loaded to end the third, and the Yankees also failed to score with the bases filled in the sixth, when Martin grounded into the 5-4-3 triple play.

After Swisher’s RBI double, Jorge Posada drew an intentional walk to load the bases against Hellickson with no outs. The rookie escaped the jam when Martin hit a sharp grounder to third baseman Evan Longoria, who stepped on the bag and threw to second baseman Zobrist for the second out. Zobrist’s relay to first arrived ahead of Martin, who dived head first into the base.

”What I was hoping for was maybe a double play and giving up one run,” Maddon said. ”But my God, how do you even envision a triple play. We were very fortunate with that. The ball was hit in a perfect spot.”

Girardi agreed.

”You can’t hit it in a more perfect spot,” he said. ”That was a big break for them.”

Colon allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings. Girardi used four relievers – Soriano, Cory Wade, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera – in their final tuneup for the playoffs.

”We’re professionals. We try to win every game,” Martin said. ”We want to play these guys tough. They just had our number today.”

Notes: The Rays played without 1B Casey Kotchman, who was scratched from the lineup after experiencing chest tightness and being taken to a hospital for precautionary tests. The team said all of the tests were negative. … Damon singled in the second inning, moving past Lou Gehrig into sole possession of 57th place on the career hits list with 2,722. … Tampa Bay and Boston both are trying to become the first team to start a season 0-6 and make the playoffs. … Cashman flew to Florida to take part in a postseason organizational meeting with Girardi and his coaching staff. More talks will take place Wednesday. … Girardi said it’s possible the Yankees will use three starters and have 10 or 11 pitchers overall for the opening playoff round. LHP CC Sabathia and RHP Ivan Nova will start Games 1 and 2. The Yankees have not announced their Game 3 starter. … Cashman confirmed that the New York Mets denied the Yankees request to have their Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre team play one season in Newark. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s stadium is undergoing major renovations.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Wade Davis(notes) went to a new pitch and finally had
success against the Boston Red Sox.

Davis threw a six-hitter, John Jaso(notes) hit a three-run homer and the Tampa Bay
Rays moved within 5 1/2 games of AL wild-card leading Boston with a 7-2 victory
over the Red Sox on Friday night.

“It’s actually the first time I’ve really started throwing a cutter,”
Davis said. “I’ve always thrown a slider and we just flattened it out a little
bit to stay in the strike zone more. It ended up being pretty effective.”

Davis (10-8) struck out eight in his second career complete game. The
right-hander, who had his other complete game on Sept. 17, 2009, had gone 0-2
with an 11.12 ERA in three previous starts against Boston. Tampa Bay pitchers
have 15 complete games this season.

“He had a pretty good cutter going,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.
“Threw it outside, inside and just ate us up.”

Jaso put the Rays ahead 3-0 with a three-run homer off John Lackey(notes) (12-12)
in the second. He entered 8 for 37 (.216) in 14 games since returning from
strained right oblique last month. Boston has lost five of six.

After two more games in Florida this weekend, the Red Sox will host Tampa
Bay in a four-games series that starts Thursday at Fenway Park.

“We do believe,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “It’s all about one at a
time. But obviously we have to make a big dent with these seven games.”

The Red Sox were without infielder Kevin Youkilis(notes), who returned to Boston to
have his sore hip examined by team doctors and undergo an MRI exam.

Francona said Youkilis has bursitis and received a cortisone shot. It has
not been determined if Youkilis will rejoin the team Saturday or wait in Boston
for the start of a homestand that begins.Tuesday.

Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon(notes) was back in the lineup after missing the
previous three games because of a sore right leg. He had an infield single
during the third that moved him past Doc Cramer into 62nd place on the all-time
hits with 2,706.

Damon and Matt Joyce(notes) had RBI singles in the third to made it 5-0. Jaso later
in the inning hit a two-out shot with the bases loaded off Lackey’s left leg,
but the pitcher recovered to picked up the ball and throw the Rays’ catcher out
at first.

Lackey left with a bruised calf and was replaced by Scott Atchison(notes) to start
the fourth. Lackey, who has lost three consecutive starts, gave up five runs,
five hits and three walks in a 69-pitch outing.

“It hit him good,” Francona said. “It’s sore.”

The Red Sox have not ruled out Lackey making his next scheduled start.

Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an RBI infield
during a two-run sixth that got Boston within 5-2. The other run scored on Marco
Scutaro’s(notes) sacrifice fly.

“They don’t quit,” Maddon said of Boston. “They have the heart of a
champion.”

The Rays got both runs back in the bottom of the sixth on RBI doubles by
Reid Brignac(notes) and Evan Longoria(notes).

Notes: Tampa Bay has won 19 in a row when scoring five runs or more. …The
Rays are just the fifth AL team since 2000 to reach 15 complete games in the
same season. . … Francona said RHP’s Clay Buchholz(notes) (lower back) and Josh
Beckett(notes) (sprained right ankle) are making progress. A schedule for when Buchholz
could throw off a bullpen mound may be determined this weekend. … Boston
recalled Atchison from Triple-A Pawtucket before the game. … Red Sox RHP Kyle
Weiland(notes) (0-1) and Tampa Bay RHP Jeremy Hellickson(notes) (12-10) are Saturday’s
scheduled starters.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Wade Davis(notes) went to a new pitch and finally had
success against the Boston Red Sox.

Davis threw a six-hitter, John Jaso(notes) hit a three-run homer and the Tampa Bay
Rays moved within 5 1/2 games of AL wild-card leading Boston with a 7-2 victory
over the Red Sox on Friday night.

“It’s actually the first time I’ve really started throwing a cutter,”
Davis said. “I’ve always thrown a slider and we just flattened it out a little
bit to stay in the strike zone more. It ended up being pretty effective.”

Davis (10-8) struck out eight in his second career complete game. The
right-hander, who had his other complete game on Sept. 17, 2009, had gone 0-2
with an 11.12 ERA in three previous starts against Boston. Tampa Bay pitchers
have 15 complete games this season.

“He had a pretty good cutter going,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.
“Threw it outside, inside and just ate us up.”

Jaso put the Rays ahead 3-0 with a three-run homer off John Lackey(notes) (12-12)
in the second. He entered 8 for 37 (.216) in 14 games since returning from
strained right oblique last month. Boston has lost five of six.

After two more games in Florida this weekend, the Red Sox will host Tampa
Bay in a four-games series that starts Thursday at Fenway Park.

“We do believe,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “It’s all about one at a
time. But obviously we have to make a big dent with these seven games.”

The Red Sox were without infielder Kevin Youkilis(notes), who returned to Boston to
have his sore hip examined by team doctors and undergo an MRI exam.

Francona said Youkilis has bursitis and received a cortisone shot. It has
not been determined if Youkilis will rejoin the team Saturday or wait in Boston
for the start of a homestand that begins.Tuesday.

Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon(notes) was back in the lineup after missing the
previous three games because of a sore right leg. He had an infield single
during the third that moved him past Doc Cramer into 62nd place on the all-time
hits with 2,706.

Damon and Matt Joyce(notes) had RBI singles in the third to made it 5-0. Jaso later
in the inning hit a two-out shot with the bases loaded off Lackey’s left leg,
but the pitcher recovered to picked up the ball and throw the Rays’ catcher out
at first.

Lackey left with a bruised calf and was replaced by Scott Atchison(notes) to start
the fourth. Lackey, who has lost three consecutive starts, gave up five runs,
five hits and three walks in a 69-pitch outing.

“It hit him good,” Francona said. “It’s sore.”

The Red Sox have not ruled out Lackey making his next scheduled start.

Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an RBI infield
during a two-run sixth that got Boston within 5-2. The other run scored on Marco
Scutaro’s(notes) sacrifice fly.

“They don’t quit,” Maddon said of Boston. “They have the heart of a
champion.”

The Rays got both runs back in the bottom of the sixth on RBI doubles by
Reid Brignac(notes) and Evan Longoria(notes).

Notes: Tampa Bay has won 19 in a row when scoring five runs or more. …The
Rays are just the fifth AL team since 2000 to reach 15 complete games in the
same season. . … Francona said RHP’s Clay Buchholz(notes) (lower back) and Josh
Beckett(notes) (sprained right ankle) are making progress. A schedule for when Buchholz
could throw off a bullpen mound may be determined this weekend. … Boston
recalled Atchison from Triple-A Pawtucket before the game. … Red Sox RHP Kyle
Weiland(notes) (0-1) and Tampa Bay RHP Jeremy Hellickson(notes) (12-10) are Saturday’s
scheduled starters.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Sep. 9, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Wade Davis went to a new pitch and finally had success against the Boston Red Sox.

Davis threw a six-hitter, John Jaso hit a three-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays moved within 5½ games of AL wild-card leading Boston with a 7-2 victory over the Red Sox on Friday night.

“It’s actually the first time I’ve really started throwing a cutter,” Davis said. “I’ve always thrown a slider and we just flattened it out a little bit to stay in the strike zone more. It ended up being pretty effective.”

Davis (10-8) struck out eight in his second career complete game. The right-hander, who had his other complete game on Sept. 17, 2009, had gone 0-2 with an 11.12 ERA in three previous starts against Boston. Tampa Bay pitchers have 15 complete games this season.

“He had a pretty good cutter going,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “Threw it outside, inside and just ate us up.”

Jaso put the Rays ahead 3-0 with a three-run homer off John Lackey (12-12) in the second. He entered 8 for 37 (.216) in 14 games since returning from strained right oblique last month. Boston has lost five of six.

After two more games in Florida this weekend, the Red Sox will host Tampa Bay in a four-games series that starts Thursday at Fenway Park.

“We do believe,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “It’s all about one at a time. But obviously we have to make a big dent with these seven games.”

The Red Sox were without infielder Kevin Youkilis, who returned to Boston to have his sore hip examined by team doctors and undergo an MRI exam.

Francona said Youkilis has bursitis and received a cortisone shot. It has not been determined if Youkilis will rejoin the team Saturday or wait in Boston for the start of a homestand that begins.Tuesday.

Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon was back in the lineup after missing the previous three games because of a sore right leg. He had an infield single during the third that moved him past Doc Cramer into 62nd place on the all-time hits with 2,706.

Damon and Matt Joyce had RBI singles in the third to made it 5-0. Jaso later in the inning hit a two-out shot with the bases loaded off Lackey’s left leg, but the pitcher recovered to picked up the ball and throw the Rays’ catcher out at first.

Lackey left with a bruised calf and was replaced by Scott Atchison to start the fourth. Lackey, who has lost three consecutive starts, gave up five runs, five hits and three walks in a 69-pitch outing.

“It hit him good,” Francona said. “It’s sore.”

The Red Sox have not ruled out Lackey making his next scheduled start.

Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an RBI infield during a two-run sixth that got Boston within 5-2. The other run scored on Marco Scutaro’s sacrifice fly.

“They don’t quit,” Maddon said of Boston. “They have the heart of a champion.”

The Rays got both runs back in the bottom of the sixth on RBI doubles by Reid Brignac and Evan Longoria.

Notes

• Tampa Bay has won 19 in a row when scoring five runs or more.
• The Rays are just the fifth AL team since 2000 to reach 15 complete games in the same season.
• Francona said RHP’s Clay Buchholz (lower back) and Josh Beckett (sprained right ankle) are making progress. A schedule for when Buchholz could throw off a bullpen mound may be determined this weekend.
• Boston recalled Atchison from Triple-A Pawtucket before the game.
• Red Sox RHP Kyle Weiland (0-1) and Tampa Bay RHP Jeremy Hellickson (12-10) are Saturday’s scheduled starters.

T. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Wade Davis threw a six-hitter, John Jaso hit a three-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays moved within 5½ games of AL wild-card leading Boston with a 7-2 victory over the Red Sox on Friday night.Davis (10-8) struck out eight in his second career complete game. The right-hander, who had his other complete game on Sept. 17, 2009, had gone 0-2 with an 11.12 ERA in three previous starts against Boston. Tampa Bay pitchers have 15 complete games this season.Jaso put the Rays ahead 3-0 with a three-run homer off John Lackey (12-12) in the second. He entered 8 for 37 (.216) in 14 games since returning from strained right oblique last month. Boston has lost five of six. After two more games in Florida this weekend, the Red Sox will host Tampa Bay in a four-games series that starts Thursday at Fenway Park.The Red Sox were without infielder Kevin Youkilis, who returned to Boston to have his sore hip examined by team doctors and undergo an MRI exam.Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon was back in the lineup after missing the previous three games because of a sore right leg. He had an infield single during the third that moved him past Doc Cramer into 62nd place on the all-time hits with 2,706.Damon and Matt Joyce had RBI singles in the third to made it 5-0. Jaso later in the inning hit a two-out shot with the bases loaded off Lackey’s left leg, but the pitcher recovered to picked up the ball and throw the Rays’ catcher out at first.Lackey left with a bruised calf and was replaced by Scott Atchison to start the fourth. Lackey, who has lost three consecutive starts, gave up five runs, five hits and three walks in a 69-pitch outing.Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an RBI infield during a two-run sixth that got Boston within 5-2. The other run scored on Marco Scutaro’s sacrifice fly.The Rays got both runs back in the bottom of the sixth on RBI doubles by Reid Brignac and Evan Longoria.Notes: Tampa Bay has won 19 in a row when scoring five runs or more. … Red Sox manager Terry Francona said RHP’s Clay Buchholz (lower back) and Josh Beckett (sprained right ankle) are making progress. A schedule for when Buchholz could throw off a bullpen mound may be determined this weekend. … Boston recalled Atchison from Triple-A Pawtucket before the game. … Red Sox RHP Kyle Weiland (0-1) and Tampa Bay RHP Jeremy Hellickson (12-10) are Saturday’s scheduled starters.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Wade Davis threw a six-hitter, John Jaso hit a three-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays moved within 5 1/2 games of AL wild-card leading Boston with a 7-2 victory over the Red Sox on Friday night.

Davis (10-8) struck out eight in his second career complete game. The right-hander, who had his other complete game on Sept. 17, 2009, had gone 0-2 with an 11.12 ERA in three previous starts against Boston. Tampa Bay pitchers have 15 complete games this season.

Jaso put the Rays ahead 3-0 with a three-run homer off John Lackey (12-12) in the second. He entered 8 for 37 (.216) in 14 games since returning from strained right oblique last month.

Boston has lost five of six. After two more games in Florida this weekend, the Red Sox will host Tampa Bay in a four-games series that starts Thursday at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox were without infielder Kevin Youkilis, who returned to Boston to have his sore hip examined by team doctors and undergo an MRI exam.

Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon was back in the lineup after missing the previous three games because of a sore right leg. He had an infield single during the third that moved him past Doc Cramer into 62nd place on the all-time hits with 2,706.

Damon and Matt Joyce had RBI singles in the third to made it 5-0. Jaso later in the inning hit a two-out shot with the bases loaded off Lackey’s left leg, but the pitcher recovered to picked up the ball and throw the Rays’ catcher out at first.

Lackey left with a bruised calf and was replaced by Scott Atchison to start the fourth. Lackey, who has lost three consecutive starts, gave up five runs, five hits and three walks in a 69-pitch outing.

Jacoby Ellsbury extended his hitting streak to 14 games with an RBI infield during a two-run sixth that got Boston within 5-2. The other run scored on Marco Scutaro’s sacrifice fly.

The Rays got both runs back in the bottom of the sixth on RBI doubles by Reid Brignac and Evan Longoria.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

TORONTO (AP)—David Price(notes) blew away the Blue Jays.

Price struck out a franchise-record 14 in seven dominant innings, Desmond
Jennings(notes) hit a pair of solo home runs and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Toronto 12-0
on Sunday.

“Hitting is hard enough already,” Rays catcher John Jaso(notes) said. “What
David brought today made it pretty much impossible.”

It wasn’t just Price’s stuff, but a stiff wind blowing out to center field
that made him so effective, giving his fastball extraordinary movement.

“I’ve never had that much movement before so it was pretty cool,” Price
said. “The wind kept blowing and it was making my eyes watery all game. I knew
it was blowing pretty good and I just kept throwing it.”

Jaso and Price felt strong gusts pushing them as they walked in from the
bullpen beforehand, but didn’t know how helpful the wind would be until the game
began, and Price’s two-seamer started drifting.

“It looks like a strike right out of his hand and then it’s just fading off
the plate,” Jaso explained. “It was moving about three feet. Once they start
to swing on his fastball, they can’t hold it back.”

Price (12-11) broke the team mark for strikeouts shared by Scott Kazmir(notes) and
James Shields(notes).

“He had everything working today, the changeup, the slider, the backdoor
cutter,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Everything was working off the fastball.
That’s why their hitters could not get comfortable at all.”

Price allowed only three singles and walked two. His first seven outs all
came by a strikeout, with two hits mixed in during that span.

“He’s got great movement,” Blue Jays bench coach Don Wakamatsu said. “You
can get down in the count right away.”

After leaving the game, Price wrote a birthday greeting for his mother on
his hand and flashed it for TV cameras. He’d sent her flowers and a card on
Friday, but figured she’d like the win even more.

Rays pitchers set a team mark by fanning 18 batters overall. Reliever
Brandon Gomes(notes) struck out two in 1 1-3 innings and Cesar Ramos(notes) struck out two to
end it.

“It’s fun to catch when you’ve got something like that going,” Jaso said.

Jennings homered on the first pitch of the game and got a career-high four
hits. He drove in three runs, scored three, drew a walk and stole a base from
the leadoff spot.

Sean Rodriguez(notes) added a two-run homer and Matt Joyce(notes) doubled twice during a
six-run ninth as the Rays improved to an AL-best 20-9 since July 28.

The Blue Jays lost their fourth straight. They finished with five hits.

Price quickly matched his career high, striking out 12 through five innings.
The left-hander didn’t fan anyone in the sixth, but finished his outing with two
more strikeouts in the seventh, matching and then passing Kazmir (2007) and
Shields (2011) for the Rays’ record.

Price improved to 9-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 11 career starts against Toronto.

Price didn’t give his defense much to do in the first three innings. He did
allow a pair of baserunners over that span: Mike McCoy(notes) led off the first with a
walk and Jose Molina(notes) hit a two-out single in the second. Neither runner
advanced.

McCoy was the first batter to make an out on a batted ball when he grounded
to second in the third. McCoy, who walked again in the sixth, was the only Blue
Jays batter not to strike out against Price.

Toronto’s 18 strikeouts were a season-high, two more they had in a 3-1 road
loss to the Los Angeles Angels on April 10. The franchise record is 19, set
twice previously, both times in extra-inning games.

Jennings put Tampa Bay ahead right away, connecting against Brandon Morrow(notes)
(9-9) for the first leadoff home run of his career.

“It’s an early run and gets the team up and the pitcher, especially David,
he doesn’t need many runs,” Jennings said.

After John Jaso’s RBI double in the second scored B.J. Upton(notes), Rodriguez hit
a two-run shot into the second deck in left. Jennings made it back-to-back
homers when he followed with another drive to left, his first multihomer game.

Morrow (9-9) allowed five runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings. The
right-hander has given up five homers in his past 10 innings. He lost for the
fourth time in five starts.

NOTES: Toronto LHP Wil Ledezma(notes) was designated for assignment after allowing
six runs in the ninth. … Blue Jays manager John Farrell (pneumonia) missed his
third straight game, with Wakamatsu continuing to run the team. … Rays RHP
Kyle Farnsworth(notes) (elbow) was available after missing the previous four games. …
Toronto 1B Adam Lind(notes), mired in a 3-for-21 slump, was held out of the starting
lineup. … Blue Jays RHP Jon Rauch(notes) (appendectomy) threw a bullpen session
before the game, his second in three days. … Toronto OF Rajai Davis(notes) (torn left
hamstring) has begun jogging and taking batting practice at the team’s minor
league complex in Florida and could return before the end of the season. …
Tampa Bay RHP Wade Davis(notes) (8-7) faces Blue Jays LHP Ricky Romero(notes) (12-9) in
Monday’s series finale.