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Jones, Young propel Rangers past Rays 12-4 (AP)

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:19:12 PDT

Even during a long slump when they struggled to scratch out runs, the Texas Rangers never wavered in their mindset at the plate. That steady approach is beginning to pay dividends. Andruw Jones homered and drove in four runs, Michael Young added a three-run double and the Rangers roughed up David Price to win their fourth in a row, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 12-4 Saturday night.

Baseball Today (AP)

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:59:43 PDT

Rays Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:25:37 PDT

Just when the Rays looked like they were on a roll they started rolling over.

Their seven-game winning steak is a distant memory after two losses on either side of an off-day in which they scored one run.

Worse, the Rays got only seven hits total in the two games despite facing a pair of rookies, Toronto's Ricky Romero and Texas' Tommy Hunter.

And Friday, a team known for its defense made two costly errors - by shortstop Jason Bartlett and second baseman Ben Zobrist - that contributed heavily to their loss.

Left-hander Scott Kazmir allowed a two-run homer to Hank Blalock (who had been 0-for-7 against him) after Bartlett's throwing error, and a two-run double to Marlon Byrd after Zobrist's miscue.

Rangers 3, Rays 1: The Rays were held...

Hunter, Rangers beat Rays 3-1 (AP)

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:24:47 PDT

Tommy Hunter gave the ailing Texas Rangers rotation a much-needed lift Friday night. The rookie also got a cool birthday gift in the process. Hunter earned his first career victory on his 23rd birthday, Hank Blalock homered and the Texas Rangers won their third in a row, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1.

Fans deserve applause for diligent All-Star vote (AP)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:05:01 PDT

Give the fans a hand for an All-Star performance. Albert Pujols, absolutely. Joe Mauer, right on the money. Chase Utley and Evan Longoria, no doubt about it. Fan balloting for All-Star game starters has been a contentious issue in baseball for years. Some complain the process is merely a popularity contest that often puts big names on the field at the expense of more deserving players.

Power Rankings: Angels are ascending (Yahoo! Sports)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:49:00 PDT

The Dodgers and Red Sox continue to occupy the top two spots, but the other L.A. team is making a push.

Indians acquire RHP Abreu from Rays (AP)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:17:44 PDT

Right-hander Winton Abreu has been acquired by the Cleveland Indians from the Tampa Bay Rays for minor league right-hander John Meloan. The 32-year-old Abreu was brought up by Tampa Bay on June 14 and had a 2.45 ERA in two appearances. He was then designated for assignment on June 27. Abreu was 3-0 with 10 saves and a 1.41 ERA in 23 games at Triple-A Durham.

Romero wins third straight start, beats Rays 5-0 (AP)

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:24:45 PDT

Ricky Romero spent the past two winters tinkering with his changeup. All that extra work is starting to pay off. Romero pitched four-hit ball over eight innings, Rod Barajas, Adam Lind and Scott Rolen each homered and the Toronto Blue Jays ended the Tampa Bay Rays' seven-game winning streak with a 5-0 victory Wednesday.

Upton, Crawford, Aybar homer as Rays beat Jays 4-1 (AP)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:41:14 PDT

Right from the first pitch, the Tampa Bay Rays had their power stroke going. B.J. Upton homered to leadoff the game, Carl Crawford and Willy Aybar added solo shots and the Rays won their seventh straight game Tuesday night, 4-1 over the Toronto Blue Jays. "We really lived by the long ball," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

Rays beat Halladay, Blue Jays, 4-1 (AP)

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:02:55 PDT

In his first game back from the disabled list, Toronto ace Roy Halladay was outpitched by a rookie. Carl Crawford and Pat Burrell homered, Jeff Niemann pitched 7 1-3 strong innings and the Tampa Bays Rays ruined Halladay's return with their sixth straight victory, 4-1 over the Blue Jays on Monday night.

AccuScore: Playoff shifts after week 12 (Yahoo! Sports)

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:04:00 PDT

AccuScore uses past player performance statistics to describe how players perform under different environmental,...

Price allows 1 run over 6 1-3 innings of Rays' win (AP)

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:46:53 PDT

David Price is showing flashes of what made him so dominant in Tampa Bay's World Series run last season. Price allowed one run over 6 1-3 innings and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Florida Marlins 5-2 to complete a three-game sweep on Sunday. "I'm close," Price said. "I'm getting there.

Rays become fastest team to 100 HRs and 100 steals (AP)

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:55:48 PDT

The Tampa Bay Rays became the fastest team to reach 100 homers and 100 steals by the All-Star break when B.J. Upton homered in the third of inning of Sunday's game against Florida. Upton's solo homer on the first pitch in the bottom of the third off Andrew Miller was the Rays' 100th this season.

Rays rally for 3-2 win over Marlins (AP)

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:32:48 PDT

There's no debate over what a healthy and productive Scott Kazmir can do for Tampa Bay's chances of getting back to the World Series. "Kaz is a huge part of what we're doing," manager Joe Maddon said after the 25-year-old made his first start in over a month Friday night, working five innings in a 3-2 victory over the Florida Marlins.

Upton's 3-run double lifts Rays (AP)

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:19:48 PDT

After a slow start, B.J. Upton is heating up as Tampa Bay's leadoff hitter. The speedy centerfielder had two hits, stole a base and drove in three runs with a double that snapped an eighth-inning tie Friday night, helping the Rays beat the Florida Marlins 7-3 in the opener of their weekend series.

Rays reinstate Kazmir, Bradford from DL (AP)

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:24:50 PDT

The Tampa Bay Rays have reinstated pitchers Scott Kazmir and Chad Bradford from the 15-day disabled list. To make room on the roster, the Rays optioned right-hander Andy Sonnanstine to Triple-A Durham and designated reliever Winston Abreu for assignment after Friday night's 7-3 win over Florida. Kazmir, out since May 21 due to a strained right quadriceps and also to work on his pitching...

Power Rankings: Tigers jump five spots (Yahoo! Sports)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:02:00 PDT

The Yankees, Brewers, Phillies, Rangers and Mets dip. The Cardinals get a boost along with Detroit.

Aybar leads Rays past Phillies (AP)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:12:57 PDT

Tampa Bay's Andy Sonnanstine settled after taking Philadelphia's best shot, doing everything he could to prove he deserves to remain in the Rays' pitching rotation. Willy Aybar homered and drove in three runs as a replacement for an injured Evan Longoria, and Sonanstine regrouped after giving up four first-inning runs Thursday night to beat the Phillies 10-4 in the decisive game of a...

Rays sit Longoria against Phillies (AP)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:44:48 PDT

Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria was held out of the lineup for Thursday night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies because of a hamstring injury the Rays don't think is serious. The 2008 AL rookie of the year felt "slight soreness" in his left hamstring while running out a sixth-inning double Wednesday night.

Rays even Series rematch with Phillies (AP)

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:39:01 PDT

Pat Burrell conceded he felt pretty good, though not necessarily because ending the longest homerless drought of his career helped Tampa Bay take down his old team. The ex-Philadelphia slugger struck early with a two-run shot, then added a third RBI late as Matt Garza and the Rays beat the Phillies 7-1 Wednesday night in the middle game of a rematch between the participants in last season's...

Phils crush Rays 10-1 in opener of Series rematch (AP)

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:28:45 PDT

Eight months haven't changed the Tampa Bay Rays' fortunes against the Philadelphia Phillies. They lost the World Series in five games in October and began a three-game rematch with a lopsided 10-1 defeat on Tuesday night. "It's the kind of game you put in the trash compactor and move on," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

Phillies win opener of Series rematch (AP)

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:30:46 PDT

Forget a change of scenery, plus an added incentive to play well in a rematch of the teams from last year's World Series. Six runs in the first inning helped the Philadelphia Phillies relax and get back on track Tuesday night. "We got some big hits early. We got some runs and we got a lead and was able to hold it," manager Charlie Manuel said after the world champions got seven RBIs...