In the aftermath of 5 hour, 44 minute marathon 1-0 defeat to the Boston Red Sox Sunday night, a game that BJ Upton called the "worst loss of the year", the Tampa Bay Rays are shaking up their roster with a handful of moves Monday in advance of a four game set with the New York Yankees.
↵Catcher Robinson "Honey Nut" Chirinos has been recalled from Durham to replace Jose Loboton who injured his knee during the Sunday Night contest and was replaced in the game by Kelly Shoppach. Loboton was recalled from Durham on Friday and was making his first start of the 2011 season, and now finds himself on the 15-day DL. Chirinos, a part of the trade that sent Matt Garza to the Chicago Cubs will be making his major league debut Monday night, catching and hitting 8th against the Yankees.
↵Also recalled was rookie pitchers Alex Cobb, who will make his fifth start for the Rays tonight opposing AJ Burnett, and left-hander Alex Torres who will work out of the bullpen for now. To make room for Cobb and Torres the Rays placed reliever Juan Cruz on the 15-day disabled list with a groin strain, and have designated reliever Adam Russell for assignment.
↵Its been a rough Monday for Russell; in the early hours of the Morning he surrendered the go ahead run on a Dustin Pedroria single to right field giving the Red Sox a 1-0 victory in 16 innings and woke up today to the news of his dismissal from the team. Russell was out of options and will be subject to the waiver process, and if he is not claimed the team will have 10 days to waive, trade, or assign him to AAA.
↵Chirinos and Torres join the growing list of call ups this season from the Rays Triple A affliate, the Durham Bulls, a list that remarkably is still missing one Desmond "Bartholomew" Jennings. A travesty, and an absolute farce if you ask this blogger. #FreeDeezy
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