SB Nation Tampa Bay - Rays Vs. Mets: Tampa Bay Offense Struggles As Rays Lose Againhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49019/tb-fave.png2012-06-14T17:27:51-04:00http://tampabay.sbnation.com/rss/stream/28455072012-06-14T17:27:51-04:002012-06-14T17:27:51-04:00Mets Vs. Rays: New York Pulls Off Sweep With 9-6 Win
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> entered their series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a> with a narrow lead in the American League East. Their three-game series against the Mets has concluded, and that lead is gone. The Rays dropped their third straight game and got swept in the process on Thursday afternoon, as the Mets earned a 9-6 win.</p>
<p>Tampa now trails the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a>, who have not lost in their last six games, but 2.5 games in the AL East. They finally got their bats going on Thursday after a couple of bad hitting performances against Chris Young and <span>R.A. Dickey</span>, but Jeremy Hellickson couldn't take advantage of the run support his team produced, as he gave up eight earned runs in three-plus innings of work.</p>
<p>The Mets and Rays were tied 4-4 heading to the top of the fourth inning when the Mets exploded offensively for four runs. That appeared to give the previously shaky <span>Johan Santana</span> a bit of a boost, and he went on to complete scoreless fourth and fifth innings before he was pulled.</p>
<p>Both bullpens pitched well until the 9th inning, when <span>Fernando Rodney</span> and Miguel Batista both gave up runs. Rodney gave up one, sending the Rays to the bottom of the inning trailing by five runs. The Rays attempted to rally and knocked in two runs off Batista, but Frank Fransisco came in and closed out the game before things got too dramatic for the Mets.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Rays, visit <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>, SB Nation's Tampa Bay Rays blog. Head over to <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/">Amazin' Avenue</a> for all things Mets. <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> has you covered for everything around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/6/14/3087974/mets-vs-rays-final-score-recapKim McCauley2012-06-14T09:17:20-04:002012-06-14T09:17:20-04:00Mets Vs. Rays: Tampa Bay Looks To Avoid Sweep
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<p>After two blowout losses to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> will try to end the seres on a positive note when the two sides square off on Thursday afternoon. With the two losses in a row, the Rays (35-27) have dropped to third place in the American League East, two games behind the first-place <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a>.</p>
<p><span>Jeremy Hellickson</span> (4-2, 2.65 ERA) will take the mound for Tampa Bay, and his counterpart will be <span>Johan Santana</span> (3-3, 2.96) for New York. Despite a 2.55 ERA over his last eight starts, Hellickson only has one win during that time due to a sustained lack of run support. Santana is coming off a rough outing (six earned runs, four home runs allowed) against the Yankees in his last start, which followed up his no-hitter from the previous week.</p>
<p>The game is scheduled to begin at 1:10 p.m., and it will be televised on Sun Sports.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Rays, visit <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>, SB Nation's Tampa Bay Rays blog. Head over to <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/">Amazin' Avenue</a> for all things Mets. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">Baseball Nation</a> has you covered for everything around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/6/14/3084830/mets-vs-rays-tampa-preview-time-starting-pitchersRyan O'Hanlon2012-06-13T21:53:41-04:002012-06-13T21:53:41-04:00Mets V.s Rays Final Score: Tampa Bay Can't Figure Out R.A. Dickey, Lose 9-1
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> found themselves in a 7-0 hole to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a> after six innings of work, as starting pitcher <span>David Price</span> lasted just five innings, but the Rays offense couldn't do much to help him out. Tampa Bay struggled to get runners on base and figure out R.A. Dickey's knuckle ball. Dickey pitched a complete game, giving up just a single hit and set a new record for most innings without an earned run at 32.2.</p>
<p><span>B.J. Upton</span> picked up the Rays only hit in their 9-1 loss, but they've now dropped two in a row to the Mets and will try to avoid being swept on Thursday. The team will need score a heck of a lot more runs however, as their offense has been limited to just three runs total so far in the series.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Rays, visit <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>, SB Nation's Tampa Bay Rays blog. Head over to <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/">Amazin' Avenue</a> for all things Mets. <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> has you covered for everything around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/6/13/3084177/mets-v-s-rays-score-finalAlfie Crow2012-06-13T20:52:37-04:002012-06-13T20:52:37-04:00Mets Vs. Rays Score Update: New York Jumps Out To 5-0 Lead
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> dropped their open game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a> 11-2 in another interleague series. In game two of the series, the Rays seem to be in the same course as <span>David Price's</span> nice outing turned ugly mid-way through. Price had struck out eight batters through five innings of work, but started to get knocked around by the Mets offense in the fifth inning.</p>
<p>New York scored three runs in the fifth inning and added two more runs in the very next inning to push their lead to 5-0 over the Rays. Tampa struggled to answer the bell however, because Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey's knuckle ball gave the Rays offense fits. Tampa managed just one hit through the first five innings as Dickey struck out nine batters.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Rays, visit <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>, SB Nation's Tampa Bay Rays blog. Head over to <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/">Amazin' Avenue</a> for all things Mets. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">Baseball Nation</a> has you covered for everything around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/6/13/3084093/mets-vs-rays-score-update-new-york-jumps-out-to-5-0-leadAlfie Crow2012-06-13T17:22:58-04:002012-06-13T17:22:58-04:00Rays Vs. Mets Lineups: Ben Zobrist Out Again For Tampa
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<p>The Rays continue interleague play at Tropicana Field on Wednesday night against the Mets. Pitchers continue to take batting practice in preparation for their upcoming trip to Washington and Philadelphia. But they'll get the benefit of the DH for the next five games. Hideki Matsui will hit fifth as the DH on Wednesday against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Ben Zobrist will miss his second straight game.</p>
<p>The Rays were hammered on Tuesday night when New York put together a six-run rally in the seventh inning. David Price will take the hill in Game 2 and try to even the series.</p>
<p>Rays Lineup</p>
<p>Desmond Jennings, LF<br>Carlos Pena, 1B<br>B. J. Upton, CF<br>Matt Joyce, RF<br>Hideki Matsui, DH<br>Sean Rodriguez, 2B<br>Jose Lobaton, C<br>Elliot Johnson, SS<br>Will Rhymes, 3B</p>
<p>Mets Lineup</p>
<p>Andres Torres, CF<br>Daniel Murphy, 2B<br>David Wright, 3B<br>Scott Hairston, RF<br>Jason Bay, LF<br>Vinny Rottino, DH<br>Ike Davis, 1B<br>Mike Nickeas, C<br>Omar Quintanilla, SS</p>
<p><i>For more on the Rays, visit <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>, SB Nation's Tampa Bay Rays blog. Head over to<a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/">Amazin' Avenue</a> for all things Mets. <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">Baseball Nation</a> has you covered for everything around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/6/13/3083696/rays-vs-mets-lineups-ben-zobrist-out-again-for-tampaBrendan Porath2012-06-13T11:30:07-04:002012-06-13T11:30:07-04:00Mets Vs. Rays: Potential Pitcher's Duel As David Price Squares Off Against R.A. Dickey
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<p>After winning four games in a row, including a sweep over the cross-state <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a>, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> are looking for another interleague win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a>. They lost on Tuesday night, and will try to rebound behind <span>David Price</span> on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Price won his last two starts, surrendering just one run in both games. The lefty has won four of his five starts at home, where he owns a 0.96 ERA. A win on Wednesday would be the ninth of the season for Price. </p>
<p>Mets starter <span>R.A. Dickey</span> could get a tenth win with a successful outing. Dickey has been pitching very well for the Mets, allowing just one earned run in his last four starts. The last time he was tagged with a loss was April 18. </p>
<p>The game starts at 7:10 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Fans watch it live on Sun Sports.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Rays, visit <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>, SB Nation's Tampa Bay Rays blog. Head over to <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/">Amazin' Avenue</a> for all things Mets. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">Baseball Nation</a> has you covered for everything around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/6/13/3082876/mets-vs-rays-david-price-ra-dickeyRyan Van Bibber2012-06-13T00:12:02-04:002012-06-13T00:12:02-04:00Mets Vs. Rays Recap: New York Crushes Tampa With Big 7th-Inning Rally
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<p>The <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Rays</a> dropped the opening game of their series against the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mets</a> on Tuesday night. The game went into the seventh at 3-2 before it all came unraveled for Tampa, as the Mets poured it on and put six runs on the board. Remarkably, the six-run rally started after <span>Alex Cobb</span> retired the first two batters of the inning. And then <span>J.P. Howell</span> didn't exactly pick up his starter. <span>Daniel Murphy</span> opened it up with a two-run single up the middle and then <span>Ike Davis</span> capped it off with a three-run shot to right. It was 9-2 when it was all said and done.</p>
<p>The Rays offense, meanwhile, was shut out after a two-run first inning. Chris Young danced around nine hits and two walks in 5.2 innings of work to keep the Rays off the board. The New York bullpen pitched 3.1 hitless innings as their offense ran away with it. <span>David Price</span> will try to even the series on Wednesday for Tampa, with the Mets countering with <span>R.A. Dickey</span> on the mound.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Rays, visit <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>, SB Nation's Tampa Bay Rays blog. Head over to <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/">Amazin' Avenue</a> for all things Mets. <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">Baseball Nation</a> has you covered for everything around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/6/13/3082169/rays-vs-mets-score-recapBrendan Porath2012-06-12T17:54:11-04:002012-06-12T17:54:11-04:00Rays Vs. Mets: Tuesday Starting Lineups
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<p>The <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Rays</a>, looking for their fifth consecutive win, host the <a href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Mets</a> at Tropicana Field on Tuesday for the the first time in 11 years. And as of late, the Rays' bats are hot. In their last four games, they have outscored opponents, 29-10. While looking to continue that offensive streak, Tampa Bay will send <span>Alex Cobb</span> to the mound, who is 2-2 this season with a 4.13 ERA. He will be opposite the Mets' Chris Young, who will be making just his second start this season after coming off surgery to his right shoulder in April.</p>
<p>First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EST in St. Petersburg, Fla. The game will be televised by Sun Sports.</p>
<h3>Mets (32-29)</h3>
<p><span>Kirk Nieuwenhuis</span> CF <br>Jordany Valdespin DH <br><span>David Wright</span> 3B <br><span>Lucas Duda</span> RF <br><span>Daniel Murphy</span> 2B <br><span>Ike Davis</span> 1B <br><span>Jason Bay</span> LF <br><span>Josh Thole</span> C <br><span>Omar Quintanilla</span> SS</p>
<h3>Rays (35-25)</h3>
<p>Desmond Jenning LF <br><span>Carlos Pena</span> 1B<br><span>B.J. Upton</span> CF<br><span>Matt Joyce</span> RF<br><span>Hideki Matsui</span> DH<br><span>Will Rhymes</span> 3B<br><span>Jose Molina</span> C<br><span>Elliot Johnson</span> SS<br><span>Sean Rodriguez</span> 2B</p>
<p><i>For more on the Rays, visit <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>, SB Nation's Tampa Bay Rays blog. Head over to <a href="http://www.amazinavenue.com/">Amazin' Avenue</a> for all things Mets.<a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">Baseball Nation</a> has you covered for everything around Major League Baseball.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/6/12/3081476/tampa-bay-rays-new-york-mets-starting-lineupsJoey Kaufman