SB Nation Tampa Bay - Rays Vs. Blue Jays: Tampa Bay Wins 7-1, Completes Sweephttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49019/tb-fave.png2012-08-09T17:28:12-04:00http://tampabay.sbnation.com/rss/stream/29906412012-08-09T17:28:12-04:002012-08-09T17:28:12-04:00Rays Vs. Blue Jays: Evan Longoria Stars In 7-1 Tampa Bay Win
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<p>Coming off of a series loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Baltimore Orioles</a>, their wild card rivals, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> recovered excellently by completing a sweep of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> on Thursday. After close calls in the first two games of the series, the Rays took a 2nd inning lead and slowly expanded it throughout their 7-1 win.</p>
<p>Blue Jays' leadoff hitter <span>Rajai Davis</span> reached in the first and eventually scored on a balk by <span>Matt Moore</span>, but that would be Moore's last major hiccup. He finished that inning without allowing another run and went six strong before being pulled with six strikeouts, two walks and just one earned run.</p>
<p>The Rays' three-run 2nd inning was the first of four straight with a run for the home team. Jose Loboton hit a two-run single that scored <span>Ben Zobrist</span> and <span>Jeff Keppinger</span> to give the Rays a 2-1 lead and they never looked back. <span>Evan Longoria</span> had three hits and two RBI on the night, while Loboton had an excellent game as well with two hits and three RBI. </p>
<p><i>For more on the two teams, check out <a href="http://www.draysbay.com" target="_blank">DRaysBay</a> and <a href="http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" target="_blank">Bluebird Banter</a>. For more from around baseball, head over to <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">Baseball Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/8/9/3231769/rays-vs-blue-jays-final-score-recapKim McCauley2012-08-09T09:47:52-04:002012-08-09T09:47:52-04:00Blue Jays Vs. Rays: Tampa Bay, Matt Moore Looking For Three Straight
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<p>While the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Baltimore Orioles</a> have won five consecutive games to surge into a tie for the wild card lead, a pair of back to back wins for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> have put the Rays in a solid position to make a run at the wild card.</p>
<p>Just 1.5 games out of the wild card, the Rays will look for pitcher <span>Matt Moore</span> to hold off the Blue Jays as the team looks for its third straight victory. Moore has earned back to back wins of his own in his last two starts after shutting out both the Orioles and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a>.</p>
<p>To earn a third straight Moore will have to best <span>Henderson Alvarez</span> who allowed three runs in five innings against the Oakland A's on Friday.</p>
<p>The Rays and Blue Jays will get to an early start at Tropicana Field on Thursday with a 1:10 p.m. start time that will be televised on Sun Sports and RSN.</p>
<p><i>For more on this and every series for the Tampa Bay Rays, please head over to <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>. As always, you can check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">SB Nation's MLB Baseball hub page</a> for more on this and every Major League Baseball series.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/8/9/3230103/blue-jays-rays-preview-tv-schedule-probable-pitchersAdam Stites2012-08-08T22:40:03-04:002012-08-08T22:40:03-04:00Blue Jays Vs. Rays Final Score: Tampa Bay Holds On For 3-2 Win
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> were able to hold off the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> on Wednesday evening for a 3-2 win and pick up the second game in a three game series.</p>
<p>The Blue Jays opened up the game taking an early 1-0 lead in the third inning thanks to an <span>Edwin Encarnacion</span> sacrifice fly, knocking in Rajai Davis. The Rays quickly tied the game on a <span>B.J. Upton</span> double. <span>Evan Longoria</span>, who's been on the DL for the past while, gave the Rays the lead on a double play ball that knocked Upton in to score.</p>
<p>The Rays added another run in the third inning to push their lead to 3-1. In the top of the ninth, it looked like the Blue Jays might make a late surge with a <span>David Cooper</span> homerun, cutting into the lead, but the Rays held on for a win.</p>
<p><i>For more on this and every series for the Tampa Bay Rays, please head over to <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>. As always, you can check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">SB Nation's MLB Baseball hub page</a> for more on this and every Major League Baseball series.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/8/8/3229422/blue-jays-vs-rays-score-finalAlfie Crow2012-08-08T13:33:41-04:002012-08-08T13:33:41-04:00Blue Jays Vs. Rays Preview: Tampa Bay Looking To Close Gap In Wild Card Race
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> look more like a contender now that third baseman <span>Evan Longoria</span> is back in the lineup. Coming off a 4-1 victory on Tuesday in the series opener, the Rays hope to make it eight of nine wins against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a> on Wednesday night and close the gap of 1.5 games behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Baltimore Orioles</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a> for the final wild card spot.</p>
<p>The Rays will send pitcher <span>Alex Cobb</span> (5-8, 4.60 ERA) to the mound. In his last start against the Oakland Athletics on August 1, Cobb pitched seven innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out six batters in the victory.</p>
<p>The Blue Jays counter with pitcher <span>Carlos Villanueva</span> (6-1, 3.19). In his last start against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Seattle Mariners</a>, his first loss of the season, Villanueva pitched six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out six.</p>
<p>The game is scheduled for a first pitch at 7:10 p.m. The game will be televised by Sunshine Sports with radio coverage provided by WDAE 620 AM and WGES 680 AM.</p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For more on this and every series for the Tampa Bay Rays, please head over to <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #004175; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>. As always, you can check out <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #004175; font-weight: bold;" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">SB Nation's MLB Baseball hub page</a> for more on this and every Major League Baseball series.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2012/8/8/3228139/blue-jays-vs-rays-preview-tampa-bay-toronto-wild-card-raceTim Blank2012-08-07T21:59:40-04:002012-08-07T21:59:40-04:00Blue Jays Vs. Rays Recap: Evan Longoria Returns, James Shields Cruises To 4-1 Win
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> opened their home series against Toronto on Tuesday with a quick and tidy 4-1 win at the Trop. More importantly, All-Star third baseman <span>Evan Longoria</span> returned to action and instantly made an impact. Longoria, who missed 85 games with a hamstring injury, was robbed by J.A. Happ in his first at-bat, with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Blue Jays</a>' pitcher reaching behind his back to snare a ball back up the middle. Longoria hit DH and went one for three with an RBI, driving in a run on a sacrifice fly in the third. The ball to right would bring home <span>Desmond Jennings</span> and prove to be the winning un.</p>
<p><span>James Shields</span>, who spent last week as the subject of trade rumors, went out and hurled eight innings, giving up just two hits in an impressive performance against the division foe. Shields struck out six and walked just one, allowing only a solo homer to <span>Colby Rasmus</span>. He handed the ball off to <span>Fernando Rodney</span> who slammed the door for his 33rd save of the year.</p>
<p>The Rays will now try to take the series on Wednesday night with <span>Alex Cobb</span> on the mound.</p>
<p><i>For more on this and every series for the Tampa Bay Rays, please head over to <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>. As always, you can check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">SB Nation's MLB Baseball hub page</a> for more on this and every Major League Baseball series.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2012/8/7/3227029/rays-vs-blue-jays-score-recapBrendan Porath2012-08-07T18:45:36-04:002012-08-07T18:45:36-04:00Rays Vs. Blue Jays: Tuesday Starting Lineups
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<p>At last, <span>Evan Longoria</span> has returned to the lineup for the <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Rays</a>. Looking to help an offense that has certainly stalled over the last couple months, the third baseman has been activated from the disabled list for the first time since late April and will be used as a designated hitter when the Rays square off against the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Blue Jays</a> at Tropicana Field on Tuesday night.</p>
<p>Longoria, who had been batting .329 with four home runs, 19 RBIs and 15 runs prior to the injury, will bat fourth.</p>
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<p>Here are tonight's lineups for the Rays, courtesy of the team's official Twitter account:</p>
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<p>First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EST and will be televised on SUN Sports.</p>
<p><i>For more on this and every series for the Tampa Bay Rays, please head over to <a href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>. As always, you can check out <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">SB Nation's MLB Baseball hub page</a> for more on this and every Major League Baseball series.</i></p>
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https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2012/8/7/3226614/rays-vs-blue-jays-tuesday-starting-lineupsJoey Kaufman2012-08-07T13:01:58-04:002012-08-07T13:01:58-04:00Rays Vs. Blue Jays Preview: Evan Longoria To Be Activated For Series Opener
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<p>Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria will be activated on Tuesday night as the Rays open up a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> are struggling to stay in the playoff hunt, the activation of one of their best players should help that. Third baseman <span>Evan Longoria</span> will be activated for the first time since April on Tuesday night as the Rays open a three-game series with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/">Toronto Blue Jays</a>.</p>
<p>The activation comes at a time where the Rays are seven games out of first place in the AL East and two games back of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> for the final wild card spot. The Rays will send pitcher <span>James Shields</span> (9-7, 4.24 ERA) to the mound, coming off a complete game three-hit shut out against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a> on July 31. Shields also threw 11 strikeouts in that game.</p>
<p>The Toronto Blue Jays will counter with pitcher <span>J.A. Happ</span> (7-9, 4.85) making his first start still searching for his first win after being traded from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a>. In his last appearance on August 2, also against Oakland, Happ pitched two innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits.</p>
<p>The game is scheduled for a first pitch at 7:05 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Television coverage will be provided by Sunshine Sports with radio coverage provided by WDAE 620 AM and WGES 680 AM.</p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For more on this and every series for the Tampa Bay Rays, please head over to <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #004175; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a>. As always, you can check out <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #004175; font-weight: bold;" href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/">SB Nation's MLB Baseball hub page</a> for more on this and every Major League Baseball series.</i></p>
https://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2012/8/7/3225815/rays-vs-blue-jays-preview-evan-longoria-activated-james-shields-ja-happTim Blank