TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013 at BALTIMORE ORIOLES RH Alex Cobb (7-2, 2.94) Vs
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2013 at BALTIMORE ORIOLES RH Alex Cobb (7-2, 2.94) vs. RH Miguel Gonzalez (8-5, 3.84) First Pitch: 7:05 p.m. | Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, Md. | TV: Sun Sports, MLBN | Radio: WDAE 620 AM, WGES 680 AM (Spanish) Game No.: 124 (71-52) | Road Game No.: 60 (30-29) | All-Time Game No.: 2,551 (1,174-1,376) | All-Time Road Game No.: 1,274 (518-755) April: 12-14 | May: 18-10 | June: 13-15 | July: 21-5 | August: 6-9 RAY MATTER—The Rays have won 5 of A.L. EAST STANDINGS DEFENSIVE WIZARDRY—This se- RAYS AFTER 123 GAMES their last 6 games on the heels of a 6-game Boston 74-53 .583 -- ries showcases two of the top-fielding Year W-L Pct. Pos GB losing streak…they remain 1.0 game back Tampa Bay 71-52 .577 1.0 teams in major league history…the 2013 71-52 .577 2 1.0 of first-place Boston in the AL East and are Baltimore 67-57 .540 5.5 Orioles (37 errors through 124 games) 2012 68-55 .553 2 4.0 seeking a share of first place for the first New York 64-59 .520 8.0 and Rays (44 errors through 123 2011 67-56 .545 3 9.0 time since end of play July 30 (+0.5)…the Toronto 57-67 .460 15.5 games) are both on pace to break the 2010 75-48 .610 2 1.0 Rays maintain a half-game lead on Oakland A.L. WILD CARD 2003 Mariners’ mark for fewest errors 2009 67-56 .545 3 10.5 2008 75-48 .610 1 +4.5 in the AL Wild Card race. STANDINGS in a 65-game season—the O’s are on Ê Tampa Bay 71-52 .577 -- The Rays have won 19 of their last pace for 48 and the Rays are on pace FEWEST ERRORS AFTER 28 one-run games after starting the Oakland 71-53 .573 -- for 58 (15 fewer than club record of 73 in Baltimore 67-57 .540 4.0 123 GAMES, MLB HISTORY season 2-8 (21-17 overall). 2011)…through 123 games, the Rays 44 er- Cleveland 67-58 .536 4.5 Baltimore, 2013 36 Ê Last night’s victory snapped a 5-game (GB of 2nd Wild Card) rors are tied for 2nd fewest to the Orioles in Tampa Bay, 2013 44 losing streak on the road. major league history (see chart)…the Rays Seattle, 2003 44 MLB’S BEST SINCE MAY 8 Ê The Rays are 5-2 so far in a stretch Los Angeles-NL 59-33 .641 have committed only 3 errors in their last 19 of 46 games in 48 days to finish the Tampa Bay 57-34 .626 games, 9 in their last 42 and 28 in their last 92 since May 7…last year regular season…after Thursday’s off- Atlanta 57-35 .620 through 123 games the Rays had more than twice as many errors (89). day, the Rays only have one off-day Ê Five of the Rays last 13 errors have been committed by pitchers, remaining (Sep 9). dating back to June 19…this means Rays position players have com- Ê The Rays boast the AL’s best record since May 8 (57-34, .626)—after mitted only 8 errors in the last 54 games. starting the year 14-18—as well as since June 29 (30-13, .698)… these marks both rank 2nd in the majors to the Dodgers. AT HIS BEST AGAINST THE BEST—Tonight’s starter, RH Alex Cobb, Ê Last night was the 2nd time in the last 16 games a Rays starter (David makes his second start since returning from 2 months on the DL (concus- Price last night) earned the win (also Alex Cobb, Aug 15 vs. TOR). sion)…Cobb is 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA (31.2-IP, 23-H, 5-R/ER, 5-BB, 25-SO) in 4 starts against 2012 postseason teams…the Rays have won all 4 games RISING IN THE EAST—The Rays are 3-1 so far in a stretch of 9 straight (April 19 vs. OAK, April 24 vs. NYY, May 26 vs. NYY and June 5 at DET). games vs. AL East opponents (2-1 vs. Toronto, 1-0 vs. Baltimore)…they return home to play New York next…Rays have won 14 of their last 18 SEVEN IS KEY—The Rays are 31-8 when the starting pitcher goes at least games vs. AL East clubs and are 31-27 (.534) on the year within the division 7 innings, and have won 11 of their last 13…however Rays starters have compared to 40-25 (.615) outside it. gone 7 innings only twice in the last 9 games and 3 times in the last 13 (LH David Price twice and RH Chris Archer Sunday). 15 LOB—Last night the Orioles left 15 runners on base (9 in scoring posi- tion), tied for the most LOB by an opponent in a Rays 9-inning victory with JAKE McGEE—Last night entered with 2 on and 2 out in the 7th and es- June 23, 2007 vs. LAD, also a 4-3 win…overall, it was the most LOB by caped the jam…continued to pitch a scoreless 8th through the heart of the a Rays opponent the Orioles stranded 16 and beat the Rays 3-2 in 14 in- order, ending with swinging strikeouts of Adam Jones and Matt Wieters… nings, Sep 13, 2012 here at Camden Yards…the most LOB ever by a Rays postgame Joe Maddon said “tonight was all about Jake”…McGee’s turning opponent is 18, on Sep 20, 2011 at NYY (Yankees won 5-0 in 9 innings). point in the season was May 10: Ê Before May 10—11.25 ERA, .339 opp avg., .324 opp avg. vs. RH 15 HITS—The Rays allowed 15 hits last night, the 180th time they have Ê Since May 10—1.70 ERA, .165 opp avg., .155 opp avg. vs. RH allowed 15 or more in club history…however it was the first time they held their opponent to only 3 runs in such a game…the previous low was 4 runs EVAN LONGORIA—Yesterday homered in the 1st inning to reach the 25- on Sep 17, 1998 vs. NYY. HR plateau for the 4th time in his career (2008, 2009, 2011)…this ties Car- Ê Last night was only the 9th nine-inning game since 1916 that a team los Pena (2007-10) for most in Rays history…Aubrey Huff and Fred Mc- totaled at least 15 hits, 15 LOB and scored 3 or fewer runs—but Griff (2 each) are the only other players with more than one 25-HR season it was the third time it happened this season…also the Phillies on for the Rays…Evan’s career high is 33 HR in 2009. June 13 at MIN (16-H, 16-LOB, won 3-2) and Giants on July 24 (15- Ê Longoria has 11 extra-base hits over his last 12 games (7-2B, H, 15-LOB, lost 8-3). 4-HR)…he had only had 7 extra-base hits over his previous 33 games (June 23–Aug 4). RAYS vs. ORIOLES—The Rays have won 6 of the last 7 games between these clubs and lead the season series, 8-5 (5-2 here, 3-3 at home)… ODDS & ENDS—OF Matt Joyce delivered a 2-run homer last night in the they’ve won 4 straight at Camden Yards after a 3-game sweep in their last 4th inning which proved decisive in the 4-3 win…it was his second homer visit, May 17-19…in 13 games this year, the Rays have already scored 77 in 4 days after going a career-long 123 AB without a homer (last one June runs (5.9 R/G) after scoring 61 in 18 games (3.4 R/G) vs. BAL last season… 15 vs. KC)…Joyce is batting .341 (14-for-41) over his last 18 games (10 together the clubs have scored 145 runs in 13 games after scoring a total of starts) since July 28. 117 in 18 games last year…Rays are 61-42 since the start of 2008…Rays Ê Ben Zobrist’s next RBI will tie B.J. Upton (447) for 5th most in team have won 3 of 4 one-run games vs. Baltimore this season, after going 1-6 history…he is 3 away from tying Aubrey Huff (449) for 4th. last year…after last night’s win the Rays lead the all-time series, 136-135… Ê Since the All-Star break, Yunel Escobar leads AL shortstops (min. they meet a final time at Tropicana Field, a 4-game series Sep 20-23. 60 AB) with a .310 batting avg. (26-for-84) and leads all major league shortstops with a .392 OBP in 24 games…he has a season-high PREVENT DEFENSE—The Rays own a .990 fielding pct., while the club 8-game hitting streak, and has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games record is .988 in 2011…meanwhile the Rays have four different position and 19 of his last 21 with 6 multi-hit games over that stretch. players currently on track to set a club record for their position: Position 2013 Player Fld% Record Holder Fld% WIL CHASING HOOT—OF Wil Myers leads AL rookies with 37 RBI…the Catcher Jose Lobaton .996 Dioner Navarro, 2008 .994 most regular-season games Wil can play this season is 90…the last player Second Base Ben Zobrist .995 Aki Iwamura, 2008 .990 to lead all AL rookies in RBI and play in 90 or fewer games was DET Hoot Third Base Evan Longoria .976 Aki Iwamura, 2007 .975 Evers in 1946, with 33 RBI in 81 games…since his June 18 call-up, Myers Shortstop Yunel Escobar .989 Chris Gomez, 2002 .980 leads all major league rookies in HR (9) and RBI (37)…during this span he Ê Of this group, Zobrist leads all major league 2B in fielding pct., Esco- leads AL rookies and ranks 2nd to LAD Yasiel Puig among major league bar leads all active major league SS in fielding pct.