MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012 at SEATTLE MARINERS RH Alex Cobb (6-8, 4.32) Vs
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MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2012 AT SEATTLE MARINERS RH Alex Cobb (6-8, 4.32) vs. RH Blake Beavan (7-6, 5.12) First Pitch: 10:10 p.m. | Location: Safeco Field, Seattle, Wash. | TV: Sun Sports | Radio: WDAE 620 AM Game No.: 115 (62-52) | Road Game No.: 56 (30-25) | All-Time Game No.: 2,380 (1,075-1,304) | All-Time Road Game No.: 1,189 (474-714) April: 15-8 | May: 14-14 | June: 12-15 | July: 13-13 | August: 8-2 RAY MATTER—The Rays arrive in Seattle riding a 6-game winning streak RAYS vs. MARINERS—The Rays pay WHERE RAYS STAND, that matches their season high (also April 21-27 and April 29–May 4)...they their first and only visit to Safeco Field this AL & MLB RANKINGS have swept the last two series (vs. Toronto; at Minnesota), the first time season...Rays lead the season series, 5-2, Pitching AL MLB they have swept consecutive series (3 or more games) since April 12-19, sweeping a 4-game series April 30–May 3 3.38 ERA 1st 3rd 2010 when they won 3 games in Baltimore and 4 games in Boston...this has and dropping 2 of 3, July 20-22...Rays have 949 SO 1st 3rd propelled the Rays to the top of the AL Wild Card race and within 5.0 games dropped the last 2 contests after a 9-game .234 opp avg. 1st 2nd over first-place New York—the closest they’ve been since they were 4.5 GB winning streak that dated back to 2011—the Hitting AL MLB through June 25...the Rays were a season-high 10.5 GB in the AL East on 2nd-longest streak vs. an opponent in Rays .234 avg. 12th 28th July 18 and have gone 15-7 since then to gain 5.5 games over this stretch. history...the clubs’ 7 games this season 409 BB 1st 1st Ê The Rays have won 9 of their last 11, 11 of 14 and 13 of 18 and cur- have been decided by a total of 8 runs. 49 HBP 2nd 3rd rently sit 10 games over .500 for the first time since end of play on 98 SB 1st 3rd June 10 (35-25)...a win tonight would match their highwater mark of ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END—The RAYS THRU 114 GAMES, 11 games over .500 after May 4 (19-8). Rays streak of 10 errorless games, which 2008-12 Year W-L Pct. Pos GB Ê The Rays have won 4 straight road series and have not lost a series tied the franchise record, came to an end 2012 62-52 .544 2nd 5.0 on the road since June 25-27 at KC (sweep)...Rays are 23-14 on the yesterday as they committed 3 miscues... 2011 60-54 .526 3rd 11.0 road since May 13, after starting the year 7-11 on the road. the Rays last error came on June 30 at OAK 2010 69-45 .605 2nd 1.5 Ê The Rays are 46-32 when facing a right-handed starter, compared to (Ryan Roberts at 3B)...still, they are error- 2009 61-53 .535 3rd 10.0 16-20 when facing a left-handed starter. less in 20 of their last 24...their 10 errors in 2008 68-46 .596 1st +2.5 Ê The Rays are 34-5 (.872) when scoring 5 or more runs, best in the 28 games since the All-Star break are 3rd AL—but the 39 games with 5-plus runs are the fewest in the AL... fewest in MLB, after committing 71 in 86 AL WILD CARD Yankees lead the majors with 66. games before the break, 2nd most in MLB. STANDINGS Team W-L Pct. GB Ê Seattle is the middle stop in a 10-game trip that ends with 4 games at Tampa Bay 62-52 .544 -- LAA (Aug 16-19)...Rays are 15-7 vs. the AL West, 2nd best in the AL. FERNANDO-MANIA—Fernando Rodney Baltimore 62-53 .539 -- converted his 21st consecutive save yes- Oakland 61-53 .535 0.5 THE BIG RAY MACHINE—The Rays have collected double-digit hits in 4 terday, extending his club record...it was his Detroit 61-54 .530 1.0 straight games, the first time they have done this since May 17-20, 2010 major-league-leading 36th save of the sea- Los Angeles 60-55 .522 2.0 vs. CLE and at NYY...half (18) of their 36 hits in Minnesota went for extra son, only 9 shy of the club record (Rafael Boston 57-59 .491 5.5 bases (6-HR, 12-2B)...of those 6 homers, 4 came in the 1st inning...the 18 Soriano, 45 in 2010)...he is only the second (GB of 2nd Wild Card) extra-base hits were their 2nd most in a 3-game series in franchise history, in Rays history to lead the majors outright one shy of the 19 they tallied Aug 29-31, 2008 vs. BAL. this late in the year, joining Soriano (as late as Sep 5, 2010)...has converted 97.3 percent of save opps (36 of 37), 2nd- THE LONGO EFFECT—During this 6-game winning streak, which began best rate in the majors...Rodney is 1 save shy of his career high (37 in 2009 the same day Evan Longoria returned from the DL (Tuesday), the Rays with Detroit). have amassed 37 runs on 65 hits, batting .314/.374/.498...they totaled 25 runs in the 10 games prior to that, batting .199/.259/.299...he has started all J.P. HOWELL—Recorded 2 outs in the 10th inning yesterday, extending 6 games at DH since his return...the Rays are 21-8 with Evan in the lineup his streak to 22.2 consecutive scoreless innings to break the club record for this season, 13-2 when he bats cleanup and 12-1 with him in the lineup at a reliever...he passed Fernando Rodney (22.0), whose streak just ended Tropicana Field...they went 41-44 in his absence...the Rays have averaged Wed vs. TOR...he needs another two outs to surpass James Shields’ over- more than a run per game more with Evan in the lineup (4.93 R/G) than all club record of 23.0 innings (2011)...J.P. has the longest active streak in without him (3.86 R/G). the majors, with CIN Aroldis Chapman on his heels at 21.2...Howell has Ê The Rays are 12-1 this season when Longoria, Desmond Jennings not allowed a run in exactly 2 months, since June 13 vs. NYM. and B.J. Upton are in the starting lineup together...since Jennings was recalled on July 23, 2011, the Rays are 47-21 (.691) with all MATT JOYCE—Extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games yes- three in the starting lineup. terday with a pinch-hit, RBI double in the 10th inning...he is batting .308 Ê Since Longoria returned from the DL, Jennings has hit safely in all 5 (12-for-39) during the streak, which is tied with Desmond Jennings games he’s played...he is batting .474/.524/.842 (9-for-19) during this (April 18-29) for longest by a Ray this season. stretch with 9 runs scored, 4 doubles, 1 HR, 2 RBI and 2 SB. WHAT THE M’S ARE MISSING—David Price will again miss the Mariners, BOYS OF AUGUST—Yesterday the Rays improved to 8-2 in the month the only AL team has he yet to face...after this series, the clubs will have of August and 206-204 all-time in August—their played 37 games since his ML debut...he has faced every other AL team MLB RANKINGS SINCE only full month with a winning record...they at least twice—and every other AL team besides KC (2 starts) at least 5 ALL-STAR BREAK are a major-league-best 79-43 (.648) in Au- times...on Sat at MIN, he won his 15th game, tying LAA Jered Weaver, Lowest ERA gust since 2008 and are shooting for their 6th NYM R.A. Dickey and CIN Johnny Cueto for the major league lead...he is Rays 2.33 straight winning August. the first in Rays history with a pair of 15-win seasons (19 in 2010). Braves 3.12 Cardinals 3.37 Ê Price (15-4, 2.50 ERA, 151 SO) is the first lefty since ARI Randy PREMIUM PITCHING—Rays lead the AL in Johnson in 2000-01 to have at least 15 wins, a 2.50 ERA and 150 Lowest Bullpen ERA ERA, strikeouts and opp avg. ...they are 11-3 SO on this date...R.J. was 16-5 with a 2.29 ERA and 277 SO on this Rays 1.56 with a 1.62 ERA (133.2-IP, 24-ER) over their Braves 1.88 date in 2001 and 15-4 with a 2.25 ERA and 255 SO in 2000. last 14 games...they are 15-7, 1.81 (208.2-IP, Padres 2.12 42-ER) over the last 22...Rays .234 opp avg. —DH played DH both games in a double- Most Strikeouts (Pitching) MEDICAL MATTERS Luke Scott matches their 2011 mark, which was the lowest Rays 264 header for Class-A Charlotte yesterday vs. Jupiter (Marlins), going 1-for-4 by an AL team since 1972...Rays are trying to Nationals 258 with a run in the first game and 1-for-2 with a walk in the second...in 3 rehab become the first to lead the AL in opp avg.