Triple-A Durham advances to IL Finals
Triple-A Durham reaches IL Finals
SP Edwin Jackson ...112 mins 
C Dioner Navarro ...497 mins 
C Shawn Riggans ...497 mins 
3B Evan Longoria ...502 mins 
SP Matt Garza ...517 mins 
CF B.J. Upton ...587 mins 
2B Akinori Iwamura ...587 mins 
3B Evan Longoria ...622 mins 
SP Matt Garza ...622 mins 
P Matt Garza ...682 mins 
OF Carl Crawford ...hand
63.5 CC Sabathia (P - )
53.66 Bronson Arroyo (P - cin)
52.5 Derek Lowe (P - lan)
50 Andre Ethier (RF - lan)
49 Alex Rodriguez (3B - nya)
47.5 Roy Halladay (P - tor)
42.16 Frank Francisco (P - tex)
41 Joey Votto (1B - cin)
40 Dustin Pedroia (2B - bos)
38 Randy Wolf (P - sdn)
30.32 Brandon Morrow (P - sea)
24.5 Dustin Nippert (P - tex)
19.66 Ryan Rowland-Smith (P - sea)
50 Andre Ethier (RF - lan)
30 Daric Barton (1B - oak)
26 Chris Dickerson (CF - cin)
24 Chris Young (CF - ari)
23 Hunter Pence (RF - hou)


Triple-A Durham reaches IL Finals
Though it may be hard to do given the situation, the Rays insist they are trying to alleviate much of the pressure of their three-game series against the Red Sox by treating the contests as regular games.
The Rays came out on the losing end of a tight pitchers' duel on Sunday, as they were blanked, 1-0, by the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
With the Rays facing left-handed starter David Purcey in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon tailored his lineup accordingly.
Jeff Niemann took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and struck out 11 on Saturday as Durham took a 2-1 series lead with a 3-2 win over Louisville.
Gabe Gross hit .231 in his first 92 games with the Rays, but has been revived lately, hitting .326 in his last 15 games. manager Joe Maddon says the resurgence is due to Gross is making contact to all fields.
James Shields threw eight convincing innings Saturday, and the Rays rallied in the ninth and 13th, but Troy Percival gave up a walk-off grand slam to Jays catcher Gregg Zaun in the Blue Jays' 7-4 win.
Evan Longoria was activated off the disabled list on Saturday, and is available as a pinch-runner in Toronto. He will not be hitting until fully healthy, and is eyeing Monday batting practice.
When James Shields takes the mound on Saturday, the Rays will be hoping for a reversal of fortune for the starter. When pitching at home this season, Shields has been dominant. However, his numbers trail off on the road.
The Rays dropped a 6-4 affair to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday night. With the loss, Tampa Bay fell to 85-54.
Although Evan Longoria said his fractured right wrist is feeling better, Rays manager Joe Maddon insists the team will not rush the third baseman back from the disabled list.
Though often criticized while the struggling Rays were under his stewardship, Tampa Bay part owner Vince Naimoli was instrumental in bringing baseball to the region and helped lay the groundwork for its recent success.
If they Rays are going to maintain their spot atop the American League East, they're going to have to do it among some hostile crowds. Following Friday's weekend series in Toronto, Tampa Bay will travel to Boston and New York, three cities in which they are a combined 6-12 this season.
Looking to avoid their first home sweep of the season, the Rays handed the ball to their ace on Thursday night. And Scott Kazmir delivered, holding the Yanks to one-hit over six innings -- to buoy Tampa Bay to a 7-5 victory over New York.
Prior to Thursday's finale against the Yankees, Rays manager Joe Maddon said he wasn't overly concerned with B.J. Upton's left shoulder, as long as the club monitors it properly.
Evan Longoria will accompany the Rays on their upcoming road trip to Toronto, Boston and New York, but his activation date from the disabled list continues to be a mystery.
And as the Rays head into Thursday's finale vs. the Yanks -- the third of a 19-game stretch against opponents in contention -- they are doing everything possible to stay fresh.
Major League Baseball used instant replay for the first time on Wednesday, reviewing a home run hit by the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez at Tropicana Field. The original call of a home run was upheld after the review.
In a season built on stingy defense and solid starting pitching, neither went well for Tampa Bay on Wednesday night, as the Rays dropped their first series since the All-Star break with an 8-4 loss to the Yankees at Tropicana Field.
History was made at Tropicana Field on Wednesday night when instant replay was used for the first time in Major League history. The play in question was a home run hit by Alex Rodriguez in the ninth inning of the Rays-Yankees contest.
B.J. Upton's highlight catch, which took place in the second inning of Tuesday night's game, remained a topic of conversation prior to Wednesday's game.
A key piece of the Rays' offense in the absence of Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria, Jason Bartlett closed August with a .389 average, the best August mark in Rays history and the second-best monthly average in the franchise history. Bartlett hopes to help the Rays even their three-game series with the Yankees on Wednesday night.
Missed opportunities sent the Rays to a 7-2 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday, snapping a five-game win streak and handing the club its first loss to open a month since April.
While Rays manager Joe Maddon often praises Carlos Pena's high level of play, the first baseman exhibits the same gusto in helping his community and is a dedicated supporter and active participant in the Rays Baseball Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters charities. For his efforts, Pena is a nominee for this year's Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Chevrolet.
Two new jerseys hung in the Rays' clubhouse prior to Tuesday night's game against the Yankees, as the first wave of callups -- catcher John Jaso and outfielder Fernando Perez -- arrived earlier in the afternoon and were given warm welcomes by their first-place teammates.