Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

[Moriarty9]

Rangers take ALDS Game 1
Devil Rays leave tying run on third base
September 30, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Texas Rangers got to Danny Haren early and were able to hold off the Tampa Bay Devil Rays long enough to come away with an 8-7 victory in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

Texas scored two runs in the first inning, single runs in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, and added on two more runs in the seventh inning, handing Haren his first career loss in the playoffs.

Haren surrendered six runs, five earned, on 11 hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out 11.

"I didn't get the job done tonight," said Haren. "Plain and simple. I let these guys down by not getting the outs I should have gotten."

Ben Sheets allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits and two walks in six innings for Texas. He earned the win.

Trailing by two runs heading into the last of the ninth, the Devil Rays tried to rally and come away with a walk-off victory. With Rangers closer Adam Russell on the mound, Matt Holliday led off the inning by striking out. Josh Hamilton brought Tampa Bay within one run by hitting a solo home run to right field, making it 8-7 Texas.

After fouling off four 3-2 pitches, Russell Martin singled through the left side of the infield, putting the tying run on base. Alexis Gomez followed with a single, and Martin went from first to third, putting the tying run on third base with one out, and the winning run on first base.

Jeff Francoeur hit a soft line drive to right field, but not deep enough to allow Martin to try to score from third base. Brendan Harris made the final out of the game, grounding out to second base.

Jim Thome and Brian Hunter each hit home runs for Texas in the victory. Thome hit a solo homer off Haren in the fifth inning while Hunter hit a two-run shot off left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes in the seventh inning.

Former Devil Rays Jayson Werth (3 hits) and Garret Anderson (2 hits) were among the three Rangers players to record multiple hits in the game; Ty Wigginton had two hits in the eighth spot in the lineup. Every starter in the batting order had at least one hit for the Rangers.

Ryan Howard went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored for Tampa Bay, while Francoeur had two hits and two RBI, and Harris had two doubles and a RBI. Holliday, Martin and Gomez had two hits each.

Brandon Webb will take the mound for Texas in Game 2 tomorrow night at Tropicana Field, while Pedro Martinez will look to even the series for Tampa Bay.

[Moriarty9]

Martinez shines on mound
Tampa Bay evens ALDS with Game 2 win
October 1, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pedro Martinez is a big game pitcher, and for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Game 2 of the American League Division Series was a very big game.

Martinez was fantastic for Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field tonight, throwing a complete game victory over the Texas Rangers, evening the best-of-five series at one win per team. The veteran allowed just one run on four hits and one walk in nine innings. He struck out four in the game, including two in the ninth inning.

"Pedro is one of those guys that you can hand the ball to and feel pretty good about your chances, especially when something is on the line," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal.

Martinez outperformed Rangers starter Brandon Webb, who threw a strong game of his own. Webb took the loss after giving up three runs on eight hits and four walks in 7 2/3 innings.

Jayson Werth and Seth Smith had two hits each, combining for all of the Texas offense. Werth had a RBI single in the eighth inning that scored Maicer Izturis, who drew the only walk issued by Martinez.

Michael Young and Brendan Harris had two hits and a RBI each for Tampa Bay.

The Rangers and Devil Rays will travel to Arlington, Texas tomorrow to prepare for Game 3 of the ALDS on Friday night. Zack Greinke will take the mound for Tampa Bay while the Rangers throw Shawn Hill.

Hill was 11-10 with a 5.03 ERA in 33 starts this year. He lost each of his three starts against Tampa Bay this year, posting an 0-3 record with a 4.95 ERA in 20 innings of work against the Devil Rays. A second-year player, Hill has no playoff pitching experience.

Greinke was 13-9 with a 3.35 ERA in 30 starts for Tampa Bay this season. Though he pitched well enough to win games in his three starts against Texas this year, Greinke was unable to notch a W in any of his outings against the Rangers. He was 0-2 with a 2.53 ERA in 21 1/3 innings against the Rangers in 2008. He is 4-0 with a 4.44 ERA in four career post-season starts.

[Moriarty9]

My internet connection was going a little haywire this morning, so the game stories from Games 3 and 4 of the ALDS were lost. I haven't the mind to re-write them, so I'm moving on from them to Game 5 of the ALDS.

Texas beat Tampa Bay ... and I mean beat them ... in Game 3. Awful.

Tampa Bay came back and won Game 4 by a pretty solid margin, forcing a decisive Game 5.

[Moriarty9]

Haren throws two-hitter
Hamilton drives in all six Tampa runs
October 6, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Danny Haren and Josh Hamilton teamed up to lead the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 6-0 win over the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the Division Series, putting the defending champs back in the American League Championship Series.

Haren held the Rangers lineup to two hits and three walks in a complete game shutout, striking out nine Texas batters on the way.

"Danny really stepped up tonight with a huge performance," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "He was fantastic."

Hamilton provided all the run support Haren would need, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and six RBI as he hit a Grand Slam off Brandon Webb in the fourth inning and then a two-run jack against Edward Mujica in the eighth inning.

"Josh was our MVP for this round of the playoffs, for sure," O'Neal said. "As good as Pedro was in Game 2, and Danny tonight, and everything else that everyone else has done, Josh has been the rock so far in the playoffs."

Hamilton hit .389 with five home runs and 11 RBI in the five game series with Texas.

The Devil Rays will take on the AL West champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALCS, which kicks off at Tropicana Field on Wednesday night. The winner will go to the World Series to play either the Arizona Diamondbacks or Los Angeles Dodgers.

[Moriarty9]

Laird hits walk off single
Devil Rays top Angels in wild Game 1
October 8, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — From the first pitch to the last, Game 1 of the American League Championship Series was exciting to watch.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 7-6, in the first game of the best-of-seven series to see who wins the pennant and heads to the World Series.

Angels centerfielder Shane Victorino got things rolling with the first pitch of the game, belting a Pedro Martinez to center field for a solo home run. Roughly three hours later, it would be Gerald Laird hitting a walk-off single to send the hometown crowd home happy.

The Angels had a 5-3 lead heading to the bottom of the eighth inning. Johan Santana took the mound for the eighth but surrendered a lead off home run to Josh Hamilton to open the inning and was pulled in favor of left-handed reliever B.J. Ryan. Ben Francisco greeted Ryan with a single, putting the tying run on base with no outs in the eighth. Alexis Gomez worked an eight-pitch at bat into a walk before Laird flied out to left field for the first out. Brendan Harris drew a walk to load the bases with the top of the order coming up. Michael Young tied the game with a sacrifice fly to centerfield that allowed Francisco to score from third. Aubrey Huff followed with a RBI single through the right side of the infield, giving the Devil Rays a 6-5 lead, their first lead of the game.

Jonathan Papelbon, who came into the game with 11 2/3 scoreless innings of baseball in his post-season career, took the mound for the ninth inning to close out Game 1. A 1-1 fastball tailed too far inside and hit leadoff hitter Garret Atkins, putting the tying run on base for Los Angeles. Pete Orr came in as a pinch runner for Atkins and advanced to second base and then third base on ground outs from Alex Rios and Chris Gomez. Victorino tied the game with a RBI double in the left-centerfield gap, before Mike Lowell flied out to right field to end the inning.

Tampa Bay responded quickly in the last of the ninth off reliever Jose Valverde. Hamilton continued his torrid October, hitting a double to right field to open the inning. Francisco grounded out and the Angels decided that with one out and first base open, they would walk Gomez and take their chances with Laird and Harris. Laird would make Anaheim regret the move as he singled through the left side of the infield and Hamilton aggressively rounded third and scored easily from second base to win the game.

"This team doesn't quit, and we play hard all night long, and that's why we're here," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "Top of the order to the bottom of the order, we play ball and we play it hard, and it really paid off tonight."

Every player in the Tampa Bay lineup had at least one hit in the game and eight of the nine either scored a run or drove in a run.

Francisco went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, Hamilton went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, one RBI and two runs scored, while Young went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run, and two RBI.

Though he blew the save, Papelbon picked up the win while Valverde took the loss.

Neither team's starters factored in the decision. Santana allowed four runs on 10 hits and two walks with six strikeouts in seven-plus innings while Pedro Martinez gave up five runs on 10 hits and no walks over eight innings, striking out five.

Game 2 of the ALCS will be tomorrow night at Tropicana Field. Carlos Zambrano will toe the slab for the Angels while Zack Greinke works for the Devil Rays.

Zambrano went 13-13 with a 3.30 ERA in 35 starts this season, and was especially good against Tampa Bay, posting a 3-0 record and a 1.27 ERA in three starts. Zambrano picked up a win against the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS with a 6 1/3 inning effort in which he allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits and four walks. He is 3-1 with a 4.38 ERA in six career playoff starts.

Greinke had a 13-9 season with a 3.35 ERA in 201 2/3 innings. He struggled in his only start against the Angels this year, giving up five runs, four earned, in 5 1/3 innings in a loss to Los Angeles in May. Greinke is 4-1 with a 5.68 ERA in five playoff starts. His ERA is a little bloated from a rough outing against the Texas Rangers in Game 3 of the ALDS, in which he allowed eight runs, seven earned, in just 5 1/3 innings.

[Moriarty9]

Young, Huff homer for win
Tampa Bay rallies off lefty Ryan in eighth
October 9, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — B.J. Ryan has similar pitching lines in Game 1 and Game 2 of the ALCS, both times letting the Tampa Bay Devil Rays back into things in games the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim eventually lost.

As he did in Game 1, Ryan allowed two runs in just 2/3 of an inning out of the Angels bullpen. This time, he allowed back-to-back two-out home runs to Michael Young and Aubrey Huff, letting the Devil Rays tie the Angels and then take the lead.

Ryan entered the game with a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning and quickly struck out Ben Francisco and Brendan Harris to start the inning. He made a mistake with a 3-2 fastball down the middle of the plate to Young, who drove the ball 399 feet to left-center field to tie the game. The very next pitch soared 360 feet to right field for a fly ball home run by Huff, giving Tampa Bay a 4-3 lead. Huff had been just 1-for-9 against Ryan prior to that at bat.

"As a manager, these two games have been nerve-wracking, but they've been some of the best games, the most exciting and interesting games that any fan could ask for," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "Every inning has been exciting, and these finishes have been ridiculous. I'm just glad we've managed to come out on top both times so far."

Jonathan Papelbon recorded the save, throwing a perfect ninth inning to close the door on the Angels in Game 2. Zack Greinke got the win, giving up three runs on six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts in eight innings.

"Zack really threw a really good game out there tonight," said Tampa Bay catcher Russell Martin. "He was hitting his spots and kept us in the game against a really good pitcher."

Carlos Zambrano did not factor in the decision for the Angels. He threw 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on eight hits and three walks. Zambrano struck out three.

Just as he did in Game 1, Shane Victorino led off the game with a home run for the Angels. Brandon Inge also hit a home run, a solo shot off Greinke in the fourth inning. Inge had two hits, the only Anaheim player with multiple hits.

Young went 3-for-5 with a run and two RBI, hitting the game-tying homer in the eighth inning. Huff, Harris and Josh Hamilton had two hits each. Huff and Harris each had a double. Martin was 0-for-2 with two walks and a RBI.

The teams will fly to Los Angeles tomorrow morning and play Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday night in Anaheim. Jorge de la Rosa will pitch for the Angels while Danny Haren looks to give Tampa Bay a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

In 17 starts this year, de la Rosa went 9-4 with a 3.01 ERA, posting a 1.24 WHIP and a .225 opponents average against. The rookie has never faced the Devil Rays before, but was impressive in his first post-season start last week against the Detroit Tigers in the Division Series. In 6 2/3 innings, de la Rosa allowed one run on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts, earning the win.

Haren has dominated the Angels in 2008, allowing one run in 14 1/3 innings against them. He is 2-0 with a 0.63 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, and .132 average against in two starts against Los Angeles of Anaheim this year. Haren is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts this post-season, and owns a 4-1 mark with a 2.28 ERA in 51 1/3 career innings pitched in the playoffs.

[Moriarty9]

As a note, I just noticed that for almost all of the posts for this season, I've been putting the wrong date in that it's been billed as the 2009 season while it's actually the 2008 season. Must've gotten mixed up by thinking of the real life dates.

This mistake started in April 2008, and if you go back a page or two you'll see one game that's something like April 8, 2008 and then the next post is something like April 9, 2009; and it's been reported as 2009 since. I've corrected this with the last post, which covers Game 2 of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Apologies to anyone who may have been confused by this running error.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays shutout in Game 3
Haren struggles while de la Rosa shines
October 11, 2008

ANAHEIM — Playing on their home turf, the Angels took Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, shutting out the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-0 behind the pitching of Jorge de la Rosa.

Working 8 1/3 innings, de la Rosa allowed no runs on five hits, walked no Tampa Bay batters and struck out seven. Rafael Perez worked the final two outs of the game, issuing a walk and striking out two.

Danny Haren didn't have the same sort of success for the Devil Rays that de la Rosa had for Los Angeles of Anaheim. Haren allowed six runs, four earned, on 11 hits and no walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.

Shane Victorino, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Alfonso Soriano gave Haren trouble, combining for eight hits in 12 at bats. Victorino hit lead off, Ellsbury third, and Soriano was the fifth batter in the lineup, and their time on base kept pressure on Haren seemingly every inning.

Garret Atkins hit a three-run home run off Haren in the fourth inning.

Tampa Bay made two errors in the game, leading to two unearned runs. Aubrey Huff was the only Devil Rays with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 in the game. Michael Young, Ryan Howard, and Josh Hamilton had the rest of the hits for Tampa Bay.

[Moriarty9]

Howard, Holliday, Hernandez halt Halos
Devil Rays take 3-1 lead in League Championship Series
October 12, 2008

ANAHEIM — Felix Hernandez was strong while Ryan Howard and Matt Holliday provided enough run support to give the Tampa Bay Devil Rays a 4-1 win over the Angels in Game 4 of the ALCS.

Hernandez held Los Angeles of Anaheim to one run on four hits and one walk over eight innings, striking out seven, to pick up the win for Tampa Bay.

Jonathan Papelbon came on for a scoreless ninth inning to record a clean save.

Howard got things going offensively for the Devil Rays in the first inning, hitting a solo home run off the right field foul pole. He would later pick up a second RBI with a groundball out allowing Brendan Harris to score from third base.

Holliday, who has had a quiet post-season, especially against the Angels, had a two-hit performance, including a two-run home run off Johan Santana in the fifth inning.

Ben Francisco also had two hits for the Devil Rays.

Santana gave up four runs on eight hits and one walk over 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine batters. Max Scherzer pitched the final 3 1/3 innings, not allowing a single baserunner and striking out five of the 10 batters he faced. In all, Santana and Scherzer combined to strike out 14 Tampa Bay batters.

In other bad news for the Angels, outfielder Shane Victorino left the game and is not expected to see playing time the rest of the ALCS as a result of a pinched nerve. Victorino, who came up with Tampa Bay before being dealt to the Angels in 2006, hit .311 with seven triples, 14 home runs, 84 RBI, 105 runs scored and 40 stolen bases for Los Angeles of Anaheim this year. He's a career .337 hitter with five homers in 89 at bats in the playoffs, and is 8-for-13 (.615) with two home runs in the ALCS against the Devil Rays as the Angels' leadoff hitter.

Media reports out of Anaheim suggest Willy Taveras will take over for Victorino the rest of the way. Taveras played in just 12 games in the big leagues this year, hitting .059 in that time. In 115 career at bats, he has a .183 average with nine RBI and 27 runs scored.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays will defend title
Tampa Bay wins American League pennant
October 13, 2008

ANAHEIM — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are heading back to the World Series to defend their championship title from last season.

The Devil Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tonight, 7-2 in Anaheim in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

Pedro Martinez pitched the pennant-clinching game, allowing two runs on nine hits and no walks in seven innings, striking out six.

Gerald Laird, Josh Hamilton and Matt Holliday each hit home runs for the Devil Rays with Hamilton driving in four runs in the game. Michael Young went 3-for-5 at the top of the order.

Ryan Howard was the only player in the starting lineup not to get a hit for Tampa Bay, and he was ejected for arguing a called third strike in the fifth inning. Howard bumped the home plate umpire during the argument and the commissioner's office is looking into a possible suspension, which would take place during the World Series. If that happens, it would be a huge blow to the Devil Rays as they play a best-of-seven series for baseball's championship.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays, Dodgers set to go
World Series begins tomorrow night at the Trop
October 16, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will get the chance to repeat as World Series champions when they open up the Fall Classic tomorrow night at Tropicana Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Devil Rays won their third World Series championship last year, and are looking for a fourth in the organization's 12th season. To get there, they'll have to take on a tough Dodgers team, and both sides will see some familiar faces in the opposing dugout.

Tampa Bay closer Jonathan Papelbon came up with the Dodgers, working 64 games out of the Los Angeles bullpen in 2004 and 2005 before being traded to the Devil Rays along with shortstop Michael Young. Young, who spent the 2004 and 2005 seasons with L.A. has been a key player for Tampa Bay, batting leadoff for the American League champs.

Batting leadoff and playing shortstop for the Dodgers is former Devil Ray Jimmy Rollins. The switch-hitter came up with Tampa Bay in 2000 and was a regular with the club through the 2005 season, when he was traded to Los Angeles. The Dodgers also have infielder Esteban German, who had nine at bats over four games with Tampa Bay in 2005.

The Devil Rays remain the favorites in the World Series after winning 105 games in the regular season. The Dodgers won the National League West with 91 wins, the second best record in the N.L. and the fifth best in baseball.

Los Angeles had a slightly below average offense this season, hitting .263 as a team and scoring 751 runs. Tampa Bay, conversely, hit .280 as a team (only the .282 average put up by the Houston Astros was better), scored 899 runs (third most in baseball) and hit 183 home runs.

The Dodgers pitching staff posted a strong 4.00 ERA for the season, a mark topped by only four teams in the National League. Los Angeles pitchers struck out only 965 batters (lowest total in the NL, second lowest in baseball), but have 10 shutout wins. The Devil Rays had an impressive 3.40 ERA as a team, with only the 3.32 ERA of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim being better in all of baseball. Tampa Bay struck out 1,292 batters (third highest total in baseball), their pitchers threw a remarkable 18 complete games (the Boston Red Sox were closest to Tampa Bay in this category with 10 complete games) and Devil Rays hurlers combined on 13 shutouts (topped only by the Angels).

Both teams have a strong defense with each club posting a .986 fielding percentage, good for a share of the second best percentage in baseball (Houston's club put up a .987 fielding percentage).

Where the Dodgers will have an advantage is the suspension of Tampa Bay slugger Ryan Howard, who will miss the first few games after being ejected for arguing a called third strike and making contact with the home plate umpire during Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. Howard hit .288 with 38 home runs, 112 RBI, and 109 runs scored this season, and has hit .341 with two homers and six RBI in 10 playoff games thus far.

Beyond Howard, the Dodgers pitching staff needs to keep Michael Young off the bases at the top of the order and be careful with Josh Hamilton, who has hit seven home runs in 37 post-season at bats this year, a rate of one home run every 5.29 at bats.

Offensively, Los Angeles needs to put as much pressure on Danny Haren and Pedro Martinez as possible, and try to get the Devil Rays starters out of the game as early as possible in order to try and tax a very strong Tampa Bay bullpen.

For the Devil Rays pitching staff, the key to success lies in stopping firstbaseman James Loney, who hit a very impressive .376 in 622 at bats this year. Loney hit 48 doubles, nine triples, 17 home runs, 106 RBI, and scored 100 runs in 159 games, and has continued his success into the post-season, hitting .351 in nine playoff games. He is a career .400 hitter in 14 post-season games.

For the Tampa Bay lineup, the strategy will be to try to keep the ball out of the hands of Los Angeles closer Jesus Colome, who has had a stellar season. Colome has saved 43 games and posted a 1.99 ERA in 72 1/3 innings of relief, allowing opponents a .199 average against and a WHIP of 1.20.

[Moriarty9]

Dodgers take Game 1
Two players ejected at home plate
October 17, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Los Angeles Dodgers won Game 1 of the World Series, 6-1, at Tropicana Field tonight, but the big topic of discussion in both clubhouses was the umpiring and a pair of ejections.

Torii Hunter of the Dodgers and Alex Gordon of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays were both ejected from the game and involved with altercations at home plate with the umpire, who a number of players believe escalated both arguments.

Both players are facing possible suspension or fines, according to a source from the commissioner's office, which would be a big impact to both clubs. The Devil Rays have already lost star slugger Ryan Howard for the first three games of the World Series after he was ejected — by the same umpire — during the American League Championship Series. Howard was suspended based on a review of the footage and a written report by the umpire.

As for the game itself, it was an exciting pitchers' duel through the first six innings between Danny Haren of the Devil Rays and Aaron Harang of the Dodgers.

Los Angeles took the lead in the seventh inning with a three-run home run by Brandon Phillips, who entered the game after Hunter was ejected in the second inning. The Dodgers added insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings.

Harang picked up the win, holding Tampa Bay to one run on seven hits and no walks, striking out six in 7 2/3 innings. Alan Embree finished off the game with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief work.

Haren took the loss, charged with five runs, four earned, on five hits and two walks in eight innings. He struck out five and threw 109 pitches. David Aardsma pitched the ninth inning and gave up one run.

Game 2 will be played tomorrow night at Tropicana Field with Carlos Silva pitching for Los Angeles, and Pedro Martinez looking to even the series for Tampa Bay.

[Moriarty9]

Homers lead Rays to win
Tampa Bay hits five round-trippers
October 18, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays used the long ball to win Game 2 of the World Series, picking up a 13-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Los Angeles pitcher Carlos Silva gave up four of the five home runs, allowing seven runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. Reliever Frank Francisco gave up the other home run, and surrendered four runs in just one inning.

Alexis Gomez, Aubrey Huff, Josh Hamilton, and Matt Holliday each homered off Silva while Russell Martin went deep off Francisco. Holliday and Martin had three-run homers, Hamilton a two-run shot, and solo home runs were hit by Huff and Gomez.

Martin was 4-for-5 with three RBI and four runs scored, and every player in the lineup except Jeff Francoeur had at least one hit, with six Devil Rays having multiple hits.

Pedro Martinez was the benefactor for Tampa Bay, giving up two runs, one earned, on six hits and two walks in eight innings. He struck out nine to improve to 3-0 with a 2.53 ERA this post-season.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays hit way to win
Tampa Bay lineup rolling against L.A.
October 20, 2008

LOS ANGELES — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have taken a 2-1 lead in the World Series after beating the Dodgers, 9-3, in Game 3.

Every player in the starting lineup had at least one hit for the Devil Rays as the team combined for nine runs on 16 hits and four walks against three Dodger pitchers.

Matt Holliday and Lastings Milledge had three hits each for Tampa Bay. Holliday was 3-for-5 with a solo home run off Daniel Cabrera in the fifth inning while Milledge, batting eighth, went 3-for-4 with a run, a RBI and two doubles.

Zack Greinke kept the Los Angeles lineup quiet, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and a walk in six innings. Greinke contributed offensively, going 2-for-3 with two RBI. He hit a two-run single in the second inning, giving Tampa Bay a 2-0 lead.

John Lackey worked the seventh inning for Tampa Bay and lefty Jeff Francis was solid in the eighth and ninth innings for the Devil Rays, throwing two perfect innings of relief, striking out three.

Cabrera took the los for the Dodgers, giving up eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits and three walks in four innings.

Felix Hernandez, 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA this post-season, will take the mound for Tampa Bay in Game 4 of the World Series. He will be opposed by veteran right-hander Jeff Weaver (1-0, 2.03 ERA, 13 1/3 IP in the playoffs).

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays shut out Dodgers
Tampa Bay one win from repeating as champs
October 21, 2008

LOS ANGELES — Felix Hernandez was dominant in Game 4 of the World Series, leading the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 4-0 win over the Dodgers and putting his team one win away from repeating as champions.

Hernandez threw eight shutout innings, giving up six hits and one walk to improve to 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA this post-season. He threw 112 pitches, 73 for strikes.

Craig Breslow and Manny Delcarmen teamed up for a 1-2-3 ninth inning with closer Jonathan Papelbon warming up in the bullpen, just in case he was needed.

Matt Holliday was Tampa Bay's offensive spark, going 2-for-4 with a two-run home run. Josh Hamilton and Alex Gordon also had two hits each. Every position player in the starting lineup other than second baseman Mark Grudzielanek had at least one hit in the game as the Devil Rays collected 11 hits off Los Angeles pitching.

Jeff Weaver took the loss for the Dodgers, giving up four runs on nine hits in six innings.

Danny Haren, 1-3 with a 3.90 ERA this post-season, will take the mound in Game 5 for the Devil Rays in hopes of clinching the title. He will be aided by the return of Ryan Howard, whose suspension will be over after being ejected and making contact with an umpire during the American League Championship Series.

Aaron Harang, 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA, will toe the rubber for Los Angeles. Harang went 17-4 with a 2.94 ERA in 34 starts this year and will try to keep the Dodgers alive and force a Game 6.

[Moriarty9]

Dodgers stay alive with win
Haren post-season woes continue in Game 5
October 22, 2008

LOS ANGELES — Dan Haren may be the guy everyone expects to win the Cy Young, but he's struggled to win in the playoffs.

Haren fell to 1-4 in the post-season, and 0-2 in the World series, during a 6-4 Los Angeles Dodgers win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Game 5 of the World Series.

Haren allowed six runs on seven hits in six innings. He gave up a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning by allowing a pair of two-run home runs off the bats of James Loney and Torii Hunter. The Dodgers added two more runs in the fifth inning.

John Lackey threw two innings of one-hit ball in relief of Haren.

Aaron Harang got the win for L.A., allowing four runs on nine hits and one walk in eight innings. He struck out six Devil Rays.

Jesus Colome picked up the save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Ryan Howard was 1-for-4 in his first appearance in this year's World Series.

The two teams will travel to Florida tomorrow and play Game 6 of the World Series at Tropicana Field. Pedro Martinez, 3-0 this post-season, will look to clinch the title for Tampa Bay while Carlos Silva (1-2, 6.38 ERA in the playoffs) will try to force a decisive Game 7.

[Moriarty9]

Tampa Bay wins World Series
Double play seals two-run victory for Devil Rays
October 24, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are World Series champions. Again.

The Devil Rays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 at Tropicana Field in Game 6 of the World Series, successfully defending their championship last season.

Pedro Martinez got the win for Tampa Bay, allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out eight and finishes this year's post-season with a perfect 4-0 mark and a 2.31 ERA. In two World Series starts, Martinez was 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings.

Jonathan Papelbon picked up the save in his only appearance of the World Series. Papelbon got Torii Hunter to ground out to start the ninth inning, but gave up a double to John Bowker, bringing the tying run to the plate with one out in Esteban German. Down in the count, 1-2, German hit a wicked line drive right at Brendan Harris (who had just entered the game as a defensive replacement at second base), who quickly flipped the ball to shortstop Michael Young to double up German to end the game.

Ben Francisco hit a two-run home run off Los Angeles starter Carlos Silva in the second inning, giving his team the lead. Russell Martin had another impressive game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, a RBI, and two runs scored. Martin hit .577 with two homers and seven RBI with 10 runs scored during this year's World Series.

This is the fourth World Series championship in six years for the Devil Rays, an organization in only its 11th season. Tampa Bay won back-to-back World Series titles in 2003 and 2004, and has now done it again in 2007 and 2008.

[Moriarty9]

Pedro to stay put after all
Future Hall of Famer re-signs with D-Rays
November 1, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Just a few days after riding through a World Series victory parade to the chants of "Come back Pedro," the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Pedro Martinez have agreed to a contract extension.

Martinez will stay with the Devil Rays through the 2010 season at an annual salary of $20 million, the same pay he earned this past season.

The deal was a surprise to many who thought Martinez had thrown his last pitches in a Tampa Bay uniform when reports throughout the season indicated the Devil Rays were several million dollars short of what the future Hall of Famer was looking for.

After winning their fourth World Series in six years, however, the club's ownership increased the team's budget just enough to sign Martinez. The team did not pick up its $3.5 million option on right-hander John Lackey due to the financial constraints the new Martinez contract puts on the club.

Martinez, who turned 37 last week, went 17-8 with a 2.97 ERA in 31 starts this season, and rolled through the playoffs with a 4-0 record and 2.31 ERA in five starts. He is 21-8 with a 2.53 ERA in his post-season career, all with Tampa Bay. Martinez owns a career record of 249-115 with a 3.26 ERA.

Martinez has four World Series rings with the Devil Rays, owns six Cy Young awards, and is a seven-time All Star. If not for the performance of his teammate Dan Haren, Martinez may be a top contender for this year's Cy Young award.

[Moriarty9]

Breslow wins Rookie of Year
Devil Rays reliever 'shocked' by selection
November 6, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For Craig Breslow, the 2008 season was a miracle ride in his first full season in the big leagues with a World Series title. Now, he can add the Rookie of the Year award to his short resume.

The left-handed reliever went 11-2 with one save and a 2.42 ERA in 55 appearances out of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays bullpen, numbers good enough to earn him the Rookie of the Year award.

"I really wasn't expecting this at all," said Breslow. "I didn't even consider myself a candidate, really. I mean, you figure a position player or a starter would get it before a middle relief guy."

[Moriarty9]

Haren takes home Cy Young
As expected, D-Rays ace wins pitching award
November 7, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Baseball's only 20-game winner in 2008 took home the award many had expected he would win.

Danny Haren of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays won the 2008 American League Cy Young Award today, capping off a fine season for the right-hander. Haren went 21-5 with a 2.48 ERA in 31 starts this year.

It is the eighth time in the last 10 years that a Tampa Bay pitcher has won the award, with six of the previous seven wins going to Pedro Martinez. John Stephens won the Cy Young for the Devil Rays in 2004.