Rocco Baldelli fits perfectly into the remarkable script that the Tampa Bay Rays are putting together this season.
He missed most of last year with a lingering hamstring problem, just another in a string of injuries that kept him sidelined for much of 2005 and 2006. Then Baldelli was diagnosed with a mitochondrial disorder, a condition that slows muscle recovery and causes extreme fatigue.
Baldelli slowly worked himself into shape and, with outfielder Carl Crawford going on the 15-day disabled list Sunday, the Rays were in need of an outfielder. Just so happened that Baldelli was available, helping Tampa Bay to an 11-3 win over the Seattle Mariners in his first game since May 15, 2007.
“I’ve said it before, there were times I didn’t know if I was going to be playing anymore. I honestly didn’t know,” Baldelli said after going 1-for-4. “There were some scary times too. Those are all behind me now, hopefully. I came out of it feeling good.”
So did the Rays, who pushed their lead over the Red Sox to 4 1/2 games in the AL East, after Boston lost 6-5 to the Chicago White Sox. New York dropped 8 1/2 back in the division after the Los Angeles Angels finished off a sweep of the Yankees, 4-3.
Tampa Bay won three of four at Seattle, improving to 71-46 and bettering its previous mark for wins in a season – set in 2004 when the Rays finished 70-92.
“It’s going to take more than that,” manager Joe Maddon said bluntly.
In other AL games, it was: Cleveland 4, Toronto 0; Detroit 6, Oakland 1; Texas 15, Baltimore 7; and Kansas City 5, Minnesota 4 in 12 innings.
Willy Aybar homered twice, including a three-run shot, and Shawn Riggans added a three-run homer of his own for the Rays, who will be without Crawford for at least a couple weeks after he went on the DL with an injured tendon in the middle finger of his right hand.
Aybar started at third base in place of Evan Longoria, who missed his third straight game with a sore right wrist after he was hit by a pitch on Thursday night. Aybar gave Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead in the second with his fifth homer, then hit a solo homer in the seventh in almost the identical spot. He has six homers this season, and 11 in his career.
Riggans came through with two outs in the fifth, hitting a pitch by R.A. Dickey (3-7) over the hand-operated scoreboard in left for his fifth homer of the season.
“You can’t really look at what we don’t have. You have to look at what we do have and the guys that we do have can produce,” Riggans said.
Edwin Jackson was the recipient of those unlikely homers from the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters in the Rays’ batting order, and won his fourth straight start. Jackson (9-7) pitched seven strong innings, scattering seven hits and striking out two.
His only mistake was Jose Lopez’s solo homer leading off the second. Lopez was later pulled from the game by manager Jim Riggleman, who declined to give an explanation afterward other than to say it was not an injury.
“I don’t know why, but I’ll say nothing right now,” Lopez said.
Angels 4, Yankees 3
At Anaheim, Calif., Chone Figgins hit an RBI single with one out in the ninth inning against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, and Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep.
Howie Kendrick led off the ninth with a single against Damaso Marte (0-2). After Gary Matthews Jr. struck out, Marte walked Mike Napoli before Figgins ended it.
Francisco Rodriguez (2-2) struck out the side in the ninth to get the victory.
White Sox 6, Red Sox 5
Carlos Quentin hit his American League-leading 32nd homer, Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye also connected, and Octavio Dotel got host Chicago out of a jam.
Gavin Floyd (12-6) picked up the win even though he struggled at times, allowing five runs and seven hits while striking out six and walking one in 5 1-3 innings.
Clay Buchholz (2-8) allowed five runs and seven hits in three innings.
Indians 4, Blue Jays 0
Cliff Lee worked eight shutout innings for his American League-leading 16th win and visiting Cleveland completed a three-game sweep.
Lee (16-2) lowered his ERA to 2.45, moving him ahead of Oakland’s Justin Duchscherer (2.51) for the major league lead. He won his fifth straight decision and has not lost since July 6.
Scott Richmond (0-2) gave up three runs and nine hits in five innings for Toronto.
Tigers 6, Athletics 1
Nate Robertson (7-8) won for the first time in more than six weeks, allowing five hits pitching into the eighth inning to lift host Detroit.
Greg Smith (5-11) allowed only one run and three hits in 4 2-3 innings, but walked seven.
Rangers 15, Orioles 7
Ian Kinsler broke out of an extended slump with a career-high five hits, including a homer, and visiting Texas emphatically ended its own offensive drought.
Rangers starter Matt Harrison (4-2) gave up six runs and 10 hits in five innings. Randor Bierd (0-2) took the loss.
Royals 5, Twins 4, 12 innings
Tony Pena Jr. broke out of a slump at just the right time, driving in Mark Teahen with the winning run for host Kansas City.
Robinson Tejeda (1-2) pitched a perfect inning to pick up the victory, while left-hander Craig Breslow (0-1) took the loss for the Twins.
Add A Comment