CHEESE & WHINE: They Won, now lets go drink Tequila

RAYS: 6
O's: 3


CHEESE:

• Matt Garza. I'm always nervous for a start after a gem because the expectations of the fans and the player are higher, and can often lead to major disappointments for both. Thankfully last night wasn't one of those cases. Garza pitched another great game, and had great control of the strike zone once again (63 of 99 pitches were for strikes). He made only 2 mistakes and Baltimore batters took advantage (Roberts' 2-run homer in the 3rd and Zaun's solo shot in the 5th). This is one of those cases where his stat line doesn't match his dominant performance; Matty G worked 8 innings allowing 3 runs on 4 hits, striking-out 2, walking 2 and recording the W.
• Evan Longoria. Dirtbag was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI, bringing his league leading RBI total to 34. It's not just that he recorded 3 RBI, but that they were all in clutch situations. His first ribbie was a blooper down the RF line that dropped between a trio of O's and scored Navi, while the other 2 RBI came on a first-pitch grounder to LF with the bases juiced to increase the lead to 3 in the 7th.
• Melvin Upton and Dioner Navarro. Yesterday they stomped Whine together, so today they can cut the Cheese together; Upton came through in the clutch giving the Rays the go-ahead run in the 7th when he dropped an RBI double into LF to score Aki and Navi finally showed-up at the plate going 2 for 3 and scoring 2 runs. If one or both of these guys can get on track at the plate (preferably Upton) it would easily and quickly start paying off with W's.
• Troy Percival. Fatty McFluffnuts came-in in the 9th with 2 outs and was asked to make just one out so everyone could go home. Amazingly, he responded by throwing 3 perfect pitches to strike out Mora and end the game.

WHINE:

• Pat the Patient. Burrell's DHing performance was abysmal again, going 0 for 4 from the plate and dropping his BA to .241. Maybe his ribs hurt.
• Carlos Pena. El Gato was 0-3 from the plate with 1...2...3 K's. I don't like the "all or nothing" approach from Pena who needs to bring up his BA and OBP to help supplement his HR total.

CRACKERS:

• Carl Crawford has now stolen at least 1 base in each of the last 8 games. He has 19 steals on the season. If that trend continues CC is on pace for 110 steals which would put him in a tie for 9th place (with Vince Coleman) in the record books for stolen bases in a season.
• The current record belongs to Hugh Nicol who supposedly stole 138 bases for the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1887. The highest single season total for a modern era player is Ricky "Speed" Henderson with 130 in 1982.