CHEESE & WHINE: Shaky Start, Solid Finish

Rays: 10
Phillies: 4


CHEESE:

• Andy Sonnanstine. After giving up 4 runs on 6 hits in the 1st it looked like Sonny was not long for the game, but he bounced back and was lights-out for the next 4 and 1/3 innings, allowing just 2 over the minimum from that point forward. Sonny finished the night with 7 strike-outs, one walk, and was awarded the W.
• Gabe Kapler. Gabe finished 1 for 1 with a double, a walk, and a steal. Kapler put on a clinic on how to avoid the tag while sliding. Despite arriving after the ball on both his double and his steal attempt Gabe was able to sneak past a few lazy tags by simply staying aware of what was going on in front of him.
• Carl Crawford. CC was 2 for 4 with 2 doubles, a walk, and 2 RBI. CC is now hitting .313 for the season.
• Ben Zobrist. After his lovely wife sang the National Anthem, Ben proceeded to hit his 16th homerun of the season (I wonder if that's ever happened) , and finished the night 2 for 4 with a walk, and 2 RBI.
• Willy Aybar. Aybar, who was playing for the injured, but not really injured, Evan Longoria, finished the game 3 for 4 with a homerun (6), 3 RBI, and a walk.
• Beating Philly. It was the wrong series and 8 months too late, but it was still gratifying to see the Rays win a series v. the Phillies.

WHINE:

• Dioner Navarro. Navi was 1 for 5 and left 3 men on base. Too many games this season Navi has been either 0-fer or 1-fer (hence the .215 BA), and it's getting old. Apparently last year's hitting capabilities were the anomaly not the previous year's lack of hitting.

CRACKERS:

• Jason Bartlett broke the franchise record for consecutive-game hitting streak formerly held by Quinten McCracken. Bartlett extended his hitting-streak to a new franchise high 19 games after hitting a single in the 5th inning.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Jason Bartlett. See Above.