CHEESE & WHINE: (Im)Perfection

Rays: 0
White Sox: 5


CHEESE:

• It ended quickly, and it's always fun to witness a no-hitter or a perfect game- even against our beloved Rays.

WHINE:

• Being on the losing end of a perfect game.
• Watching a shell of the formerly formidable Scott Kazmir.

CRACKERS:

• Buehrle's perfect game was the league's first since 2004.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• For the first time ever, a non-Ray: Mark Buehrle

CHEESE & WHINE: One Pitch To Rule Them All

Rays: 3
White Sox: 4


CHEESE:

• Carl Crawford. Another day another amazing catch in the outfield. CC stretched at a full sprint to grab a ball that was headed over the fence and managed to hold-on to it even after he slammed into the wall (almost identical to his all-star, game-saving catch; only more violent). Maybe he heard that I wanted to trade him and decided to prove to me that he's more than a "slightly above average" left-fielder.
• James Shields. Shields lasted 6 and 2/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits. Shields struggled with his control a bit more than usual, walking 3 while only striking-out 4, but did what needed to be done to keep the Rays in the game.
• Pat the Patient. PB was 2 for 4 from the plate- hitting his 6th homer of the season in the 4th to kick-off the scoring. Toasty.
• Gabe Gross. 1 for 2 from the plate with a 2-run homer to increase the Rays' lead to 3. Gross also took a BB, is quietly hitting .277, and is probably the most underrated player on the roster (and has been since they signed him last season).

WHINE:

• One Pitch. I'm not one to typically be nit-picky about balls and strikes calls, but last night with 2 outs and 2 on in the 7th, and the Rays leading by a count of 3-1, Dan Wheeler threw a beautiful knee-high fastball to strike-out Alexei Ramirez looking, but homeplate ump, Laz Diaz, somehow called it a ball and the inning continued. Approximately 15 seconds later, on the very next pitch, Ramirez hit a 2-RBI triple to tie the game at three. The next batter, Jermaine Dye, hit an RBI single to put the Sox up 4-3, and the rest, as they say, is history. One pitch- one game, and one day in September we could all be looking back and saying with agony, "If Laz Diaz had just called that pitch correctly the Rays would be in the playoffs".

CRACKERS:

• Last night was the third game in four days with a final score of 4-3. It was also the Rays' fourth consecutive 1-run game.
• Don't forget today's game is at 2 pm (est), and features Kazmir (4-5) v. Buehrle (10-3).

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Gabe Gross. That homer was a beauty, and should've put the Rays up for good.

CHEESE & WHINE: Getting Their Mojo Back

Rays: 3
White Sox: 2


CHEESE:

• Jeff Niemann. Niemann continues to show improvement- in fact he's been the Rays' best pitcher over the last six weeks. Last night his control and pitch selection were top notch, and his defense was stellar just as an added bonus. Niemann finished the night having allowed 2 runs on 8 hits in 8 innings of work, striking out 7, walking none, and earning a well-deserved W.
• JP Howell. JP once again showcased his skills as a closer; coming-in in the 9th in a true closer's roll and shutting 'em down. Howell allowed 1 hit before striking out 2 and handling a "back-at-ya" which he tossed to Pena to make it official and earn the save.
• The Red Sox lost.

WHINE:

• Pat Burrell. Hitless again. I'm growing impatient.
• Obnoxious Fan. Some obnoxious fan was coming over the mic during the game, and just thought that calling Evan Longoria "Eva" in between every stinkin' pitch was the funniest thing he'd ever come up with... it wasn't funny to begin with and it certainly isn't funny now that you're the 9 millionth knucklehead to say it.

CRACKERS:

• Scott Kazmir will make his scheduled start this evening, despite the cramping in his forearm which he experienced at the end of his last start.
• CWS pitcher John Danks has a blister and has been scratched in favor of rookie Carlos Torres.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Jeff Niemann. That spike curveball is filthy. I love it.

CHEESE & WHINE: No Cigar

Rays: 3
White Sox: 4


CHEESE:

• Carl Crawford. CC recorded his third career in-the-park homerun, and he did so standing-up. The first thing Mrs. DirtbagFan said was, "he wasn't even hustling until he was half way to second." Yep- those poor guys never had a chance. CC finished the night 2 for 3 with a run, an RBI, and a BB.
• Evan Longoria. Dirtbag had a great game defensively in addition to hitting his 19th homerun. E-Lo finished the night just 1 for 4 from the plate.
• The Ol' College Try. The Rays really looked like they wanted this one, and they gave it their everything- putting 2 men on in both the 8th and 9th innings, but were unable to plate the tieing run after a few base running miscues.

WHINE:

• David Price. King David kept it close enough to give them a chance to win, but he was anything but sharp; finishing the night with 108 pitches, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits, walking 2 and striking-out 6. Although his stat line doesn't look too bad, if you watched the game you know what I mean- a few well-timed double play balls as well as a few nice defensive plays kept this one close.
• Willy Aybar. One day after impressing us all with his offense he let us down with his defense. Willy finished the night with 2 fielding errors. I've got a theory as to why he's been playing 2nd as of late... stay tuned (later today).

CRACKERS:

• Crawford has hit in-the-park homers in 2005, 2007, and now 2009. Guess when his next one will be.

CAVIAR (game ball):

• Carl Crawford. Any time you can post a true ITP homer you win the game ball.