Tuesday, July 31, 2007

CC Buys Everyone a Donut



Last night's game was one of the most amazing games that I have watched in the past 10 years. The game had its ups and downs, and ended with one of the most exciting moments in Rays history. Carl Crawford came up in the 11th just hoping for a walk, he wasn't even supposed to be playing, but was needed to pinch run earlier in the game. He took a swing and immediately grasped his wrist in pain, it was one of those moments where it was kind of painful to watch as a fan, because you could tell how much it was hurting him. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, Carl hits one to deep left-center field. Nobody could believe it.....especially Carl.

Carl homerun was incredible, but what may be even more amazing is the fact that our bullpen went 4.1 innings without giving up a earned run. In that process, Grant Balfour made Andrew Friedman look like a genius. There is something about Balfour's mound presence that just makes you excited as a fan while watching him. Even the Dohmannator was able to escape a jam in the 11th. Al Reyes did his normal thing, although his fastball still seems like it isn't moving as much as it was at the beginning of the season, but his control is still impeccable.

Sonny gave up 2 runs in the top of the first, and you sort of get that feeling in your stomach that it was going to be a long game. He ended up turning it around and pitching a good game, my favorite moment of his was picking a double play throw out of the dirt at first. Josh Wilson may end up being the unsung hero of the game, as if it were for his 2-out bottom of the ninth game-tying RBI single, CC wouldn't have gotten a chance to hit that homer. Even though we won, it will not stop me from complaining......the home plate umpire last night was downright awful to the Rays. We couldn't get a call going our way the whole game, he was very inconsistent, and that bugged the hell out of me.