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Good Gut-Check Win, But Rays Need To Do It Again

Written by: Leslie Monteiro on 23rd September 2010

Good Gut-Check Win, But Rays Need To Do It Again | read this item

The Yankees beat the Rays in the first two games of a four-game series at Yankee Stadium.

On Wednesday night, the Rays showed they are not going to go away easily. They took the third game of the series with a 7-2 victory over the Yankees. Now, they are in a position to get a split Thursday night.

This is what the Rays expected all along. They knew it was going to be hard to take three of four against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. It would not be easy if that four-game set was at Tropicana Field. To be in a position of getting a split after two bad games, it is hard to complain.

There were many heroes that stepped up in this much-needed Rays’ victory.

Jeremy Hellickson pitched for the Rays after the game was delayed by rain. He filled in for starter Wade Davis.

Hellickson set the tone in the Rays’ victory by giving the team 3 1/3 good innings, and that helped the Rays protect their lead. He hit the strike zone well, and he never gave in against a good Yankee lineup.

This was a boost for Hellickson and the Rays. They needed someone to step up after the rain delay cost Davis a chance to pitch.

Hellickson struggled lately, so it was a risk to put him out there. Still, he has to show he is capable of pitching in this type of role next month. Rays manager Joe Maddon can not wait for a pressure-less situation to use his young starter.

It was a good thing he started, and he responded well. The Rays should be encouraged with his outing.

The Rays’ stars have done nothing in this series so far, but they made their presence known in this game. Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria provided the Rays’ offense by hitting home runs consecutively.

With the Rays hanging on to a 3-2 lead, they needed someone who can break the game open, and they got it. This is what stars do. They put the game away, and let the relievers finish it.

That was how it was drawn, and how it was executed. Grant Balfour, Joaquin Benoit and Chad Qualls pitched the final three innings in preserving the victory.

After the game, the guys yelled in the locker room with the music blaring. It may not have been a champagne celebration, but it might as well.

Why not? They have the right to celebrate. They have gone through some hard times lately. With their starting rotation in tatters and the team running on fumes, every win is precious.

For them to step up and respond, they should enjoy it. Maybe this win can give the boost they are seeking. This gives the Rays a chance to go win the series finale with their ace on the mound.

Of course, David Price has to battle CC Sabathia in that game. This is not going to be easy. Both starters pitched last week to a no-decision after pitching eight scoreless innings.

There is no guarantee the Rays can win with Price pitching. He could pitch well, but if Sabathia does well, what Price does is moot. It is a sobering thought.

The Rays can feel good they will not be in a position to be swept in the final game of the series. If they lost this game, the Yankees would sense the Rays would be deflated. Odds were good the Rays would have been swept with them facing Sabathia.

The Yankees know they can put this division race away by sweeping the Rays. With their ace on the mound, they were going to go for the kill. This is why the Rays needed to win this contest.

That is not the only reason why the Rays needed to win. The Rays have to continue to make the Yankees be scared of them. They have to let the Yankees know it is not going to be easy come October.

The Yankees can talk all they want about how the Rays are formidable, but do not buy it. It is hard to think the Yankees respect the Rays that much. They do not respect anyone.

When a team wins a championship, they are in the top of the world. They develop an arrogant attitude. They feel a sense of entitlement. This is what the Yankees are all about.

The Rays need to go make an impression whenever they face the Yankees. This was just a start, but they need to make another one.

It is not going to end after Thursday night. If both teams meet in the playoffs, the Rays need to beat the Yankees as a validation they can actually slay them off.

The Rays have done okay at Yankee Stadium, but the Yankees know they can beat the Rays at their place. This is another example why the Rays had to respond.

They need to prove they can handle the task of playing at the Bronx in October. They must embrace playoff baseball over there. That attitude can go a long way in the postseason.

Bottom line is this was a great win, but it will not mean much if the Rays can not get one more at the Stadium to end the regular season series.

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Topics: Bad Games, Balfour, Carl Crawford, chad qualls, Clue, Evan Longoria, Game Series, Game Set, Heroes, Hitting Home, Jeremy Hellickson, Joaquin Benoit, Joe Maddon, Lead, New Yorkers, Perception, Pitch, Presence, Rain Delay, Risk, Strike Zone, Team 3, Third Game, Thursday Night, Tropicana Field, Two Games, Victory, Wade Davis, Wednesday Night, Wit, Yankee Stadium, Yankees

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