Rays win again with the help of another unlikely hero

The Rays in the midst of a loosing streak, and playing in Boston, another loss would have caused them first place. I wrote Tuesday morning that they would find a way to win, and Tuesday night they did, with the help of another unlikely hero.

It was a game where the Rays left many runners in scoring position, but could not increase their lead by more than one run. For 5 straight innings the Rays got the lead off batter on base, but could not score. Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir was excellent as was the bullpen, but you just knew that one run would not be enough. Jason Bay, who the Rays tried to get at the trade deadline, hit a 2 run homer in the bottom of the eight to give the Red Sox the lead 4-3.

The Rays with BJ Upton out for a couple days called up Dan Johnson earlier in the day, and was going to have him start, but his flight was late due to weather. So in the top of the 9th they bring in Johnson to pinch hit and he hit a blast over the right centerfield wall to tie the game. This was followed up with doubles by Fernando Perez and Dioner Navarro to give the Rays the lead. The Red Sox had a man in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth, but closer Troy Percival was able to hold.

Here was a game as with many others, that the Rays found a way once again. Ever time someone gets injured; there is another to pick them up. Whenever some struggle, the ones you least expect come through. It is hard to put into perspective what this team has done this season. This is partly because in order to compare some of their stats you would have to think back over a hundred years, and not many of us can do that. I just have to think with what they are accomplishing, and who they are doing it with, it is just something special.