Rays-Mariners: Despite Losing Series, Rays Gain Ground

For the Tampa Bay Rays, it's a case of "what might have been." The Rays gained more ground on the wildcard leading Boston Red Sox, thanks to the Sox abysmal performance in the Big Apple, but failed to capitalize fully only winning one out of three against the Seattle Mariners. The one that really hurt the worst was game one of the series. Tampa Bay built a 5-1 lead heading in to the bottom of the seventh inning thanks to some powerful hitting by struggling slugger Pat Burrell. The wheels began to fall off starter Jeff Niemann, who had been dominant yet again for six strong innings. In the seventh, Ken Griffey, Jr. led off with a solo home run to cut the lead to 5-2. Adrian Beltre singled and then Franklin Guiterrez struck out. Jack Wilson followed with a single to put men on first and third. In came Grant Balfour to relieve Niemann and face Rob Johnson. Johnson lined a shot to right field and score Beltre, cutting the lead to 5-3. Balfour fell apart, hitting the next b...