Rays can't complete comeback, fall to Angels

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ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays had reason to be disappointed after Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Angels, if only because unlike so many other nights, they didn't come back enough, and the other team did.

But there was also a lesson in how they lost: tying the score in the eighth, then allowing the winning run in the ninth — an example of how fine the margin can be during the final six weeks of the regular season, and whatever lies beyond.

"Everything becomes more magnified, and that's a good thing," manager Joe Maddon said. "Pressure's great."

The Rays (77-49) dropped a half-game behind the Angels for the best record in the American League but maintained their 4½ game East division lead over Boston, and head to Chicago for a weekend series against the Central-leading White Sox.

The difference Wednesday was slight, and after starters Matt Garza and Jered Weaver did their part, the game changed on a trio of close plays.

The Rays were down 4-3 with one out in the eighth when they rallied, B.J. Upton doubling and Carlos Pena doing the same to tie it, and Cliff Floyd following with a hard single to right.

Pena had no way of knowing if the low liner would get through the infield, so he froze momentarily and had to hold at third (especially with strong-armed rightfielder Vladimir Guerrero throwing). He got no further as Willy Aybar and Ben Zobrist made outs.

"If only I was a fortune teller," Pena said. "If I was Miss Cleo, I would have been at home plate."

Rookie leftfielder Justin Ruggiano was a defensive replacement for Zobrist in the ninth and quickly become involved. After Grant Balfour's leadoff walk of Chone Figgins and a failed bunt, Mark Teixeira lofted a fly to shallow left that Ruggiano let drop in front of him, and he even tried to deke the runners by acting as if he had it.

Maddon, among others, "thought he was going to catch it easily," and Angels manager Mike Scioscia, among others, thought he lost it in the lights.

But Ruggiano said it was neither, that he may have been playing deeper than he "should have been" and stopped short on purpose because he didn't want to risk a dive and have the ball get by him.

"The way I saw that play going down, I thought I made the right decision … and looking back at it, I still think it's the right decision to keep the double play in order with one out in the inning," Ruggiano said.

With first and second, the Angels pulled off a double steal, with the call at third on Figgins questionable enough for Maddon to come out for a discussion, thought a much calmer and quieter one than Tuesday when he was ejected. "I wanted to try to maintain decorum tonight," he said.

The Rays intentionally walked Guerrero to load the bases and got one out on a force at the plate. But they gave up the decisive run when Garret Anderson grounded a ball up the middle that Akinori Iwamura, who was shifted in the hole, dived to get a glove on but couldn't hang on to to get the force at second. It was initially scored an error — which Scioscia ridiculed — then changed to a hit, extending Anderson's hitting streak to 23 games.

"The ball hit the glove and I wanted to make an out right there," Iwamura said. "That was a crucial situation."

Comments on this article

by Joe	Aug 21, 2008 4:54 PM
How about BUNTING the tying run over in the 9th with no outs and giving 2 guys a shot to tie the game.

by Edgar	Aug 21, 2008 2:17 PM
The Ruggiano play in the 9th could had happen to Hinske as well. He lost it in the lights. The problem was Maddon should had Navi bunt to advance Gross to second. Typical Maddon. He has a habit of doing that kind of stuff. This is not the 1st time.

by Gene	Aug 21, 2008 2:13 PM
Lots of give and take in the game between two good teams. Agree with Ruggiano as defense sub for Hinske, but he did not perform. Dont know what he was supposed to be doing in AAA, but he is not ready to be here yet.

by Tone	Aug 21, 2008 2:08 PM
The Umps were clearly working for the Angels this series, beyond the obvious horrible 2 safe calls. The strikes were much more liberal for Angels pitching than for Garza. How many below the knees pitches did Weaver get and how many did Garza? Sad.

by John	Aug 21, 2008 2:03 PM
If that's the tentative way Ruggiano plays coming in on a baseball, we need Baldelli in the game instead.

by Dave	Aug 21, 2008 12:30 PM
Was at the game last night sitting in left field. About 20 minutes prior to the game, Tori Hunter and BJ met in center field. Hunter gave him a stern but freindly lecture. You could see by his hand movements. They hugged and it was over. Very classy!

by phil	Aug 21, 2008 12:29 PM
Hey,we are going to lose some games and I have been highly critical of Maddons lack of bunt usage in the past.But..we did lose to the best team in baseball and nearly swept them.Perhaps the lessons learned last nite will be remembered in October.

by Lori	Aug 21, 2008 12:29 PM
Bad call, rookie. Idiot.

by Dave	Aug 21, 2008 12:01 PM
I agree with Ryan, Hinske needs to stay in games. I love Joe Maddon, but he needs to stick with him throughout. I am not sure what the organization sees in Ruggiano, but putting him in there for defense and he makes that play?

by Pat	Aug 21, 2008 12:01 PM
I am so proud of how our bullpen pitched this series. Think back to the past years--no, I'd rather not! Did you see the difference between LAA's bullpen and ours? I hope we do meet LAA in the series!!!!GO RAYS!!

by ED	Aug 21, 2008 11:57 AM
Ruggiano's play was inexcusable. He should have had it easily. Maybe he needs a ticket to Durham to work on catching fly balls.

by JDM	Aug 21, 2008 11:32 AM
The margine of victory was the two walks that scored. Of course, the big market Halos having 4 extra media-savve Men in Black on the field to help them throughout the series also finally proved to be insurmountable. Umps gave them the winning margine

by DIZ	Aug 21, 2008 11:32 AM
The only thing that Maddon has done wrong in 3 years is his refusal to bunt when "the book" calls for it.

by David	Aug 21, 2008 11:30 AM
My goodness, Joe is going to be manager of the year and these two yokels think they know something he doesn't. <sigh>

by Ryan	Aug 21, 2008 11:30 AM
There were a few things that made us lose this game. One was a blown call on Figgans who was called safe at first when he was clearly out by half a step. (ESPN showed replays a dozen times and even said "how could he miss that call")

by Ryan	Aug 21, 2008 11:30 AM
Another mistake was taking Eric Hinske out of the game for Zobrist. Hmmm Hinske was 2-2 for the night and has had some big hits for us this tear. Another was Ruggiano's easy fly out that he missed if that ball is caught we probably would of won...

by Robert	Aug 21, 2008 9:04 AM
The key play was the Rays catcher not throwing to second to get the trail runner, slow-footed Teixeira, on the 9th inning double-steal.It didn't look as though Maddon had even prepared his catcher for the play. Chalk one up to the Angel's manager.

by MB	Aug 21, 2008 8:55 AM
Maddon "appreciates the effort" and I would have appreciated a bunt in the 9th to put Gross in scoring position. Putting in Navarro to pinch hit was stupid. Tuesday, Martinez had a bunt called for. Too bad Maddon didn't get tossed in the 9th.