Rays fall to Yankees again - St. Petersburg Times

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Rays fall to Yankees again

ST. PETERSBURG — The use of instant replay for the first time in major-league baseball to review Alex Rodriguez's ninth-inning home run Wednesday was a case for history.

The Rays' replay of their poor performance from the night before was a cause for concern.

The Rays lost, again, to the Yankees 8-4 on Wednesday and looked bad in doing so, the defense uncharacteristically shaky, the offense again quiet and the starting pitching ineffective before a Tropicana Field crowd of 25,215.

"Our guys are fine," manager Joe Maddon said. "We're playing with a lot of intensity. We're just making some mistakes right now that we have to eradicate."

The Rays and Yankees made history with two outs in the ninth when Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer off Troy Percival — after a potential third strike that wasn't called — that went over the top of leftfield foul pole and struck the catwalk behind it in foul territory.

It was called a home run on the field, Maddon sought consultation and clarification and after a 2-minute, 15-second visit to the replay room and review, the call was confirmed.

"It was kind of cool to see it actually went down for the first time in history," Rays first baseman Carlos Pena said. "It would have been great if we did it, instead of the opposing team."

The Rays (84-53) lost consecutive games at home for the first time since April 14-15 (to the Yankees). They lost their first series since the All-Star break (snapping a major-league season-best 13-series streak).

And, two games into September, they've lost two games off their AL East lead, down from five to a perilous three over the Red Sox, who pulled off another inspiring win, coming back from a 4-0 seventh-inning deficit.

Pena insisted they aren't concerned about the Red Sox gaining and the lead dwindling.

"We don't care about that right now," Pena said. "When we start worrying what's going on with the Boston Red Sox or where we are in the standings or trying to protect the record or protect the lead, we're getting our minds off of what we should be focusing on which is playing our game."

The problem the past two nights is that they haven't been playing their game, and the Yankees — battling to keep their faint postseason hopes alive — have.

"They're putting a lot of pressure on our defense on the infield," Maddon said. "They've been running hard to first base. They're playing our game right now. They're beating us with our own stick."

The Rays were down 6-1 early after Edwin Jackson's shortest start of the season (31/3 innings, 10 hits, six runs, and one funny line: "Too bad instant replay doesn't count for infield hits"), got to within 6-3 and had a chance for more with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth, but Willy Aybar lined into a double play and Eric Hinske popped out.

The Rays are showing signs of frustration, Aybar whacking his bat on the ground and breaking it in half, Pena slamming his helmet after Johnny Damon caught his seventh-inning drive at the wall.

"I'm sure there was a little frustration among the group there tonight," Maddon said. "And I like it. Just so we're able to temper it and understand. It just indicates how much they care, and that's a good thing."

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com.

Replay gets first test

A ninth-inning homer by Alex Rodriguez is upheld in MLB's first use of instant replay. 4C

View more photos from the Rays' 8-4 loss to the Yankees at rays.tampabay.com.

Print out our newest Rays cheer card at rays.tampabay.com, then take it to tonight's game against the Yankees.

Call it a quibble …

The Rays obviously have done a lot right this season, but hitting in the clutch isn't one of them. Their batting average in some key clutch categories, with their AL rank:

Magic numbers

17 to make playoffs

22 to win division

Comments on this article

by Mike S	Sep 6, 2008 2:36 PM
No matter what happens at the end of the season, the Rays have shown they're not the doormat of the past. Go for it guys!!!

by Jon	Sep 4, 2008 4:39 PM
The Rays are fine. Losses happen in baseball. The cubs lost 4 in a row recently. Evan coming back will provide some needed adrenaline at a good time for us. It's definitely a football town when fans panic over two losses. We're fine.

by M.R.	Sep 4, 2008 4:39 PM
Interesting to see some of the prognosticators comments..remember 2 months ago after the losing streak prior to the All-Star game and the predictions of the Rays imminent demise? Those "experts" disappeared until now....we'll see how it ends up!

by DIZ	Sep 4, 2008 4:39 PM
It's all going to come down to those 6 games with Boston.

by Bil	Sep 4, 2008 4:39 PM
Aybar needs to stop thinking he's the shortstop and let Bartlett play his position. there were at least two times (in this game, but not the first time i've seen him do it) he cut him off and then didnt make the play to first.

by denyse	Sep 4, 2008 4:39 PM
i think it historic that tampa rays is the 1st for the replay. it's a shame that they lost against the yanks. we are ambivilent because tampa is our home but we like the yanks--jeter has done alot for the community and alex rodriquez is just a natu

by Kevin	Sep 4, 2008 4:39 PM
See what happens when you don't sell off all your young talent? You're in first. I'm a Yankees fan at heart, but root for the Rays (except when they're head-to-head) of course.

by CP	Sep 4, 2008 4:39 PM
The called home run by A-Rod that was reviewed was a foul ball. It hit to the left of the yellow mark on the back of the dome. It was clear, but even the announcers got it wrong. This was the first instant replay and the ump's got it wrong. Go Rays!

by Ian	Sep 4, 2008 4:39 PM
3 1/2 weeks left to 'midnight'...tough 10 days ahead.

by John	Sep 4, 2008 4:39 PM
You don't replace all stars with bench players and continue to win. It's time for Longo to get back on the field. If Baldelli can play every day, he should be out there too.

by Tom	Sep 4, 2008 4:39 PM
Choke, gag, cough; pressure is closing in on the Rays and their 'cute' little story of 1st place...

by BB	Sep 4, 2008 9:58 AM
"FEEL THE HEAT" Me thinks the Rays are feeling the heat and are not adjusting to it. They'd better adjust quickly or there will be no postseason for them. The starting point might be to not let the umpires' inconsistent ball/strike calls upset them.

by Nic	Sep 4, 2008 8:58 AM
What's up with Bartlett and Aybar? Aybar, please stop waiting for the ball to come to you. Bartlett, follow the ball all the way into your glove.

by Richard	Sep 4, 2008 8:55 AM
We weren't supposed to get this far in 2008, so relax. Keep thinking long term. The pitching staff needs an ace. Offer Kazmir plus either Sonny or Jack (toss in Jonny Gomes) to Cleveland for Cliff Lee. The we can talk about a post season appearance.

by jeff	Sep 4, 2008 8:54 AM
There is no fall from first place Joe, go hate somewhere else.

by Brian	Sep 4, 2008 8:54 AM
September teams step it up. We should do the same.The race for the chase.Everyone is chasing us now. Adversity is coming our way this month.How are we going to respond? We need to jump on teams no matter what. Just like they did to us last night.

by Joe	Sep 4, 2008 7:53 AM
Fall from !st Pleace almost complete...

by Mike	Sep 4, 2008 7:53 AM
We have to keep the faith. The Rays ARE FOR REAL!!!!!

by david	Sep 4, 2008 7:52 AM
It's the fans fault, if we'd shown up for this crap they've pu on the field the past 2 days they would have won. Really it's the truth, it's all our fault.

by Dave	Sep 4, 2008 7:51 AM
Why worry. With the Rays long history of success in the stretch run, they should be fine. Tough schedule? No big deal, they always come up big in September.

by Ray	Sep 4, 2008 7:51 AM
Kaz needs to be the number one that he's supposed to be and win this next one. They could be out of the "race" really quick by next week this time if they don't turn it around.