Rays come-from-behind with offensive show

May 20, 2021 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. These days, they buy their bats from the big-boy store. And how about those Tampa Bay Rays? Suddenly, they are Cash’s Crushers. Suddenly, they are the Big Blue Machine. Sometimes, you wonder if the outfielders are playing on the proper side the fence. The raking Rays were at it again Wednesday night, […]

Read the full article →

Bolts take 2-0 lead over Panthers

May 19, 2021 general

Wednesday, 4 a.m. This is where they live. This is what they do. The game is down to the marrow by now, and the Tampa Bay Lightning is clinging to a one goal lead, but the opposition has a power play. That oponent — the Florida Panthers this time — is a high-energy bunch in […]

Read the full article →

Rays’ offense stays hot in victory over Orioles

May 19, 2021 general

Wednesday, 3 a.m. Suddenly, they are dangerous. Suddenly, they have weapons. One more time: Are you sure those are the Tampa Bay Rays? The Rays, inoffensive for most of the season, continued to hit like the big boys Tuesday night. They clobbered the Baltimore Orioles, 13-6, to win their fifth straight game. Content beyond this […]

Read the full article →

Whose jersey would you like to purchase?

May 18, 2021 general

In hindsight, the year 2003 was a good one to buy jerseys for a Tampa Bay Sport fan. The Bucs had just won a Super Bowl in February, and they were laden with stars. There was Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp, John Lynch and Ronde Barber, Keyshawn Johnson and Brad Johnson. The Bolts, still a […]

Read the full article →

Lightning look complete in win over Panthers

May 17, 2021 general

Monday, 4 a.m. Nikita Kucherov is back. Brayden Point never left. And the Tampa Bay Lightning, at last, might be complete. Finally, they might have the weaponry they needsto make a run at another Stanley Cup. The Lightning, which ended the season wounded and chasing the Florida Panthers, was reborn Sunday night in a 5-4 […]

Read the full article →

Rays may be playing their best after sweep

May 17, 2021 general

Monday, 3 a.m. It isn’t just that Ji-Man Choi is healthy again. It’s that the Tampa Bay Rays, finally, seem to be whole again. The Rays won their fourth straight game Sunday, completing a sweep of the New York Mets with a 7-1 thumping. The Rays have scored 31 runs in their last four games, […]

Read the full article →

Rays’ offense lights it up against New York

May 16, 2021 general

Sunday, 4 a.m. Sometimes, the point isn’t just to dig the long ball. Sometimes, hitting it often is a bigger deal. Just ask the Tampa Bay Rays, who managed to win their third straight game Saturday, a 12-5 pounding of the New York Mets. For once, the Rays didn’t worry about the knockout punch. It […]

Read the full article →

Phillips’ walk-off single leads Rays’ comeback

May 15, 2021 general

Saturday, 4 a.m. Pity the poor New York Mets. Friday night, Brett Phillips had them right where he wanted them. Phillips had spent the entire game looking unimpressive. He had struck out three times, watching his batting average dip to .209. He had missed on a sacrifice bunt attempt. He was hitting .056 with runners […]

Read the full article →

Rays score nine to clobber Yankees

May 14, 2021 general

Friday, 4 a.m. The temptation is to declare them cured. After a night like this, how else can you see it? The Tampa Bay Rays, the kings of swing-and-miss, scored nine runs Thursday night. They collected 10 hits and five walks. They had six extra base hits, including two home runs. They clobbered the Yankees, […]

Read the full article →

Yankees’ Cole shackles Rays once again

May 13, 2021 general

Thursday, 4 a.m. Yeah, that made sense. A great pitcher dominated a lousy offense Wednesday night. A strikeout artist tantalized a swing-and-miss batting order. A high-powered arm stopped a low-powered bunch of bats. So what else is new? The Yankees, behind star pitcher Gerrit Cole, beat the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0. Cole struck out 12 […]

Read the full article →