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Roger Mooney
Roger Mooney covers the Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.
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Rays prevail, clinch playoff spot
Posted Sep 20, 2008 by Marc Lancaster
Updated Sep 20, 2008 at 06:22 PM
The Tampa Bay Rays, baseball’s most downtrodden franchise through their first 10 years of existence, are headed to the playoffs.
Tampa Bay’s 7-2 rout of the Minnesota Twins on Saturday clinched at least a wild card berth for a team that lost 96 games a year ago and had never won more than 70 in a season. A packed house of 36,048 witnessed the win and the celebration that followed at Tropicana Field.
It was a team effort once again, as six different players drove in the Rays’ seven runs, with RBIs ranging from a bases-loaded walk drawn by pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli to Fernando Perez’s third homer in 15 games as a Ray.
Scott Kazmir led the way on the mound with six shutout innings as he bounced back from the worst outing of his career Monday against the Red Sox. It was Kazmir who, on the first day of spring training, first raised the possibility of the Rays playing into October. Now they’ll get a chance to live that dream.
First, they’ll continue chasing the AL East title. They made some progress on that front Saturday, increasing their lead to 2-1/2 games with their victory and Boston’s loss at Toronto. If the season ended today, the Rays would host the White Sox in the first round of the playoffs and the Red Sox would travel to Anaheim.
The Rays’ final regular-season home game is tomorrow afternoon against the Twins, and it is already sold out. But for the first time, local fans will get a chance to see their team in person again next month.
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Reader Comments
Por (marc c) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
9=8 good job guys finish what you started and bring it.
Suggest removalPor (gary greven) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Have been living in Oregon now for 1year,and am an avid Rays Fan.
Suggest removalfollowed their progress every day, and am excited to see them finally in the play-offs.
Their 11th season will make believers out of a lot of people.
omitting the Devil out of their Team Logo. was a huge step.
Now to win their division will be step TWO. dAVID WILL SLAY gOLIATH IN THE WORLD-SERIES.Too bad I dont say any games, except when Play The Mariners.
I cant afford the trip and the tickets,
otherwise I would be in St.Pete for sure.! I do heve a place to stay.
GO Rays!!!!!!!!!!! Gary Greven
Por (mike) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! Longoria can become Mr. October, and bring the world series to St.Pete/Tampa, yeah baby. I’m pumped. Lets GO RAYS
Suggest removalPor (Lee Spencer) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Born & reared in St Pete. Waited 58 years for a major league team. Agonize through 10 losing season. It was worth it all for this year. Go, Rays, win the league championship & then the world series. YOU GUYS DESERVE IT!
Suggest removalPor (Joe Lydon) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
I hope the Rays don’t use Troy Percival if they go into the Playoffs
Suggest removalPor (Lou C) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Joe Lydon—My thoughts exactually. I was so nervous in the 9th when good old Percy came in. It don’t take him long to give up 5 runs. Then when I seen Wheeler I almost had to take a pill. Damn I hope Maddon don’t go with those two guys when he has other, better pitchers.
Suggest removalPor (P.Love) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Couldn’t be happier!
Take the Devil out of the Tampa Bay Rays and look what happens….
Nice haircuts WB….saw you in the photo gallery.
WAY TO TO TAMPA BAY!
Suggest removalPor (Dan Alatorre) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
“The Tampa Bay Rays, baseball’s most downtrodden franchise through their first 10 years of existence…”
The Tampa Bay Rays have NOT been the most downtrodden, and they haven’t been around 10 years.
That was the Devil Rays, and they are gone for good.
The Tampa Bay Rays are winners.
Get used to it.
Suggest removalPor (Keith Stone) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Woo Hoo. Go Rays, Congradulations…I am so Happy that Tampa is a Viable sports center…Bucs and Rays Rule.
Suggest removalPor (Ardis Craig) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
You go Ray’s!!!!!!
Suggest removalPor (Paul Homer) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
9=8
Suggest removalI AM SO FRIGGIN’ HAPPY for the entire Tampa Bay RAYS organization. What an awesome weekend. And I’m very proud of all the fans that finally, FINALLY came out and supported this Team!
Go Rays !
Go Tampa!
AL East Title
AL Champions!
World Series 08 Champions!!
UN-BE-FRICKIN-LEVIABLE
Por (martha burton) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
GO RAYS!!!!! So happy for the Rays & ownership (unlike previous owner) who wanted to win & be nice to fans, hats off to the owners job well done. I only get to see the gms when on espn, but keep up with the computer on Rays site. They have made a lot of people happy in bay area & a lot of around the country. A grt bunch of guys & so young. Good luck in the playoffs we all will be pulling for you. GO RAYS GO RAYS!!!!!!!!
Suggest removalPor (james gawlick) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
what a pleasure seeing a small market team win and the Yankees with there billions not make playoffs.great effort great team GO RAYS!!!!!!
Suggest removalPor (Tom Griffing) on September 20, 2008 (Suggest removal)
The World Series Highway Goes Straight Through “AKI BAY USA”
Suggest removalPor (Ken J.) on September 21, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Congrats, Rays! Here’s looking forward to a Cubs/Rays World Series!
Suggest removalPor (Richard Bauer) on September 21, 2008 (Suggest removal)
As a fan of the Cleveland Indians, and thus neutral as far as the Rays are concerned, let me express my congratulations to Tampa Bay, and my admiration for the truly remarkable accomplishments of this 2008 season, regardless of how the playoffs go. Well-done Tampa Bay, and as my Indians are officially eliminated, I hope that the Rayswill be hoisting a World Series banner at Tropicana next April.
Suggest removalPor (Martin Covich) on September 21, 2008 (Suggest removal)
You guys make us proud “Way to Go Rays”
Suggest removalPor (michael) on September 21, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Being a dedicated Cardinals fan (where getting into the playoffs is normal here), I want to say congrads to the Rays and their fans! Long overdue!! Now, win the AL East over those hated Red Sox!!
Suggest removalPor (Theo Epstein) on September 21, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Great job, but give me a break!!! It is only a playoffs birth! The Rays have won nothing yet!! Not even the AL East, yet. You guys are celebrating like you won the World Series. The slogan 9=8 is a joke. It tell me that the Rays are just happy to be in the playoffs. The Sox goes by 9=1. Nine players on the field equals one goal, the World Series..
Suggest removalYou better enjoy this year, because next year the Rays will be back where they belong. That this, behind the Sox and the Yankees.
Por (dan) on September 21, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Congrads to the Rays!!! Thanks for playing as a team and not an individual. Keep up the hard work its not over yet. Dont be content on being there finish what you started. GO RAYS!!!
Suggest removalPor (Hank Steinbrenner) on September 21, 2008 (Suggest removal)
Wonderful job, Rays. Just make sure you finish your business. Do not settle for the playoffs. Kick some butt in the playoffs.
Suggest removalDad is so proud of the Rays and he sends his best wishes for the playoffs..
Por (SKYLINE LIMOUSINE) on September 21, 2008 (Suggest removal)
WHAT WE NEED ARE MORE COWBELLS
Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Rays and all of their fans!
Catch all the postgame action at Tropicana Field without the hassle and in style as the Rays continue on the road to the world series.
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Por (marc c) on September 21, 2008 (Suggest removal)
hey theo why bother comming here as a hater?is your life in Boston that lame?thats rite its getting cold there the heat is getting turned on,your probably looking for some fat chick to keep u warm for the long cold winter thinking bout how low our payroll is and we still sat your ##### down how many time this year?you have no biz talking the sox were always 2nd show to the yanks anyway.
Suggest removalPor (Rudeboi) on September 22, 2008 (Suggest removal)
You Rays fans kill me. Your team does something amazing and you can’t even fill out the Trop every night to watch them play. See Red Sox fans are real fans and loyal fans cause we support our team at home (460+ consecutive sell outs) and on the road(Sox vs. Rays series=30,000+ fans/night)whereas when the twins came to town (Twins vs. Rays series=12,500 fans per game). Pathetic. I support your team more than most of you in the Tampa area even though I only go to Sox games when there in town.
Suggest removalGrow a couple Rays fans and shell out some money for the Rays cause as the saying goes, you gotta strike the iron while it’s hot. Good luck in playoffs cause you’ll need it.
Por (SKYLINE LIMOUSINE) on January 20, 2009 (Suggest removal)
Discreet, comfortable, and smoth transportation thats perfect for 5 comfortably up to 6 max. With enough space for luggage, thus becoming very popular for airport transfers,business meetings,city to city,and shopping.
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