It took almost two months into the season, but the Rays have suffered their first sweep and unfortunately it came at the hands of the hated Boston Red Sox, a team nearly left for dead after suffering a four game sweep to the Rays in mid April.
The Rays seemed poised to widen their lead on first place after a two game sweep of the New York Yankees at new Yankee Stadium just a week ago, but slumping bats and back to back series losses have Rays fans concerned about the Rays ability to hold onto first throughout the season.
The Rays entered the Red Sox series holding an 8.5 game lead over the club from Boston and in position to bury the sox in an early season whole that would have been difficult to dig out of. With a series win or sweep they could have lengthened their lead over the Red Sox to 10.5 or 11.5 games. Even this early in the year ten plus game defecits in the standings are hard to overcome. Instead the Rays suffered their first sweep of the season breathing life into a Red Sox team that has now leapfrogged the Toronto Blue Jays for third place in the best division in baseball.
This article appears in May 27 – Jun 2, 2010.