The Tampa Bay Rays rebounded in a big way Saturday afternoon, taking the second of three games against the Baltimore Orioles by the score of 7-3. Catcher Kelly Shoppach pitched in two long balls, one of the Grand Slam variety, to pick up a floundering offense. Seriously, when B.J. Upton reaches base on three consecutive appearances, you know it’s going to be a good day, and that it was indeed.

Andy Sonnanstine picked up the win on the hill, improving to 3-1 on the year. Let’s be nice and say he didn’t have his best day, control wise. Still, he managed to pitch his way out of jams, including bases loaded in the opening frame. Sonny went for five with three hits and three runs yielded while walking four batter and striking out two.

Baltimore seemed to have absorbed some of whatever it is that makes Tampa Bay strand so many men in scoring position for the first two innings. Sonny wasn’t able to get away with it all night, though, and after putting the first two men aboard in the third, he paid for it with an Adam Jones home run. Ty Wigginton had singled to lead off followed by a walk by Luke Scott before the less than fortunate long ball.

Fortunately, that would do it offensively for those Baltimore Birds. Then the Rays got theirs.

This article appears in Aug 12-18, 2010.