Wake-Up Call: 12 games that will haunt 2009 Rays

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

Welcome home, Rays.

When last we saw them at Tropicana Field, the Rays were a legitimate contender for the American League wild-card, supposedly one good winning streak away from causing the Boston Red Sox to crack.

Not exactly.

After a wicked 11-game road trip - that included the tail end of an 11-game losing streak - the Rays return as an enormously humbled 74-73 team. They face the Toronto Blue Jays tonight (tickets still available).

The last two weeks have been a mind-numbing exercise, a vivid example of all that has gone wrong with the 2009 Rays. Certainly, an 11-game losing streak should finish the postseason hopes of every would-be contender.

But it goes deeper than that. In fact, here are a dozen reasons why the Rays simply weren't up to the task, a dozen haunting results that sprung from Tampa Bay's inability to perform in the late innings. And they all occurred before Labor Day, before the heart of the losing streak.

Last season, there was magic.

This season, there were these 12 games when - poof! - the late-inning sparkle just disappeared.

CAN'T STOP JETER (Yankees 4, Rays 3; Tropicana Field, April 15) - The Rays were sailing with a 3-2 lead, top of the eighth inning. The Yankees, with just four hits, got a leadoff double from Derek Jeter off Grant Balfour. J.P. Howell was greeted by another double, Johnny Damon's smash that tied the game. In the ninth, with two outs, it was the obligatory Troy Percival pitch that Jeter sliced for a game-winning single.

TOO LATE (Twins 4, Rays 3; Metrodome, April 28) - Ben Zobrist smacked a game-tying homer in the top of the ninth - shades of 2008 magic? - but Howell promptly unraveled. He went single, single, wild pitch, walk - the menagerie mixed around a sacrifice bunt - and the Rays tried to turn an extra-inning-forcing double play on Justin Morneau's grounder. But Morneau beat Jason Bartlett's relay throw and collected the fabled walk-off fielder's choice.

SWING AND A MISS (Red Sox 4, Rays 3; Fenway Park, May 10) - Against closer Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth inning, the Rays had the tying run at third base with no outs, then the lead run at second after Bartlett's steal. Setting the tone for a season in which the Rays often failed to advance runners, Papelbon escaped by striking out Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford.

MOTHER OF ALL MELTDOWNS (Indians 11, Rays 10; Progressive Field, May 25) - The Rays led 10-0 and lost. Ponder that one a moment. Ten-zero. Then a loss. Victor Martinez's two-out, two-run single won the game off Jason Isringhausen, who issued three straight walks to fill the bases, then force home a run. But let's not forget Balfour serving up a three-run homer to Ryan Garko or Reid Brignac's throwing error on a potential double-play ball that could ended it at 10-5.

WASTED EFFORT (Yankees 4, Rays 3; Yankee Stadium, June 7) - Matt Garza allowed one run and four hits through six innings. Joe Nelson got six straight outs. Then it was Balfour and Howell who lit the fire - prominently aided by Willy Aybar butchering a play at third base - and the Yankees surged ahead with a three-run eighth inning.

BROKEN HOPES (Athletics 7, Rays 2; Tropicana Field, July 11) - Two days before the All-Star Break - and riding a four-game winning streak - the Rays let momentum slip away. With a 2-0 lead in the seventh inning, Garza and reliever Randy Choate gave up a pair of two-run homers before it all came apart. (And the next day, in a carbon-copy performance, the Rays wasted a three-run lead in the seventh and fell again to Oakland, 7-3).

FROM NO-NO TO OH-NO (Royals 4, Rays 1; Tropicana Field, Aug. 2) - James Shields took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, then the wheels came off with a leadoff single and throwing errors by Dioner Navarro and Bartlett.

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (Mariners 7, Rays 6; Safeco Field, Aug. 7) - Bartlett's homer in the top of the 11th inning gave Tampa Bay a 6-5 lead. But with two outs - and two strikes - Howell surrendered a game-winning two-run homer to Seattle's Ryan Langerhans.

WARNING TRACK (Angels 8, Rays 7; Angel Stadium, Aug. 10) - Vladimir Guerrero homered twice, including No. 400 of his career off the foul pole in the seventh inning that broke a 7-7 tie. With two outs in the ninth, Zobrist appeared to have a game-tying homer, but Juan Rivera reached over the short wall in left field to save the game for Los Angeles.

WILD FINISH (Blue Jays 3, Rays 2; Rogers Centre, Aug. 26) - Howell entered in the ninth to finish a gem by Scott Kazmir (10 strikeouts, one walk, six innings), but it fell apart. Howell gave up a one-out game-tying homer to Rod Barajas. He then walked the bases loaded and uncorked a wild pitch to rookie Randy Ruiz, allowing the winning run to score.

POLANCO GOES DEEP (Tigers 4, Rays 3; Comerica Park, Aug. 30) - Jeff Niemann took a 3-1 lead into the eighth inning but was lifted after a leadoff double. Balfour challenged the first two batters and got outs. Then he was asked to pitch cautiously to Curtis Granderson - walk. Placido Polanco followed with a three-run homer, just over the outstretched glove of Carl Crawford in left field.

SLAMMED (Tigers 5, Rays 3; Tropicana Field, Sept. 6) - Brandon Inge had a ninth-inning grand slam off Rays reliever Russ Springer. But there were several opportunities to second guess. Rookie Wade Davis, pitching brilliantly and under no duress in his major-league debut, was lifted after seven innings because he had thrown 105 pitches. Lance Cormier got four straight outs, then he was taken out in the ninth because Joe Maddon liked the pitcher-hitter matchups with other relievers. It backfired. Balfour and Howell each faced one batter - both walks - and Springer gave up a single, setting the stage for a spectacular flame-out.

Vann-tastic!

Florida A&M University return man LeRoy Vann (Blake) continued to make his mark on national television. One week after scoring on punt returns of 95 and 80 yards, Vann had two more punt-return touchdowns in Thursday night's 48-10 victory against Howard University, which was carried on ESPNU.

(Note: The NFL single-season record for punt-return touchdowns is four).

Vann, who got some nice play on ESPN's SportsCenter, has seven career touchdowns on punt returns, tying the Division I-AA record.

Another TD for Allen

Georgia Tech junior running back Anthony Allen (Jesuit) scored on a 3-yard run for the 26th touchdown of his college career, but the Yellow Jackets lost at Miami, 33-17, on Thursday night. Allen carried six times for 42 yards.

Durham wins International League

The Durham Bulls, Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, completed a three-game sweep of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, winning 3-2 in 12 innings on Thursday night to capture the Governor's Cup/International League championship series.

Durham, which will move on to the Triple-A World Series, was held to one hit through seven innings. In the eighth, Desmond Jennings collected a two-run single, tying the game. In the 12th, the Bulls got the winning run on John Jaso's RBI double.

Recruiting spotlight at TC

Tonight's prep football game at Tampa Catholic - the Crusaders host Ocala Trinity Catholic - features four of the state's most prized recruits.

The Crusaders feature quarterback Christian Green and offensive lineman Chaz Green.

Ocala Trinity Catholic has wide receiver Kadron Boone, who has orally committed to Texas Tech University, and cornerback Dionte Ponder, who is favoring Duke, Cincinnati and Rutgers.

Memo to USF selection committee

The University of South Florida's Athletics Hall of Fame inducted its inaugural class on Thursday night - Dick Bowers (administrator), Charlie Bradley (men's basketball), Wanda Guyton (women's basketball), Michelle Scarborough (rifle) and the 1984-85 women's swimming team that won an NCAA Division II national championship.

USF is just getting started with this, so here are some suggestions for next year:

Jessica Dickson (women's basketball) - The program's all-time leading scorer who helped the Bulls to their only NCAA Tournament appearance (2006).

Radenko Dobras (men's basketball) - The catalyst behind USF's only two NCAA Tournament teams (1990, 1992) in the sport. In fact, it would be an extremely classy move to induct the group of four 1992 seniors - Dobras, Gary Alexander, Fred Lewis and Bobby Russell - along with Coach Bobby Paschal.

Paul Griffin (athletic director) - Griffin pulled the athletic program out of a financial chasm and essentially became the "Father of USF Football," setting the logistical and fundraising stage for the program's approval in 1995.

Scott Hemond (baseball) - He was arguably the best player in USF baseball history. Hemond, a catcher, also became the program's initial first-round draft choice in 1986, when the Oakland Athletics made him the 12th overall selection.

Roy Wegerle (men's soccer) - He set the Bulls' school record with a 21-goal season, then later played in the North American Soccer League and Major League Soccer, along with the U.S. World Cup team. He was also a First Division professional player in England.

Shuffle off to Buffalo

The Bucs travel to Buffalo on Sunday for the first time in regular-season play.

Yes, the first time.

It seems incredible, but all eight of the Bucs-Bills games, beginning in 1976, were played in Tampa.

The Bucs actually had one Buffalo appearance, a 17-6 exhibition defeat in 1977. It featured a 66-yard touchdown pass from Bucs rookie quarterback Randy Hedberg (Why Not, Minot?) to Isaac Hagins.

There was also a pregame photo opportunity with Bucs coach John McKay and three of his fabled Southern California running backs reunited on the same field - O.J. Simpson, Ricky Bell and Anthony Davis.

The Bucs and Bills met one other time in exhibition play, but that 1988 game was played at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville.

Big yardage, bad result

When the Bucs gained 450 yards, yet lost to the Dallas Cowboys 34-21 in Sunday's season opener, somebody wondered, "Wow, when has that ever happened?''

Actually, it has now happened seven times.

The Bucs are 5-7 all-time when gaining 450 yards or more in a game.

And you might remember the last time it happened - a 38-35 overtime home loss against the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 6, 2003, when the Bucs blew a 21-point lead in the final four minutes of regulation play. The Bucs gained 457 yards that night.

All about Michael Jenkins

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Michael Jenkins (Leto High) was featured in a quick-hitting profile by The Sporting News Today.

Here's a sampling:

Superstition: No hats on the bed.

First job: 15 years old, stocker for Kash n' Karry grocery store in Tampa. Stocked soda, dairy and ice. It was freezing cold in those huge refrigerators in the back of the store.

Talent I'd most like to have: Become a scratch golfer.

My bucket list: 1. Travel the world, 2. Drive an F1 race car, 3. Play golf with Tiger Woods.

My motto: See it, believe it, you can achieve it.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to former Bucs cornerback Phillip Buchanon, who now plays for the Detroit Lions. Buchanon was part of perhaps the greatest college football team ever assembled in this state - the 2001 national-champion Miami Hurricanes. Saturday, Buchanon turns 29.

The Answer Man

Here's the answer to Thursday's trivia question:

David Turner was Jefferson High School's starting quarterback on Oct. 10, 2003, when the Dragons last defeated Plant High at Dad's Stadium. Turner passed for three touchdowns and a career-high 310 yards in Jefferson's 46-14 victory.

Friday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Rays rookie pitcher Wade Davis, a graduate of Lake Wales High School, earned his first major-league victory on Thursday night. Which former Lake Wales product was once voted Most Valuable Player of the World Series?

Check for the answer in Monday's Wake-Up Call.