Article:Baseball Notebook: Gabe Gross Unlikely Hero for Rays

Gabe Gross Unlikely Hero In Rays Walkoff Win

Gabe Gross probably the most unlikely candidate on the Rays to hit a walkoff single did just that last night as the Rays defeated the Yankees in eleven innings by a 2-1 score. Edwin Jackson pitched seven innings of scoreless baseball as he dueled with Chien-Ming Wang who also pitched very well and allowed one run in seven innings. The win gave the Rays sole possession of first place with a half game lead over the Red Sox and was their sixth consecutive win.

Gross who was traded to the Rays for Josh Butler a pitcher in the Florida State League with a 0-2 record and a 6.35 ERA at the time of the trade. It is not a good sign when you are in the majors and are traded for a A ball pitcher with a losing record.

However after ending the month of April hitting .186 he has hit .292 in May and raised his average to .220 while with the Rays. He hit hit .209 for the Brewers with no homers and 2 runs batted in while batting 43 times.

In his last two starts Jackson has pitched 15 innings of scoreless baseball. In the three starts this season in which Jackson hasn't received a decision he has given up one run in 22 innings. So he has pitched a lot better than his 2-3 record indicates.

To make the win even more special they defeated one of the best closers in baseball history in Mariano Rivera. Even with the Yankees in town only 16,558 fans braved the 72 degree weather to see the game leaving 27,214 empty seats.