Cesar Ramos News

Finally an off day and a chance to reflect on the season so far before heading to Boston to take on the Red Sox .

Tickets: Tickets: $9-210, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team Tampa store; $3 surcharge within 5 hours of game time.

Bryce Harper hit his first big league home run and Chad Tracy and Xavier Nady each connected in the eighth inning, leading the Washington Nationals to an 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.

Mark Teixeira hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning, Curtis Granderson also connected, and the New York Yankees got three hits from Alex Rodriguez in an 8-5 victory over the Orioles Monday night in Baltimore.

Bryce Harper hit his first big league home run, helping lead the Washington Nationals to an 8-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow reacts on the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 14, 2012, in Toronto.

Niemann gave up a single and a walk in the first inning, then took a line drive off his right foot from Adam Lind.

The Rays have always liked lefty Cesar Ramos . Looking at his repertoire of pitches, it's pretty clear why.

After being swept in St. Petersburg to open the season, the Yankees will get another crack at the Rays starting on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

With the Rays playing a day game, all eyes were on the Rays minor league affiliates on Thursday night.

BY HAROLD GUTMANN hgutmann@heraldsun.com; 919-419-6668 DURHAM - The Durham Bulls turned the nameplates above their lockers upside down in an attempt to reverse their franchise record-tying 13-game losing streak.

More of the same story in Durham - another loss, no hitting, and pitchers unable to throw strikes.