Game 77: Desmond Jennings Does It All In Rays Victory

Desmond Jennings had been showing recent signs of breaking out of his recent slump. Tonight, he broke out in a major way.

Jennings became the fourth player to hit multiple home runs in a game against Justin Verlander tonight, blasting home runs in the third and fifth innings. He also made a great play in the field, running headlong into the left field stands to track down a foul ball for the third out of the top of the third.

David Price was dominant for the Rays, allowing only2 runs on 5 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 7 batters in 7 innings. Price had started to warm up for the top of the eighth, but was lifted with a possible lower back injury. Jake McGee and Fernando Rodney finished out the game, preserving the Rays 4-2 victory.

Verlander struggled for most of the game, throwing 120 pitches in his 6 innings of work. He allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, with 3 home runs and 1 walk, while recording 8 strikeouts.

Ben Zobrist continued his hot June, going 2-3 with 1 home run and 1 walk. Zobrist is now batting .349 for the month, going 30-86 with 6 doubles and 4 home runs.

Game Notes: Jhonny Peralta is now 0-13 against David Price in his career. With the 2 home run game, Jennings joins Nick Swisher (4-18-06), Carlos Quentin (4-22-11) and Shelley Duncan (9-7-11) as the only players to take Verlander deep twice.