THE GOOD: Rocco Baldelli hit his first major league home run since May '07.

THE BAD: Edwin Jackson. How in the world Jackson got through 6 innings with only 2 runs is either an indictment on the White Sox offense or the Rays just got lucky last night.

THE TELLING: For all the good things that have happened this season, the Rays really haven't been the recipients of too many breaks. And we don't remember another game this season the Rays won in which they really didn't deserve the W. Last night the Rays did not deserve to win. In 6 innings, Edwin Jackson walked 5 batters and allowed 7 hits. 12 base runners in 6 innings and only 2 runs. How does that happen? The White Sox had the leadoff batter on base in each of the first five innings and yet only 1 of those runners scored. The Rays caught a huge break. And things weren't going any better on the offensive side of the ball. In the second inning the Rays had not one, but two runners called out at home. So when the Rays finally fell behind 2-0 in the 4th inning, we thought the game was over. It just looked like one of those nights.

DEVIL RAYS WEBTOPIA...

• JP Howell pitched for the first time in 6 days due to stiffness in his back and legs. Howell says the grind of his first full major league season led to fatigue and he is now feeling much better. [Tampa Tribune]
• Buster Olney speculates on what David Price's role would be with the Rays if and when he is called up. Price says he doesn't care and would be willing to "be the batboy, if that's what they need." [ESPN]
  
• Joe Maddon will not have a strict pitch count on Scott Kazmir. The idea is to keep Kid K from worrying about mechanics and pitch counts and just concentrate on the batters. In his last start, Kazmir was able to work 6 innings as Papa Joe let Kaz accumulate 114 pitches. [MLB]
• John Romano takes a look at the perception of BJ Upton's lack of effort and says what many of us have been saying for a while...That the game is so easy for Upton that it masks his effort. Romano also wants to lay some blame on the previous front office for rushing him through the minors. [St. Pete Times]