Because you are going to get A LOT of it during this series. The A’s trot out a trio of pitchers with sub-3.00 ERAs, while the Rays send out their two best and the one with the most wins. Expect a low scoring affair for the next three days with two teams that have struggled to put up consistent offensive performances.
What to watch for: The “Big Four” - Aki, Carl, B.J., and Carlos - have all had decent success against Blanton. As they go, so goes the Rays’ offense. Fingers crossed.
Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
James Shields - Despite a solid performance, the right-hander remains winless vs. the Yankees, yielding two runs over 7 1/3 innings and scattering six hits. Shields is now 3-1 with a 1.41 ERA at home, compared to his 1-2, 6.10 ERA on the road, and will look to better those numbers in Monday’s start vs. the Athletics. The hurler will face Oakland for the first time this year — he is 2-1 in three career starts vs. the A’s, posting a 4.05 ERA.
Joe Blanton - In his 10th start of the season, Blanton landed on the losing end of a pitching duel against Cleveland starter C.C. Sabathia. The A’s pitcher threw seven innings, scattering two runs — both solo home runs — on four hits while striking out four and walking two in the 2-0 loss. It marked the fifth time this year the right-hander allowed two runs or fewer. Blanton was 1-1 with a 4.38 ERA against Tampa Bay last year, allowing six runs on 18 hits while striking out 11 in two starts versus the Rays.
Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Joe Blanton.
View the game preview from Baseball Reference.
| TAMPA BAY RAYS |
OAKLAND A’S |
| 2B - Akinori Iwamura | 3B - Jack Hannahan |
| LF - Carl Crawford | SS - Bobby Crosby |
| CF - B.J. Upton | LF - Jack Cust |
| 1B - Carlos Pena | DH - Frank Thomas |
| 3B - Evan Longoria | CF - Ryan Sweeney |
| DH - Cliff Floyd | RF - Emil Brown |
| C - Dioner Navarro | 1B - Daric Barton |
| RF - Eric Hinske | C - Kurt Suzuki |
| SS - Jason Bartlett | 2B - Gregorio Petit |
Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!
Tags: A's
May 19th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
1 and 2 positions have speed, but never never seem to bunt…even the attempt would pull in the infield at times and help their ground balls get through the infield more often.
May 19th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Upton looked totally lost in the first nine innings.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Merlot Joe opened another bottle when he pinch hit Gomes for Gross…when you need a great right fielder to defend the lead….and Gomer strikes out too. Later comes the RF triple….bad managing.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:09 am
sorry, Gomer flied out.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:15 am
EVANN!!!!! THEEEEEE RAYS WIN!!!
May 20th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
No one would have caught the ball hit to right field.