On the one hand, its great that the Rays are playing so many home games this early in the season. On the other, it means there will be a ton of road trips late in the year. The Rays close out this 6-game swing with one more against the A’s before heading home for a week and a half.
What to watch for: Cliff Floyd is the only Rays hitter to ever face Dana Eveland, walking in the only career plate appearance he has. Let’s see how the Rays handle the young lefty.
Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Andy Sonnanstine - Sonnanstine pitched well against the Cardinals in his last outing, holding the birds to one run on eight hits while walking none and striking out four in a 3-1 Rays win. The right-hander is a master of deception employing an array of pitches that he can throw from all different angles. But he has learned to primarily use his fastball to setup the other pitches. Since making that adjustment he has been a lot more successful. Sonnanstine is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in one career start against the A’s.
Dana Eveland - Eveland allowed just two hits in the first five innings on Friday against the Braves before running into trouble in the sixth. He was forced out with two out in the sixth after surrendering two runs. Eveland allowed six hits, walked three and struck out four in a no-decision. In the three starts prior to Friday, Eveland was 0-2 with a 4.42 ERA. He has walked a team-high 23 batters this season. Eveland has not won since April 25.
Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Dana Eveland.
View the game preview from Baseball Reference.
| TAMPA BAY RAYS |
OAKLAND A’S |
| 2B - Akinori Iwamura | 3B - Jack Hannahan |
| SS - Jason Bartlett | 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 |
| LF - Jonny Gomes | 1B - Daric Barton |
| RF - Gabe Gross | C - Kurt Suzuki |
| C - Shawn Riggans | 2B - Gregorio Petit |
Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!
Tags: A's
May 21st, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Hey fellas!!! been awhile since I have been able to comment- that’s what the flu does to ya!!!
This the Sonny we get, he is feast or famine- he is definately better suited for the ‘pen, but it’s so tough, cuz you never know when he is going to go all 4 hit shutout on you…
May 21st, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I think that’s one game the Rays would rather forget.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:42 pm
It was bound to happen wasn’t it?
Some days our bats don’t fire, and the pitching comes through.
Some days our pitching has holes, so our bats must fire away.
Today, everything failed to come through.
But we win the series, get a needed day off, and come home for an extended stay.