It’s Turn Back the Clock Night at the Trop, and the Rays are hoping that Edwin Jackson turns back the clock to April when he was working his way through opposing lineups and picking up wins. On the other side, Wandy Rodriguez has been deceptively good this year. Look for Jonny Gomes to get the start in this one.
What to watch for: Who shows up? Dr. Jeckwin or Mr. Jyde? That’s the key to the game, as it always in when Edwin Jackson’s on the hill.
Scouting Report on today’s starters from MLB.com:
Edwin Jackson – The Rays right-hander is appealing his suspension, and it is likely he will not receive his appeal date before Saturday’s start. Jackson is coming off Sunday’s loss to the Marlins, in which the flamethrower was haunted by the long ball. A pair of three-run home runs ended up being Jackson’s demise, as he was yanked after allowing six earned runs in five innings. He is at his best when he is mixing in offspeed pitches, and is often overreliant on his fast stuff. Saturday’s start is expected to be Jackson’s last appearance until June 28 in Pittsburgh, as the Rays have hinted at having the right-hander drop his appeal after facing the Astros, to avoid a shift in the rotation.
Wandy Rodriguez – Staked to a 3-0 first-inning lead against the Yankees in his last start, Rodriguez gave up five runs in the next two innings — including walking in one run — and left the game after five, trailing 5-3. It was the most earned runs Rodriguez had allowed in a game this year. The left-hander will be looking to put his control problems behind him and bounce back at Tampa Bay against a Rays team he hasn’t faced before.
Check out the Rays’ career numbers against Wandy Rodriguez.
View the game preview from Baseball Reference.
| TAMPA BAY RAYS |
HOUSTON ASTROS |
| 2B – Akinori Iwamura | CF – Michael Bourn |
| 1B – Willy Aybar | 2B – Kaz Matsui |
| LF – Carl Crawford | SS – Miguel Tejada |
| CF – B.J. Upton | 1B – Lance Berkman |
| 3B – Evan Longoria | DH – Carlos Lee |
| DH – Jonny Gomes | 3B – Geoff Blum |
| RF – Justin Ruggiano | RF – Hunter Pence |
| C – Shawn Riggans | LF – Darin Erstad |
| SS – Jason Bartlett | C – Humberto Quintero |
Be sure to join us in the chat room for some good Rays talk during the game!!!
Tags: Astros
June 21st, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Gross becoming Mr. Clutch.
June 21st, 2008 at 8:46 pm
This is a miracle year for the rays…hope the magic keeps going…maybe these new sunburst uniforms are good karma.
June 21st, 2008 at 9:57 pm
No, not karma and not a miracle. It is the result of careful planning, hard work and intelligent decision making. There is no magic about it except for the feeling of joy we fans have. But no reason to turn to mysticism to explain it.
June 21st, 2008 at 11:39 pm
bobr, you are right…but after watching so many meltdowns in the past year, let me revel in this magic…winning is an elixir that is intoxicating…..
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:54 am
We are both reveling and both intoxicated with the same elixir. Enjoy, enjoy. Or is it “Happy, happy, joy, joy”.