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Shields, Rays Beat Phillies To Even Series At A Game Apiece
By Administrator | October 24, 2008
James Shields stymied the Philadelphia Phillies this evening and rookie David Price got the final seven outs as Tampa Bay rebounded from their Game 1 loss with a 4-2 victory Thursday night that evened the World Series at a game apiece.
The Rays pitching staff has held the Phillies to 1-for-28 with runners in scoring position. Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said: “That might be one of our sloppiest games all year. I’m concerned about us hitting with guys on base, because it looks like at times we might be trying a little too hard. But we can fix that”.
Shields escaped some difficulty but pitched shutout ball into the sixth (5 2/3 IP, 0 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 K): “I didn’t feel too much pressure… The guys in the clubhouse were real relaxed before the game”.
The 23-year-old Price, the top pick in last year’s draft, struck out slugger Ryan Howard with two-on and two-out to end the seventh. The hard-throwing lefty gave up a pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning, but closed out the win against the heart of Philadelphia’s batting order in the ninth inning.
Carlos Ruiz led off the ninth inning with a double… a pitch from Price then grazed Rollins’ jersey, but home plate ump Kerwin Danley didn’t rule it a hit batsman. Rollins ended up popping out. Ruiz scored when third baseman Evan Longoria committed an error on Jayson Werth’s grounder, but Price fanned Chase Utley and got Howard on a game-ending grounder to secure the Tampa Bay win.
Phils righty Brett Myers pitched seven innings… he suffered the loss allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks. He was in trouble from the start. He issued a leadoff walk to Akinori Iwamura in the first before Upton sliced an opposite-field single to right… when RF Jayson Werth booted the ball for an error, both runners advanced. They both scored on ground outs (by Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria).
The Rays made it 3-0 in the second on a bases-loaded single by Upton… it could have been worse but for the fact that Rocco Baldelli was thrown out at home plate. They extended the lead to four runs on two singles and a Jason Bartlett sac fly.
The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Saturday night, though rain is in the forecast. ALCS MVP Matt Garza will start for Tampa Bay… 45-year-old Jamie Moyer will start for the Phillies.
Topics: MLB Playoffs |
