The Tampa Bay Rays, with Complete Game James Shields at the helm, closed out the month of July in dominant fashion, crushing the A’s with an 8-0 three hit complete game shutout. Shields was masterful, posting a 9 IP/3 H/0 R/0 BB/11 K line, throwing only 98 pitches (66 for strikes). Shields Pounded the zone with his fastball and changeup, while he peppered things a bit in the later innings with his curveball and backdoor cutter. The Rays will attempt to take their third series in a row in an afternoon game in Oakland at the horrendous (name and otherwise) O.co Colesium. There was a lot to be impressed with last night.
First, Shields gave up only singles, stopping the A’s from getting anyone in scoring position. Juego G looked downright whiffy, inducing swings and misses on 19 pitches, mostly changeups. Able to locate his fastball, while keeping it in the 90-92 MPH range, Shields stayed in attack mode throughout the course of the game. And talk about efficiency, Shieldsy averaged only 11 pitches per inning. It bears mentioning that he did an overworked pen a big, by posting a complete game. This was the Shields from last year, and this is the Shields that the Rays will need to depend on if they have aspirations for more late September, and early-to-mid October aspirations.
The big O came alive, scoring eight times on 11 hits and two walks. Tampa Bay most impressively scored five runs off of Milone who has been very good at home, posting a 5-1 record with a 0.91 ERA prior to his start. They kept the proverbial pedal to the metal, scoring three more times in the seventh and ninth off of Scribner and Miller, who came on in relief of Milone.
The Rays scored more than six runs for only the second time in 18 games since the All-Star break, and they did so in with a team effort. That is to say, there were no defined heroes at the plate. Sure, Sam Fuld (3-4, run) and BJ Upton (2-5, run, 2-RBI) came up big. However looking over the the box score, and seeing that most everyone in the lineup contributed, is huge. Six Rays (Jennings, Upton, Zobrist, Keppinger, Pena, and Rodriguez) drove in runs, while seven Rays (Jennings, Upton, Zobrist, Keppinger, Joyce, Lobaton, and Fuld) crossed the plate. And they did so by BABIPing the A’s to death. Tampa Bay only had two extra base hits; a pair of huge doubles by Lobaton and Joyce. Yet they were able to get ’em on, consistently get timely hits or a stolen base to get ’em over, and get ’em home. These are the Rays that I like to watch.
The Rays ended July with a .500 record, which is better than June. Posting a .225 BA/.307 OBP/.355 SLG/.662 OPS line, while scoring only 103 times, and driving in only 96 RBI, one wonders how they ended the month with an even split of wins and losses. Friends, the simple answer is pitching. The Rays pitching staff was able to hold their opponents to a .225 BA/.299 OBP/.337 SLG/.636 OPS line, while allowing only 85 (81 earned) runs and 79 RBI. Simply put, they were phenomenal in July. The screen shot below says it all.
The pitching staff did their part in July, and will, presumably, continue to do the same in August. It’s up to be hitters to do their part if they’re going to be contenders. The Rays are toward the bottom of the BA/OBP/SLG/OPS columns, and unless the pitching can also, some how, score runs for the Rays, some things have got to change. I think we all know what those things are.
Before we move on, here’s a little grizzle to chew on. The Rays pitchers have a higher strikeout rate, and DRaysBay (see below) attributes that to the Lobaton/Molina power duo behind the plate.
Onward to today’s game. Alex Cobb (4-8, 4.93 ERA) will take on Jarrod Parker (7-4, 3.38 ERA) in the last game of the Rays current nine game road trip. With a win, the Rays will walk away 6-3 on the road trip, and back home for a six game home stand following an off day tomorrow. They’re also in line to take their third series in a row, something they haven’t done in some time.
The Rays have never faced the rookie RHP who’s given up four or more earned runs in five of his 17 starts, including six in his last start against the Orioles. He only lasted five innings in that start. Parker is one of those dastardly pitchers that throws a good sinking ball. However with a 2:1 strike to ball ratio, the Rays could find themselves on base if they work some good at bats, and force Parker to pitch up in the zone.
Tampa Bay Rays 8/1/12 Starting Lineup
Jennings LF
Upton CF
Zobrist 2B
Joyce RF
Keppinger DH
Pena 1B
Roberts 3B
Molina C
Johnson SS
Cobb RHP