Hydrating Rays @ Cruz Bruised Rangers 8/30-9/1

[Tobywan]

Probables

Hellickson VS Feldman
Shields VS Ogando
Niemann VS Wilson

The Rays took 3 of 4 from the Blue Jays, with 40 hits and scoring 27 runs in 4 games. They will need all the offense they can muster against the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers took 2 of 3 from the Angels, with 36 hits and scoring 24 runs to keep the lead in the AL West.


The Rangers lost another big piece though since Nelson Cruz was just put on the DL. Beltre is out (though he could be back as early as Thursday) which puts more on the shoulders of Josh Hamilton. When Texas came to ST Pete, the Rays successfully kept Hamilton in check.


Maddon says the Rays workouts especially for the pitchers will be shortened for this series due to the extensive heat in Texas.

Tonight’s Match ups

Jeremy Hellickson is 11-9 with a 3.01 ERA He pitched seven innings and allowing 2 runs against the Tigers on Thursday, but still took the loss.

Scott Feldman is 0-0 with a 3.94 ERA. He is making the start in Matt Harrison's spot; it will be his first start of the season.

Tidbits

Michael Young has racked up 178 hits for the season. He has had at least 174 hits in each of the last nine seasons. Only Ichiro and Pujols, who both entered this season with 10 straight seasons with at least 174 hits, have a longer streak among active players.

Kyle Farnsworth has not allowed a run in August, a span of nine appearances. He has two wins and two saves in that span, striking out eight in 8 1/3 innings. His 22 saves are a career high.

[Tobywan]

Line ups

Rays

Jennings LF
Damon DH
Longoria 3B
Zobrist 2B
Kotchman 1B
Upton CF
Joyce RF
Shoppach C
Rodriguez SS


Rangers

Kinsler 2B
Andrus SS
Hamilton LF
Young 3B
Napoli DH
Murphy RF
Torrealba C
Moreland 1B
Chavez CF

[Tobywan]

Jennings grounds out to short.
Damon grounds out to short.
Longoria Ks.

[Tobywan]

Kinsler lines out to left.
Andrus Ks swinging.
Hamilton sends a souvenir bat into the stands, as Shoppach admires his technique.
Josh flies out to right.

[Tobywan]

Zobrist grounds out to second.
Kotchman grounds out to third.
Upton grounds out to second.

[Tobywan]

Young grounds to the pitcher, reflects off Helly's glove, he recovers and makes the throw.
Napoli grounds out to third.
Murphy lines a single into center.
Torrealba Ks.

[Tobywan]

Joyce Ks swinging.
Shoppach down swinging.
Rodriguez lines a single into center.
DJ grounds to short, SRod over runs second, appearing to be caught off by Elvis, they race to second, Sean gets there safe.
Damon grounds out to the pitcher.

[Tobywan]

Moreland walks.
Chavez grounds out to third.
Kinsler grounds to third, but Longo bobbles and drops it and can't make a play.
Andrus grounds into a 5-4-3 DP, Evan finally hangs on to one.

[Tobywan]

Longoria grounds out to second.
Zobrist taps right back to the pitcher.
Kotchman grounds to second.

[Tobywan]

Hammer lifts one deep to center, over the head of BJ, off the wall for a double.
Young Ks.
Nap Ks.
Murph is walked intentionally.
Torrealba walks, bases loaded.
Moreland lifts a fly ball to right, Joyce makes the catch!

On to the 5th, no score.

[Tobywan]

Upton singles on a grounde rinto right.
Joyce batting, BJ tries to steal the throw in time.
Joyce grounds to first, throw to Feldman covering the bag.
Shop Ks.

[Tobywan]

Chavez bunts out to third.
Kinsler grounds out to third.
Andrus grounds out to short.

[Tobywan]

SRod walks.
DJ batting, SRod tries to steal, Torry up with the throw, got him.
Jennings grounds to short.
JD flies out to short.

[Tobywan]

Hammer ........ cue up the music ......Josh smokes a bomb into the upper deck in right.

Rangers take the lead 1-0.

Young corks one into the rf corner, double.
Nap lines into left, runners at the corners.
Murph lines into left, Young scores, Nap to second.

2-0

Torry bounces to pitcher, runner advance.
Moreland will be given a pass.
Chavez grounds to third, Longo throws to home for the force on Nap, bases still loaded.
Kinsler flies out to right.

[Tobywan]

Now pitching Mark Lowe.

Longo grounds a short.
Zo flies out to center.

Now pitching Darren Oliver.

Kotch lines hard but caught by the diving Kinsler.