Rays vs. Rockies (6/15 - 6/17)

[craig01]

http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/news/ ... sp?c_id=tb

Friday, June 15 Coors Field | 9:05 PM ET
TB James Shields, RHP (6-0, 3.04)
Devil Rays (29-35) @ COL Rodrigo Lopez, RHP (2-0, 2.88)
Rockies (32-33)

Scouting Report:
Rays: Shields held the Marlins to two runs on six hits in seven innings Saturday night to earn his sixth win of the season while giving the team seven-plus innings for the 10th consecutive time. He retired nine straight at one point, with the only runs off him coming when Miguel Cabrera connected with a 3-1 offering and deposited it 377 feet into the left-field stands for a two-run homer.

Rockies: Lopez had one of his strongest outings of the season Saturday, facing his old team in Baltimore and holding the Orioles to two runs on six hits and a walk. He was efficient with his season-high 95 pitches and had everything going for him, with excellent control down in the zone, increased velocity, good offspeed stuff and a downhill plane to his pitches that accounted for 11 groundouts. It was the fifth time in six starts that Lopez has held opponents to six hits or fewer -- his fourth quality start and his fourth time holding teams to two or fewer runs.


Saturday, June 16 Coors Field | 8:05 PM ET
TB Andy Sonnanstine, RHP (1-0, 5.14)
Devil Rays (29-35) @ COL Jason Hirsh, RHP (3-6, 4.48)
Rockies (32-33)

Scouting Report:
Rays: Sonnanstine faced the minimum through three innings on Sunday and at one point struck out seven consecutive Marlins to establish a new Rays record. He finished with 10 strikeouts on the afternoon while allowing two runs on seven hits and no walks over seven innings. A model of efficiency, the right-hander threw 99 pitches, 70 for strikes.

Rockies: Hirsh notched the first complete game of his career on Sunday in Baltimore, winning a rubber match on the road while dominating the Orioles after an early hiccup. He was efficient with his 111 pitches, holding Baltimore to one run on five hits and a walk and allowing only one baserunner over his final six innings. Hirsh induced 11 groundouts and 13 fly outs, striking out two and picking off one. His fastball command was the big difference, allowing Hirsh to use his breaking stuff off the fastball and to pitch backwards when he fell behind in counts.


Sunday, June 17 Coors Field | 3:05 PM ET
TB Scott Kazmir, LHP (4-3, 4.07)
Devil Rays (29-35) @ COL Aaron Cook, RHP (4-3, 4.37)
Rockies (32-33)

Scouting Report:
Rays: Kazmir demonstrated how overpowering he could be by striking out the first three hitters he faced Tuesday against the Padres, but he still has not turned the corner in regard to keeping down his pitch count, which ultimately led to his getting a no-decision. Kazmir struck out 11 in six innings, but needed 115 pitches to do so and left with the Rays trailing 4-3. He is 4-1 away from Tropicana Field this season and will be making his first ever appearance against the Rockies.

Rockies: Cook threw 7 1/3 standout innings in his last start but lost 2-1 to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. In that contest, Cook forced 14 groundball outs and struck out four, against four flyball outs. He'll have to improve his Coors Field performance, however (2-2, 6.07 ERA).

[craig01]

Well, maybe the Rays bats will see daylight again after being smothered by San Diego pitching.

Matchups are interesting.

[craig01]

Madden said Dukes will play in Col.

Damn, I wish Upton and Baldelli were able and ready. I'm getting really tired of this kid.

[craig01]

Rays get clobbered, 12-2.

Shields gives up 4 runs in the first, settles down and leaves after 6 innings, trailing 5-2.

Enter Camp............and the bullpen does it's Jeckyll and Hyde routine again, giving up 7 runs the rest of the way.

[craig01]

Time to bounce back.

Let's get out of the 1st inning without giving up a run.....geez.

[craig01]

Another bad first inning.


This has to stop.

You can't win very often trailing by 4 or 5 runs right out of the gate.

[craig01]

OK, time for Kazmir to put an end to this mini slump.

Rays will take the 3rd game today and win 6-5.

Kazmir will be shaky again, but will grind it out again.

Crawford will break out of his slump, igniting an early Rays start.

I hope.

[craig01]

Missed the game.

Rays win 7-4.

Thank goodness.

Time to get back on track...2 games ahead of Baltimore, 2 behind Toronto.

[craig01]

Notes:

Crawford went 4-5 breaking out of his slump.

Gomes hits 2 dingers.

Bullpen held on, Reyes delivered when it mattered again.