DRays vs. Orioles (7/25-7/27)

[craig01]

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

Tuesday, July 24 Oriole Park at Camden Yards | 7:05 PM ET
TB Scott Kazmir, LHP (7-6, 4.02)
Devil Rays (38-60) @ BAL Daniel Cabrera, RHP (6-10, 5.30)
Orioles (44-53)

Scouting Report:
Rays: Kazmir held the Angels to one run on three hits and one walk in seven innings Wednesday night, leaving the game after throwing just 94 pitches with his seventh win of the season safely tucked away. Kazmir has shown electric stuff all season, but has struggled with keeping his pitch count down. So it was a good sign when Kazmir had thrown just 67 pitches through five innings. The left-hander has struggled at Camden Yards, where he is 1-2 with a 6.38 ERA in four career starts.

Orioles: Cabrera's last start was pushed forward two days due to Erik Bedard's stiff neck, and Cabrera looked shakey on three days' rest. He lasted five innings in Seattle and allowed five runs on eight hits, continuing the trend of mediocre performances for the righty. Although he left that game down, 5-1, the Orioles' rallied back and Cabrera received a no-decision. In his past eight starts, Cabrera is 1-4 with a 6.38 ERA and is walking more than five batters per nine innings. His numbers illustrate the difficulties he's having in his fourth year in the Majors: his 78 earned runs and 68 walks are the worst in the AL and only two pitchers in the league have more losses than Cabrera's 10.


Wednesday, July 25 Oriole Park at Camden Yards | 7:05 PM ET
TB Andy Sonnanstine, RHP (1-5, 5.37)
Devil Rays (38-60) @ BAL Erik Bedard, LHP (9-4, 3.12)
Orioles (44-53)

Scouting Report:
Rays: Sonnanstine put together a quality start against the Angels in his last start, when he allowed three earned runs on eight hits, no walks and six strikeouts over seven innings. Unfortunately for the rookie right-hander, his counterpart for the Angels, Kelvim Escobar, was better, resulting in Sonnanstine's fifth loss of the season. Sonnanstine continues to mix it up on the mound, changing speeds and arm angles while staying around the strike zone with most of his pitches and showing a strong acumen.

Orioles: Bedard added another near-perfect outing to his list on Friday, winning his third straight game and fifth game in his past six outings. He allowed just one hit, a solo home run, over seven innings against Oakland to notch his team-leading ninth win of the season. In his past three starts, the lights-out lefty has struck out 33 batters and allowed just 11 baserunners. He leads the Majors buy a wide margin with 167 strikeouts, and in his past five wins since June 21, has a 0.75 ERA.


Thursday, July 26 Oriole Park at Camden Yards | 12:35 PM ET
TB Edwin Jackson, RHP (2-9, 6.65)
Devil Rays (38-60) @ BAL Steve Trachsel, RHP (5-7, 5.05)
Orioles (44-53)

Scouting Report:
Rays: Jackson had his best outing to date in his last start, when he held the Yankees to no runs on four hits and four walks, striking out four in six innings to claim his second win of the season. Jackson has quality stuff, but he remains a work in process as far as learning to become a pitcher. This will be his first career start against the Orioles.

Orioles: Trachsel returned to the mound after a stint on the 15-day disabled list and didn't look much better than he did before his gluteus injury. He surrendered four runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings in Oakland to lose for the third time in his past four starts. Over Trachsel's last five outings, he has a 9.12 ERA and the Orioles have lost all five games. The Rays hit Trachsel hard earlier this year, when they scored six runs on six hits and chased him from the game after 3 2/3 innings.

[craig01]

O's playing better of late.

Rays pitching staff may be at an all time low in team performance.

Team ERA ...... 5.98

Opp Avg ...... .298

As of now, the Rays appear to have the following pitchers that are of "big league" caliber"; Kazmir, Shields, Sonnanstine, Reyes.

Glover and Jackson are on the bubble.

The rest are just a waste of time.

[craig01]

Game 1.

No score in the 4th.

Once again the Rays leave runners at the corners.

Kazmir efficient.

[craig01]

Bases loaded, bottom of the 5th, no score (yet).

Rays at crunch time now.

[craig01]

STRIKE 3!

Check swing K.

Kazmir now at 75 pitches through 5, with no BB's and 7 K's.

Time to get some runs.

[craig01]

Kazmir lost command in the 7th, gave up 3 runs.

Rays about to get skunked in the 9th, down 3-0.

[craig01]

Game 2.

Rays down 3-1 in the 4th.

Bedard has 7 K's in 4 innings.

[craig01]

Looks like another bleak outcome ahead, Rays down 5-1 in the 7th.

[craig01]

Game 3.

Once again the bullpen blows up late.....Rays swept.

They have now lost 30 of the last 39.