VS.
THE TORONTO BLUE JAYS!
Game 1: July 24th, 2009
7:07 PM, Sportsnet
Matt Garza Vs. Roy Halladay
Scouting Report:
Rays: Garza continues to puzzle. The 25-year-old right-hander has the best stuff on the staff, yet he has a losing record. He received a no-decision his last time out against the Royals after allowing three runs in five innings. He needs to find a way to harness his stuff since on many occasions it is so electric that it misses the strike zone. Sunday he walked five -- including one with the bases loaded. Garza has done well against the Blue Jays in his career. He is 4-3 with a 1.89 ERA in seven career starts against them and 2-2 with a 0.91 ERA in four career starts in Toronto.
Blue Jays: Halladay pitched his fourth complete game of the season and earned his first win in five starts in the Jays' 3-1 victory over Boston on Sunday. Halladay gave up a run in the first inning but shut out the Red Sox from there, allowing seven hits and no walks. It was the seventh game this season (including an injury-shortened three-inning start) in which Halladay did not issue a single walk. The Jays' ace was efficient, as usual, needing only 105 pitches -- 78 strikes -- to get through nine innings. He has pitched at six or more innings in each of his four starts since returning from the disabled list (right groin). This year, Halladay is 0-2 in two starts against the Rays, with an ERA of 3.46 in 13 innings.
Game 2: July 25th, 2009
1:07 PM, Sportsnet
David Price Vs. Brian Tallet
Scouting Report:
Rays: Price, making his first start in 11 days because of the All-Star break, looked a bit out of sync in a 4-3 loss against the White Sox on Monday. He struck out six batters, matching his third-highest total this season, but he allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings and walked two. His biggest mistake came in the bottom of the third inning when he surrendered a three-run home run in a tie game to White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko. Price has faced the Blue Jays only once, on July 9 in his last start before the All-Star break. He went six innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out seven in a 3-2 win to earn his third victory of the season.
Blue Jays: Tallet was moved to the bullpen following the All-Star Break but was not used. His last start came on July 8 in Tampa Bay in a 10-9 loss to the Rays. Tallet lasted only three-plus innings, giving up eight runs (all earned) on 11 hits -- which tied a season high -- en route to a no-decision. Three of those runs came on a fourth-inning home run to the Rays' Ben Zobrist. Tallet had two walks and four strikeouts in his only appearance against the Rays so far this season.
Game 3: July 26th, 2009
1:07 PM, Sportsnet
Jeff Niemann Vs. Brett Cecil
Scouting Report:
Rays: The 6-foot-9, 280-pound Niemann dazzled once again in a 3-2 victory against the White Sox on Tuesday. He lasted eight innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out seven and walking none and kept his team in the ballgame long enough for the Rays to come back in the ninth inning. Rays manager Joe Maddon said that, including Tuesday's performance, the three best games thrown by a Rays pitcher this year all belonged to Niemann, who also has tossed two complete-game shutouts. Niemann won his fifth straight decision dating back to June 3 and has allowed three runs or fewer in his last five starts. With the victory, Niemann's ninth this season, he tied for the most among American League rookies with Detroit's Rick Porcello. Niemann faced the Blue Jays once, on June 29, and earned a victory by allowing one run on four hits in 7 1/3 innings pitched.
Blue Jays: Cecil managed to pitch his way out of several jams as he posted his second consecutive shutout on Tuesday, going seven innings against the Indians at Rogers Centre. He has now gone 13 innings without giving up a run. The rookie earned his fifth no-decision in six starts in a game the Jays eventually lost, 2-1. Although Cecil did not allow any runs, he did have a lot of baserunners to deal with, as the lefty gave up seven hits, issued four walks and hit a batter. Cecil's nine strikeouts were a season high, as were his 108 pitches -- 67 of which were strikes. He has made one appearance against the Rays this season, pitching 2/3 of an inning out of the bullpen and allowing one hit.
need to win. go jays!
