Final
Blue Jays-Rays Preview
Aug 15, 2009 - 4:15 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior WriterToronto (54-59) at Tampa Bay (61-53), 7:08 p.m. EDT
The Tampa Bay Rays are trying anything to help them end their current losing streak.
The Rays look to avoid a season-high sixth straight loss when they continue their home series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night.
Tampa Bay (61-54) matched a season high by dropping its fifth in a row in a 5-2 loss in Friday's series opener. The defeat came hours after the club held a players only meeting in an attempt to instill some confidence after a 1-5 road trip to Seattle and Los Angeles.
The meeting apparently didn't help, as Toronto ace Roy Halladay pitched eight strong innings to help the Blue Jays (55-59) snap a five-game losing streak at Tampa Bay.
The Rays, who are looking to remain a serious wild-card contender but now trail Boston by 5 1/2 games, might need more than a team meeting to help their cause.
Looking to avoid their longest losing streak since dropping seven in a row July 7-13, 2008, the Rays have been outscored 40-16 during their five-game skid, while batting .247 and posting a hefty 8.12 ERA.
"This is when we have to stick together," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "And stay with it."
Saturday's starter Scott Kazmir (6-7, 6.50 ERA) took the loss at Seattle on Sunday to begin the losing stretch for the Rays, who had their three-game home winning streak snapped Friday.
Struggling through the worst of his five full major league seasons, Kazmir allowed seven runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings of that 11-2 loss to the Mariners.
"It was frustrating," said Kazmir, a 2008 All-Star who's trying to extend his run of four straight seasons with at least 10 wins.
The left-hander wasn't much better in his last outing versus Toronto, allowing seven runs in 6 1-3 innings, while not receiving a decision in a 10-9 win over the Blue Jays on July 8.
Kazmir is 3-4 with a 4.02 ERA in 12 starts against Toronto.
Toronto's Lyle Overbay, who is 4 for 12 against Kazmir, hit a two-run homer Friday for the Blue Jays, who improved to 3-7 against the Rays this season.
Overbay is 7 for 15 with two home runs and six RBIs in his last four games overall, and 4 for 8 in his last two against Tampa Bay after recording one hit in his previous seven contests versus the Rays this season.
Brian Tallet (5-6, 4.85) takes the ball for the Blue Jays, replacing the injured Brett Cecil (knee). He's 5-6 with a 5.01 ERA in 18 starts this season.
The left-hander is making his first start since allowing five runs in six innings of a 10-9, 12-inning home loss to the Rays on July 25. Tallet has a 13.00 ERA while not receiving a decision in two career starts against Tampa Bay, both this season.
Carl Crawford, who had four hits Friday for the Rays, is 5 for 12 against Tallet. The All-Star left fielder is batting .349 against the Blue Jays in 2009.
- ** CONFIRMED **
AL
TORONTO 3
TAMPA BAY 8 FINAL
Aug 15 10:07 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY GABE GROSS SCORED CARLOS PENA
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, G GROSS ON FIRST, W AYBAR ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
TAMPA BAY 8 BOTTOM,7TH
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: D NAVARRO (.220, 1-FOR-3)
Blue Jays 3, Rays 8 Bot 7, 0 OutsAug 15 9:36 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY WILLY AYBAR SCORED EVAN LONGORIA
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, W AYBAR ON FIRST, C PENA ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
TAMPA BAY 7 BOTTOM,7TH
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: G KAPLER (.240, 1-FOR-3)
Blue Jays 3, Rays 7 Bot 7, 0 OutsAug 15 9:33 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
WILD PITCH BY BRANDON LEAGUE ALLOWED CARL CRAWFORD TO
SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E LONGORIA ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
TAMPA BAY 6 BOTTOM,7TH
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C PENA (.212, 0-FOR-3)
Blue Jays 3, Rays 6 Bot 7, 0 OutsAug 15 9:29 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
FORCE OUT BY RAUL CHAVEZ SCORED RANDY RUIZ
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R CHAVEZ ON FIRST, E ENCARNACION ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
TAMPA BAY 5 TOP,7TH
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M SCUTARO (.297, 1-FOR-2, BB)
Blue Jays 3, Rays 5 Top 7, 0 OutsAug 15 9:07 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY EVAN LONGORIA SCORED CARL CRAWFORD
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E LONGORIA ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
TAMPA BAY 5 BOTTOM,5TH
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B ZOBRIST (.284, 1-FOR-2)
Blue Jays 2, Rays 5 Bot 5, 0 OutsAug 15 8:31 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY EVAN LONGORIA SCORED CARL CRAWFORD
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, E LONGORIA ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
TAMPA BAY 4 BOTTOM,3RD
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B ZOBRIST (.282, 0-FOR-1)
Blue Jays 2, Rays 4 Bot 3, 0 OutsAug 15 8:01 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY CARL CRAWFORD SCORED JASON BARTLETT AND B.J.
UPTON
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, C CRAWFORD ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
TAMPA BAY 3 BOTTOM,3RD
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: E LONGORIA (.276, 0-FOR-1)
Blue Jays 2, Rays 3 Bot 3, 0 OutsAug 15 8:00 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JASON BARTLETT SCORED DIONER NAVARRO
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J BARTLETT ON FIRST, B UPTON ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM,3RD
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C CRAWFORD (.317, 0-FOR-1)
Blue Jays 2, Rays 1 Bot 3, 0 OutsAug 15 7:58 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY AARON HILL (28) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 1
OUT IN THE 3RD OFF SCOTT KAZMIR SCORED MARCO SCUTARO.
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2, TAMPA BAY 0
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A LIND (.297, 0-FOR-0, BB)
Blue Jays 2, Rays 0 Top 3, 0 OutsAug 15 7:44 PM
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