Final
Blue Jays-Rays Preview
Aug 16, 2009 - 4:48 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior WriterToronto (55-59) at Tampa Bay (61-54), 1:38 p.m. EDT
The Tampa Bay Rays are feeling good after their first win in a week, but they know it won't mean much if they follow it up with a loss.
The Rays look to build on their latest victory and continue their playoff push when they wrap up a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field on Sunday.
After averaging 3.2 runs during a five-game losing streak, Tampa Bay (62-54) defeated the Blue Jays 8-3 on Saturday, its first victory since last Saturday's 10-4 win at Seattle.
Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford each drove in two runs for the Rays, who finished 7 for 13 (.538) with runners in scoring position after going 8 for 34 (.235) in such situations during their skid.
"I'm just happy that the losing streak is over," said Crawford, who is 6 for 8 with four doubles in the first two games of this series. "Everybody came and did their job. Usually when we're all clicking like this we're a pretty tough team to beat."
With Saturday's victory, Tampa Bay pulled within four games of wild card-leading Boston. To make their second straight trip to the playoffs, the Rays need to put together a significant winning streak.
"It's always big to end a losing streak, especially at this part of the season," said Scott Kazmir, Saturday's winning pitcher. "If we can string a couple more games together like this, I think that we can feel a lot more confident."
Matt Garza (7-8, 3.80 ERA) takes the ball for the Rays in the finale trying to bounce back from a rough outing against one of his favorite opponents.
Garza gave up six runs, six hits and four walks in 3 1-3 innings of an 8-7 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, but didn't receive a decision. The right-hander had allowed three runs or fewer in each of his previous five starts.
A game against Toronto (55-60) could be enough to help him get back on track.
Garza has posted a 1.69 ERA in winning both starts against the Blue Jays this season, and is 5-2 with a 0.83 ERA in seven outings against them since the start of last year. He has won both starts versus Toronto at home, throwing 7 2-3 shutout innings in each.
Garza isn't the only Tampa Bay pitcher that has had success against the Blue Jays at home.
The Rays, who are 27-9 at Tropicana Field since May 21, are 11-3 at home against Toronto since the start of last season.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have lost 14 of 21 on the road.
Toronto has been on a bit of a power surge, homering in a season-high nine straight games, but only one of the team's six hits Saturday went for extra bases - Aaron Hill's team-best 28th home run.
Rookie Marc Rzepczynski (1-3, 4.38) takes the hill in the finale for the Jays looking to bounce back from a couple of subpar outings.
Since giving up one run in six innings against Boston on July 18 for his first major league victory, Rzepczynski is 0-2 with a 6.16 ERA in his last four starts. The left-hander allowed four runs and seven hits - including three home runs - in 3 1-3 innings of a 5-4 win over the New York Yankees on Monday.
While Rzepczynski has been mired in a bit of a funk, he had a solid major league debut against the Rays on July 9, permitting one run, two hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in six innings of a 3-1, 11-inning loss.
- ** CONFIRMED **
AL
TORONTO 2
TAMPA BAY 5 FINAL
Aug 16 4:56 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MARCO SCUTARO (11) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 9TH OFF J.P. HOWELL.
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2, TAMPA BAY 5
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A HILL (.288, 2-FOR-3, BB)
Blue Jays 2, Rays 5 Top 9, 0 OutsAug 16 4:47 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
GRAND SLAM BY GREGG ZAUN (6) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN THE 8TH
OFF BRANDON LEAGUE SCORED WILLY AYBAR, CARLOS PENA AND BEN
ZOBRIST.
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1, TAMPA BAY 5
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B UPTON (.236, 0-FOR-3)
Blue Jays 1, Rays 5 Bot 8, 0 OutsAug 16 4:34 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY VERNON WELLS SCORED AARON HILL
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, V WELLS ON FIRST, A LIND ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1
TAMPA BAY 1 TOP,5TH
DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R RUIZ (.368, 1-FOR-2)
Blue Jays 1, Rays 1 Top 5, 0 OutsAug 16 3:25 PM - AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY CARL CRAWFORD SCORED JASON BARTLETT
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C CRAWFORD ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 0
TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM,3RD
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: E LONGORIA (.278, 0-FOR-1)
Blue Jays 0, Rays 1 Bot 3, 0 OutsAug 16 2:44 PM
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