Astros 3 - 2 Rays
Final
  for this game

Kazmir, Rays attempt to maintain home dominance

Jun 22, 2008 - 2:40 PM Tampa Bay (44-30) at Houston (34-41) 1:40 pm EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- One of the keys to the Tampa Bay Rays' season so far this season has been their play at home - a place Scott Kazmir has taken to quite nicely.

Kazmir will try to remain undefeated at home on Sunday when the Rays attempt to claim the rubber game of a three-game set with the Houston Astros.

Tampa Bay, which is an American League-best 30-12 at home, will be seeking its 10th consecutive home series win when it asks Kazmir (6-2, 1.76 ERA) to keep doing what he has done since missing the first month of the season with a left elbow strain - win at Tropicana Field.

The lefthander has been nearly untouchable here, going 4-0 with a 0.59 ERA in five starts while holding opponents to a .146 batting average.

However, Kazmir will need to rebound from his last start when he lasted just 4 2/3 innings in Tuesday's 3-2 home win over the Chicago Cubs. Although he allowed only a run and three hits, Kazmir needed 110 pitches as he walked four and struck out seven.

Houston will counter with Brandon Backe (4-8, 4.99), who will be searching for a rare road win.

The righthander, who is 1-6 with a 5.81 ERA in nine starts away from home this season, allowed three runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in his last outing, failing to factor in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.








  • ML
    FINAL
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 3 6 0
    TAMPA BAY 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 1 (FINAL)

    BATTERIES: HOU - BRANDON BACKE, WESLEY WRIGHT (7TH), CHRIS SAMPSON (8TH), DOUG
    BROCAIL (8TH), JOSE VALVERDE (9TH) AND HUMBERTO QUINTERO
    TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR, GRANT BALFOUR (6TH)

    Jun 22 4:57 PM
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    Astros 3, Rays 2  Top 9, 0 OutsJun 22 4:44 PM
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    Elephande Added 5 roots

    Astros 3, Rays 2  Top 9, 0 OutsJun 22 4:35 PM
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    RUWTbot Added 35 roots (Close Finish)

    Astros 3, Rays 2  Bot 7, 0 OutsJun 22 3:42 PM


  • ML
    AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
    TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY CARLOS LEE (17) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN
    THE 6TH OFF SCOTT KAZMIR SCORED MIGUEL TEJADA.
    CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3, TAMPA BAY 2
    DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.275, 1-FOR-2, HR, RBI)

    Astros 3, Rays 2  Top 6, 0 OutsJun 22 3:25 PM
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    Astros 3, Rays 2  Top 6, 0 OutsJun 22 3:25 PM


  • ML
    AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
    SOLO HOME RUN BY HUNTER PENCE (10) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN
    THE 5TH OFF SCOTT KAZMIR.
    CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1, TAMPA BAY 2
    DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T WIGGINTON (.264, 0-FOR-1)

    Astros 1, Rays 2  Top 5, 0 OutsJun 22 2:51 PM


  • ML
    AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
    TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY EVAN LONGORIA (12) TO CENTER WITH 0 OUT
    IN THE 2ND OFF BRANDON BACKE SCORED ERIC HINSKE.
    CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 0, TAMPA BAY 2
    DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C FLOYD (.258, 6 HR, 15 RBI)

    Astros 0, Rays 2  Bot 2, 0 OutsJun 22 2:07 PM
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    Astros vs. RaysJun 22 11:28 AM

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