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Garza looks to continue dominance of Blue Jays

Aug 27, 2008 - 10:50 AM TORONTO (68-63) at TAMPA BAY (79-51), 7:10pm EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- This is exactly what the Tampa Bay Rays need: Matt Garza going against the Toronto Blue Jays.

For the first time all month, the Rays have suffered back-to-back defeats. But they can put that brief skid to an end on Wednesday against the Blue Jays, and there's no one they'd rather have on the mound than Garza.

The 6-4, 205-pound righthander has been the Blue Jays' nemesis all season. In three chances against him, they've managed to score one run.

In a July 29 meeting in Toronto, Garza (10-7, 3.71 ERA) tossed a five-hit shutout, the first of his big-league career, striking out five and walking one while outdueling Toronto ace Roy Halladay. Ten days prior, he held the Blue Jays to two hits over 7 2/3 innings in a 6-4 win.

Of course, the Blue Jays did deal him a loss in early May - but even then, Garza surrendered only a single run in 6 2/3 innings. Now that the pennant race is entering its stretch run, the Rays need another performance like that. They still hold a 3 1/2-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the American League East, but have entered a crucial stretch in which they play 21 consecutive games within the division.

Taking the hill for the Blue Jays is rookie southpaw David Purcey (2-4, 6.55), who lasted four innings in his last start against the New York Yankees. In his previous start, he threw six innings of two-hit ball in a 4-3 win over the Detroit Tigers.