Rangers @ Devil Rays (August 21st-24th)

[Molina00]

Projected Matchups
Game 1: Adam Eaton (3-2, 3.86 ERA) vs. James Shields (5-6, 4.75 ERA)
6:15 PM Centra on FSN

Game 2: Vicente Padilla (12-7, 4.39 ERA) vs. Scott Kazmir (10-8, 3.31 ERA)
6:15 PM Central on KDFI

Game 3: Kevin Millwood (12-8, 4.58 ERA) vs. Casey Fossum (6-5, 5.06 ERA)
6:15 PM Central on FSN

Game 4: Edinson Volquez (1-2, 4.02 ERA) vs. Tim Corcoran (4-5, 4.13 ERA)
6:15 PM Central on KDFI

Game 1 Matchup Notes
Eaton: Over his last 2 starts Eaton has gone 2-0 and allowed just 4 runs on 8 hits in 13 innings. He is 3-1 with a 3.20 ERA in 4 August starts this year. This will be his first career start against Tampa Bay.

Shields: He has pitched very well over his last 5 starts posting a 1-2 record but with a 3.03 ERA over that span. This is his first start of the year against Texas.

Game 2 Matchup Notes
Padilla: Prior to Padilla's last start where he allowed 6 runs in 3.2 innings, and was ejected in the 4th inning which followed with a suspension, he had allowed just 4 runs over 14 innings in his 2 previous starts.

Kazmir: This guy is the ace of the Rays staff and has shown it over his last 6 starts. He has only gone 1-3 over that span but has posted an ERA of 2.58 as well.

Game 3 Matchup Notes
Millwood: After giving up just 1 run on 3 hits in 7 innings in his last start in Detroit Millwood will look to continue his dominance on the road. He is 8-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 13 road starts this year. He has not pitched well in 2 career starts against the Rays though going 1-0 with a 5.68 ERA.

Fossum: Casey has been hit hard in his last 2 starts giving up 10 runs over 8 innings, and did not fair any better in his only other start against Texas this year surrendering 8 runs on 10 hits in 4 innings of work.

Game 4 Matchup Notes
Volquez: Edinson was roughed up in his last start allowing 3 runs on 8 hits over 3.2 innings against the Tigers but pitched 7 scoreless against the Mariners in his previous start.

Corcoran: After a hot June start Corcoran has been hit hard over his last 6 starts going 0-5 with a 5.88 ERA.

[Raphictor]

I'm smelling a sweep.

[Molina00]

Going to be tough against Kazmir but after taking 3 out of 4 in Detroit I would expect at least 3 wins out of this series.

[Raphictor]

Going to be tough against Kazmir but after taking 3 out of 4 in Detroit I would expect at least 3 wins out of this series.

It might be tough against Kazmir, but with the way our offense torches TB, I wouldn't think getting to him for 4 runs wouldn't be a big problem. With the way Millwood completely dominates on the road, I see that as a game won already.

[Molina00]

The Rangers loaded up the bases in the 1st with 1 out but Blalock and DeRosa struck out consecutively to end the inning. They threatened again the 2nd with an Ian Kinsler double but he was left stranded.

Adam Eaton ran into some trouble in the 2nd allowing 2 runs putting Texas behind 2-0. Mark DeRosa made a great throw gunning down a D-Ray runner at home plate to save another run.

[Molina00]

Carlos Lee hit a 1-out double in the 3rd but Teixeira followed with a strikeout.

[Molina00]

Hank Blalock just crushed a homerun over the wall in straightaway centerfield to tie the game at 2.

[Molina00]

Rod Barajas just threw out B.J. Upton trying to steal 2nd base.

[Molina00]

Eaton worked himself out of a runners on the corners jam and the game is tied at 2 through 3 innings.

Post #1500, woo hoo!

[Molina00]

Eaton is running into some 2-out trouble in the 3rd. He got 2 quick outs then gave up hits to the 8 and 9 hitters then another single has given the Rays a 3-2 lead. Runners on the corners right now.

A very nice play by Michael Young to end the inning.

Devilrays lead 3-2 after 4 innings.

[Molina00]

Young and Lee had consecutive 1-out singles in the 5th but Mark Teixeira followed by striking out. Blalock followed with a single to right-centertfield to score Young and tie the game.


Edit: DeRosa struck out looking to end the inning stranding runners on the corners.

[Molina00]

Eaton gives up a 1-out double and a 2-out single in the 5th and Texas trails 4-3.

[Molina00]

Eaton had the bases loaded with 2-out in the 5th, a full count on the batter, and he struck him out to end the inning.

Devilrays lead 4-3 after 5 innings.

[Molina00]

The Rangers got mowed down in order in the 6th with a strikeout and a couple of foulouts.

[Molina00]

C.J. Wilson in relief of Adam Eaton strikes out B.J. Upton, follows that up with a groundout to shortstop, and finishes off TB striking out Carl Crawford.