News
Garza can put shaky start behind him
Tampa Bay (62-54) vs. Toronto (55-60), 1:38 p.m. ET
By Zach Schonbrun / MLB.com
08/15/09 11:02 PM ET
ST. PETERSBURG -- Joe Maddon knew there was something going on with Matt Garza in his previous start. The right-handed starter had allowed two home runs and six hits by the fourth inning against the Angels last Tuesday -- uncharacteristic numbers, even against the tough lineup. Maddon just couldn't tell exactly what the issue was. Garza, who's second in the American League in opponent batting average (.227) this season, seemed to have great velocity. His breaking pitches looked sharp. And location wasn't glaringly off. For some reason, though, Garza struggled against the Angels, his shortest outing of the season. "He just never got comfortable out there the whole time," Maddon said. Turns out Garza wasn't comfortable even before he took the mound. He was ill and feverish in the clubhouse before the game, and though he still pulled through to take the field, he had difficulty finding his rhythm and arm angle. What resulted wasn't pretty: 3 1/3 innings, six hits, four walks and four earned runs -- the most runs he's allowed since July 5. After two very strong showings against the Yankees and Red Sox in back-to-back outings, allowing 11 hits and five runs in 14 innings combined, Garza's lapse against Los Angeles came as a bit of a shock to Maddon. "He does all the right things," Maddon said. "With him you just continue to be patient knowing that he's very talented and it's all going to work out. I don't have any huge concerns at all." Unlike some of the other starters in Tampa Bay's rotation who have had their peaks and valleys in performance, Garza has stayed remarkably consistent all season. His outing against Los Angeles was just the sixth time this season he's allowed more than three runs. Maddon hopes it turns out only to be a fluke, and a lost start to be blamed on the flu. "I thought, from a velocity perspective, [he had] some of his best velocity he's had in maybe his last two or three starts," Maddon said. "That was the disappointing part -- that he was not able to take advantage of that. He just did not get comfortable in that game." Pitching matchupTB: RHP Matt Garza (7-8, 3.80 ERA)
Garza got roughed up Monday night, but the Rays came back to tie the score to give Garza a no-decision rather than his ninth loss of the season. He clearly has the best stuff on the staff, but harnessing his emotions continues to be a problem. Garza is 5-3 with a 1.91 ERA in eight career starts against the Blue Jays; he is 11-7 with a 3.08 ERA in 27 career starts at Tropicana Field. TOR: LHP Marc Rzepczynski (1-3, 4.38 ERA)
On Monday night, the Yankees launched three home runs against Rzepczynski, who was making his second consecutive start against New York. The young lefty escaped with a no-decision after working just 3 1/3 innings -- the shortest outing of his career. Rzepczynski allowed four runs on seven hits with no strikeouts and one walk. Over his past four starts, the southpaw has gone 0-2 with a 6.16 ERA. Rzepczynski faced the Rays on July 7 in his big league debut, limiting Tampa Bay to one run over six innings of a no-decision. Tidbits
The Rays have signed their third, fourth, fifth and ninth-round selections from the First-Year Players Draft this June, the club announced Saturday. The picks were outfielder Todd Glaesmann (third round), catcher Luke Bailey (fourth round), first baseman Jeffrey Malm (fifth round) and pitcher Kevin James (ninth round). That leaves first-round pick LeVon Washington and second-round pick Kenny Diekroeger as the only two left from this year's Draft that have yet to sign. ... The Rays sent first-base prospect Rhyne Hughes to Baltimore to complete the trade for catcher Gregg Zaun made on Aug. 7. Hughes hit a combined .282 with 22 home runs and 72 RBIs for Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham this season. ... Akinori Iwamura went 0-for-2 with a run in his first game for Durham on Friday as he rehabs from knee surgery. "Aki did fine," Maddon said. "Swung the bat well, ran, everything was good. Everything was normal." ... Injured outfielder Fernando Perez has been back in the Rays' clubhouse this weekend because of what Maddon called a "respite" due to a neck tweak. Perez was on a Minor League rehab assignment coming back from wrist surgery in March. He took batting practice at Tropicana Field before Saturday's game and Maddon expects him to go back on the rehab trip shortly. Tickets
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• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Rays (David Price, 5-5, 5.13) vs. Orioles (Jason Berken, 2-10, 6.63), 7:08 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Rays (TBD) vs. Orioles (TBD), 7:08 p.m. ET
Zach Schonbrun is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
