News
Garza searching for strong finish to 2009
Tampa Bay (78-75) at Texas (84-69), 8:05 p.m. ET
By Bill Chastain / MLB.com
09/25/09 11:30 PM ET
ARLINGTON -- A mention of "Texas" to Matt Garza brought an ironic smile from the Rays right-hander. "A lot of memories," said Garza, who will start against the Rangers on Saturday night. On June 8, 2008, Garza started in Texas against the Rangers and allowed three earned runs in four innings to take the loss. Most baseball fans will remember that game as the one in which Garza and his battery mate, Dioner Navarro got into a shouting match. "[The incident was] a blessing in disguise," Garza said. "But it should have never gotten to that point. ... But it happens and it's over with. I'm better off for it." Garza has since received help handling his emotions and has pitched twice in Texas against the Rangers. One of those outings was a two-hit shutout on Aug. 15, 2008, and the other on July 5 when he lost a 5-2 decision. Heading into his final two starts of the season, Garza just wants to finish the season strong. "I've put a couple of nice outings together recently," Garza said. "I just want to keep going and see where this thing takes me. I've gone with a great plan the last couple of outings and it's worked. I want to see if it will carry over to success for a long time." Garza is pitching deep into the season, an experience he said that gets easier every season. "I feel great," Garza said. "I'm not achy. I'm not in pain. I haven't been in the training room as much. What I've prepped my body for, it's working." Though Garza's team is out of contention, he does have one goal he's hoping to attain this season, which is to reach 200 innings for the first time in his career; he needs 7 2/3 innings to accomplish that feat. "It's just a goal," Garza said. "It's every pitcher's goal. I'd like to get to where I'm throwing 220, 230 innings. But 200 would be great for now." The significance of reaching 200 innings might be missed by the casual fan, but serious fans of the game, along with starting pitchers, truly understand the significance of the milestone. "[It] lets me know that I have the ability to go deep into games," Garza said. "Last year I tried, and I got 184. So getting there is important to me."
Pitching matchup
TB: RHP Matt Garza (8-10, 3.70 ERA)
Garza proved how tantalizing his season has been, with 7 1/3 dazzling shutout innings against the Blue Jays. After a performance like that, it's almost unthinkable that he only has eight wins on the season. It's also unfortunate Garza has no more starts against the Blue Jays, against whom he is 6-2 with a 0.81 ERA the past two seasons. He is 5-10 with a 4.12 ERA against everybody else this season, including Texas. He is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts against the Rangers this year. The one start he made in Arlington this season, he allowed five runs in five innings.
Millwood had gone 2-5 with a 6.29 ERA in 12 starts before beating the Athletics on Monday in Oakland. Millwood, using great command of his fastball, held the Athletics to one unearned run in seven innings. Millwood is 7-3 with a 3.21 ERA in 14 starts at home this season. Millwood is 1-2 with a 7.23 ERA in four career starts against the Rays. He hasn't pitched against them this season and his four starts against them are his fewest against any Major League team except the Rangers. Tidbits
J.P. Howell will not pitch any more this season. Howell, who has been the team's closer all season, will end the season at 7-5 with a 2.84 ERA and 17 saves. The left-hander is not injured, but Rays manager Joe Maddon said shutting him down is "the right thing to do" based on the fact Howell had a long season in 2008, a short offseason, pitched in the World Baseball Classic and became the closer, which added to the intensity of his appearances. ... Entering Friday night's game, Jason Bartlett led the American League with a .378 batting average with runners in scoring position. He also is well above the club record of .349 set by Delmon Young in 2007. Since 1974, only two shortstops have led the AL in average with runners in scoring position: Michael Young with the Rangers in 2006 (.412) and Alan Trammell with Detroit in 1990 (.379). ... If the Rays can win 83 games this season, they will become only the eighth team all-time to win 180 games over two seasons after losing 180 games the previous two seasons. ... According to Stats Inc., St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols averages one homer in every 11.4 at-bats, which is ahead of Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena (12.1) and the Diamondbacks' Mark Reynolds (12.7).
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• Sunday: Rays (David Price, 9-7, 4.41) at Rangers (Brandon McCarthy, 7-4, 4.87), 3:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Rays (Jeff Niemann, 12-6, 3.81) vs. Orioles (Mark Hendrickson, 5-5, 4.37), 7:08 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Rays (Wade Davis, 1-1, 4.07) vs. Orioles (TBD), 7:08 p.m. ET
Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
