Projo Sox Blog

Daisuke Matsuzaka was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts this season against Tampa Bay. That's the good news. Here's the bad news: All three of his starts against the Rays were the kind of Matsuzaka starts that cause Red Sox fans to pull their hair out. In each of his three starts against the Rays, Matsuzaka lasted just five innings while throwing more than 100 pitches. In total, he threw 15 innings against the Rays this year, only three of which were 1-2-3 innings. The Rays drew 11 walks and collected 13 hits in their 15 innings against Matsuzaka, making it truly amazing that they only managed five runs. The downside, though, is that both of Matsuzaka's no-decisions ended in Red Sox losses.

Tampa's Game 1 starter, James Shields, pitched one of the best games that the Red Sox have seen this season, a two-hit, complete-game shutout on April 27 in which Shields struck out seven. Since then, he has surrendered 13 runs in 11 innings over three starts against Boston. He did pitch reasonably well in his last start against the Sox, way back on June 30, going 6.1 innings, allowing two runs and picking up the win. Shields was hammered in both of his starts at Fenway Park, on May 3 and June 5 (the brawl game).

All told, here's Shields against the Sox at Tropicana Field: 2-0, 1.17 ERA.

Here's Shields against the Sox at Fenway Park: 0-2, 21.21 ERA.

 Tags  Daisuke Matsuzaka James Shields Tampa Bay Rays

Comments

Ken said:

Here;s hoping the ultimate happens starting tonight. The Rays win in 4 (Maybe 5). Then maybe Sox fans can start carving out a "real" life and not one tied to the fortunes of the Sox.

Link | October 10, 2008 3:56 PM
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Tim said:

Hopefully we will be up 3-1 by the time Shields brings his 21.21 ERA at Fenway to the mound for game 5.

Link | October 10, 2008 4:35 PM
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