Projo Sox Blog

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- As one of the veteran voices in the Tampa Bay Rays' bullpen, Dan Wheeler knows what it takes to finish off good teams in pressure situations.

Wheeler was one of the big keys in the Rays' run to the American League pennant in 2008, and he's back for more this season. The Warwick native shined in Friday night's 6-2 win over the Red Sox, throwing 1.1 innings of perfect baseball as the Rays beat the Sox for the second straight night.

"I thought Dan was exceptionally sharp today," said Tampa manager Joe Maddon.

Wheeler came on with two outs and two runners on base in the seventh to face Jason Bay. The Rays were solidly ahead, 6-2, but the last thing Wheeler wanted to do was open the door for a Boston comeback. He did the job, sneaking a fastball past a frozen Bay for a called third strike to end the threat.

"Jason Bay is obviously a great hitter. I was just trying to focus and bear down and make a pitch and end that threat right there," Wheeler said.

In the eighth, Wheeler retired Mike Lowell on a fly out, then impressively stuck out Jason Varitek (looking) and Julio Lugo.

Tampa's bullpen carried a heavy load last season but got off to a slow start in 2009. Over the first 13 games, the pen compiled a 5.59 E.R.A. Things have turned positively of late, though. With newcomers Brian Shouse and Joe Nelson working into the mix, the E.R.A. has shrunk to 1.21 over the last 11 games.

"I have 100 percent confidence in all the guys down there," he said. "At the start of the season we hit a little rough patch, but I think over the course of a season we'll be able to put ourselves in a position to succeed. We just have a bunch of guys out there who can make pitches."

 Tags  Dan Wheeler Jason Bay Tampa Bay Rays

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