Rays Beat Boston, 4-3 – Now Just 3.0 Games Back

by BWoodrum on Sep 18, 2011 1:10 AM EDT in Game Recaps

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 17: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox pouts following striking out in the seventh. Afterwards, he proceeded to the dugout whereupon he immediately picked a fight with a 12-year-old twice his size and got body-slammed into the nearby landscaping.

Dave Cameron is right. The pressure is on the Tampa Bay Rays, not the Boston Red Sox. Ignore the collapse talk; ignore the "hot" narrative; ignore everything but the incredible odds against the Tampa Bay Rays right now. Because that will make the magic of this season only greater.

Jeff Niemann (W, 11-7) threw 89 pitches through 5.0 innings, but limited the Red Sox (87-64) to only 2 runs, giving the Rays (84-67) a narrowed 3-game deficit in the Wild Card race. Niemann walked only 2 Red Sox batters and struck out an uncharacteristic 6 hitters, including a K to Adrian Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia (whom Niemann also picked off to finish the 5th inning).

Then, eschewing the common approach, manager Joe Maddon pulled Neimann for the 6th inning and sent rookie and top pitching prospect Matt Moore into the game. Moore started his appearance by busting the radar gun, hitting 98 mph in his second and third pitches and earning praise from temporary closer Joel Peralta:

"Watching him was great," veteran reliever Joel Peralta said. "First two pitches and it's like, 'Daddy's here.'" — MLB.com

And Daddy went on to pitch 3.0 innings, striking out 2, walking 2, and allowing only 2 singles which led to an RBI ground out in the 7th. Moore then handed the ball to Peralta, who apparently doesn't care much for closer mentality talk. Peralta struck out two batters and didn't let the ball leave the infield en route to collecting his 4th save and giving the Rays a 4-3 win.

Offensively, the Rays started properly with a Fenway Special, a 300ish ft. Ben Zobrist home run to left, giving them a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Desmond Jennings pushed the lead to 3-0 in the third, doubling, moving to third on a ground out, and then scoring on a wild ball four to Evan Longoria. Then, in the fifth, Longo added an insurance run on an RBI single to right field.

Notes:

Some may criticize Maddon of over-managing or getting "too cute" (is such a problem even possible?) in pulling Niemann after five, but I laud the move. Niemann, on his career, has allowed an .800 OPS when the order turns over for the third time (despite a .600 OPS the first two times through). For comparison, hitters have a .700ish OPS against James Shields regardless of how many times they've seen him.

Meanwhile, Moore is pretty much an unscouted pitching phenom, and the Red Sox are loaded with lefties. It was a brilliant, daring move, and Moore rewarded Maddon with three innings of stifled Sox offense.
Former Devil Ray, Joey Gathright, got his first steal of the season, and his first MLB steal in two years. Congrats Joey; we still remember you fondly here.
Jon Lester and Brian Knight went 7.0 innings, limiting the Rays to 9 base runners. The lefty-umpire duo combined for 4 strikeouts and 4 walks, a surprising feat considering their impressive zone construction:

Here are the Wild Card standings as of tonight:

American League Wild Card Standings

	W	L	PCT	GB	STRK
Boston	87	64	.576	0	Lost 1
Tampa Bay	84	67	.556	3	Won 1
Los Angeles	82	69	.543	5	Lost 2
Toronto	76	75	.503	11	Lost 1
Cleveland	74	75	.496	12	Won 2
Chicago	73	78	.483	14	Lost 7
Oakland	69	83	.453	18.5	Won 1
Kansas City	67	86	.437	21	Won 7
Seattle	63	88	.417	24	Lost 1
Baltimore	62	88	.413	24.5	Won 4
Minnesota	59	91	.393	27.5	Lost 7

(updated 9.18.2011 at 12:47 AM EDT)

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DAN JOHNSON FAN CLUB UPDATE:

No news to report.

A DRaysBay and FanGraphs writer from Cubs Stats and Twitter @BradleyWoodrum

by BWoodrum on Sep 18, 2011 1:28 AM EDT reply actions

Do you tire of sending the newsletter to yourself?

follow me on twitter @sternfan10

by sternfan1 on Sep 18, 2011 6:33 AM EDT up reply actions

It's the only thing keeping the postal service going

by Lurch's Lobbyists on Sep 18, 2011 7:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh, this is good.

@RealNolenBailey

by Hatfield on Sep 18, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

He's Here

Good luck charm. Period.!!!

Go Danjo!

by MrNegative1 on Sep 18, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

at least we don't really have to worry about the Angels anymore

because if they catch us, we aren’t catching the Sox. Pending a 2-9 type finish from them and the Orioles aren’t that hot.

by Dbullsfan on Sep 18, 2011 1:55 AM EDT reply actions

also anyone have any video on Moore's innings

I wasn’t able to watch the game and because it was on regular Fox there won’t be a replay (I assume).

by Dbullsfan on Sep 18, 2011 1:56 AM EDT reply actions

if you have mlb package

it may be archived today?

by MrNegative1 on Sep 18, 2011 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Initially i questioned the use of Matt Moore against the Sox in a close game, with their ability to see plenty of pitches

As it turned out, the only run was on a questionable wild pitch/passed ball.

Today is the defining moment in David Price’s career. He has yo dominate, no Jake Fox cutters

follow me on twitter @sternfan10

by sternfan1 on Sep 18, 2011 6:35 AM EDT reply actions

Defining moment of his career...

or do you just have a nickname lined up for him if he dares to lose to the Red Sox?

'That is an absurd username.' - Steve Slowinski.

by Concretepiggy on Sep 18, 2011 7:26 AM EDT up reply actions

soon to be David OverPriced, no doubt

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Sep 18, 2011 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

So you're predicting an implosion by him today?

follow me on twitter @sternfan10

by sternfan1 on Sep 18, 2011 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

hoping, not predicting

by pudieron89 on Sep 18, 2011 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

No, I was predicting your next name for him

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Sep 18, 2011 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Cason

you are a visionary. In a few years the DavidOVERPriced nickname will be genius. Let’s hope by the time Evan/Price are set to earn those nicknames the new stadium issue is resolved and the Rays can go all Minnesota and lock the two up (Mauer/Morneau) but with better results.

by MrNegative1 on Sep 18, 2011 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

No it isn't.

It is one game. He may pitch well and lose; that will not mean he can’t rise to the occasion. He may do terribly. No matter the injuries, Boston has a fearsome lineup that can make any pitcher look bad. Or as he is not a robot, Price may simply not have it today.

To be clear, I am not preparing for him to lose. He may also be brilliant as he has often been in the past. That too will not define him except for those with blinkered vision. Sometimes Sandy Alomar Jr. hits a home run off Mariano Rivera in a crucial playoff game. That defined neither player. Sometimes Rivera makes an error and then gives up a double to Tony Womack!! that ties the 7th game of a World Series, and then loses the game on a single by Gonzalez. Again, nobody is defined by one game except in the popular imagination.

It is just this kind of assertion that led me to post on another thread criticizing the nickname game you play. Price is a young pitcher who has shown more than flashes of excellence and has also had some disappointing moments. The greatest players in the game-Cobb, Ruth, Mantle, Ted Williams, Mays-have had similar ups and downs. All are defined by their careers, not by individual games or at bats.

If you are simply projecting how the fan base will feel about Price should he not win, you may be right, but so what. I don’t think it is the mission of this site to feed that sort of nonsense. If you really think Price should be defined by one performance, I think you are terribly mistaken. If you are simply expressing your emotional response-in advance of anything happening-I think you are allowing irrationality to overcome your reason.

Parenthetically, I think it is “defining moment” approach that underlies the enthusiasm for Jack Morris’s HOF candidacy. And while the argument there is more complicated, to the extent that one game is often mentioned, I think the argument is fallacious.

by bobr on Sep 18, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs

This post has got me all hot and bothered.

@ptSuttery

by Suttree on Sep 18, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

The pressure is not on the Rays

The pressure is on Boston. That’s the fact. Whether or not we should use coolstandings as our pressure gauge is irrelevant. Pressure is emotion and sometimes may be irrational. Check out the Boston players. Check out their fans. They are about to inflict a gun shot wound to their temple. The pressure is huge, and I was up there this whole week so I saw/felt it first hand.
If there is any pressure on any Ray it is Price. He semi gagged last week vs the Orioles. Today he is going against Wake. The Red Sox fans have no confidence in Lestah winning big games…here’s to hoping Davd and Astro do not get into that territory.

Have to beat Wake.

I thank Draysbay for proving that Loose Change fanatics exist in mainstream America, and more importantly for Chik-fil-A spicy chicken recommendations. My life is forever changed

by matthan on Sep 18, 2011 8:25 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Pressure is on Rays

Rays can not afford “a” loss while the Red Sox can afford up to 3 losses.

by MrNegative1 on Sep 18, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Pressure is both ways

But the Rays are playing with house money. Red Sox are much tighter.

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Sep 18, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

More pressure on redsux

If they lose ,that 12 year old kid will kick the crap out of pedy again.

by Landlord on Sep 18, 2011 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

this, essentially

by benderbrodriguez on Sep 18, 2011 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

hey Matthan

A story on ESPN.com you may enjoy:

Red Sox Running Out of Cliches.

by MrNegative1 on Sep 18, 2011 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Great article Woody

You hit the nail on the head. I am sick of hearing all this analysis from these so called unbiased onlookers like Camaroon. The funiest one I heard all weekend was from so called unbiased TV comentator Tim McCarver
Big Crapie hits a flyball to B.J. 40 feet from the wall. The camera guy pans the bullpen where he thinks the ball will land. Timmy says " In the summertime thats a Homerun ,this time of year it’s an out" HAHAHAHA

by Landlord on Sep 18, 2011 9:19 AM EDT reply actions

Love the Peralta Quote

Awesome.

by MrNegative1 on Sep 18, 2011 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Reminded me of this one....

What can I say? I tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy.
-Pedro Martinez

by ChiBurbRaysFan on Sep 18, 2011 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Matt Moore could be an ace in the hole for Joe

He pitched 3 innings Saturday. Will he mound up on Wed. against the yanks,with 3 days rest?. I say it improves his ability to pitch Wed. because Joe has pressure tested him. I don’t think the 3 innings fatigues him.
I would also like to give a BIG THUMBS UP to Joel Peralta. Not only has he been great on the mound,but he has given Matt some advice on how to come out ready out of the pen. I also like his media comments. Great Job Joel.

by Landlord on Sep 18, 2011 9:36 AM EDT reply actions

if I had to guess the plan will be to use Hellickson on regular rest Wed and than Moore on Thursday

by Dbullsfan on Sep 18, 2011 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

We have a double header Wed

I am thinking Helly and Moore

by Landlord on Sep 18, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

oic I misread the pitchers

I think it should come down to a game day decision than to see how he feels, you could go with Shields on 3 days rest as well.
This is what I would do with Shields on 3 days rest and pushing Niemann back to set up Price v NYY last game of the year (possibly setting up Niems vs Bos in playoff and he has dominated them this year)
NYY
Davis
Shields/Hellickson
Moore
Tor
Price
Niemann
Davis
NYY
Shields
Hellickson
Price

by Dbullsfan on Sep 18, 2011 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I do like the look of that.

According the mlb.com right now, though, the probables list Niemann for Thursday.

I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously. -- @steveslow

by Steve Slowinski on Sep 18, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

yea I saw that I think they are just assuming everyone goes in order

Maddon has shown he isn’t afraid to tinker with that already to set up match-ups.

by Dbullsfan on Sep 18, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Is there a tie breaker

or do we win because of heads up wins?

by Landlord on Sep 18, 2011 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions

i keep hearing talk about a playoff, it would be nice if heads up were a tiebreaker though

by Dbullsfan on Sep 18, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I thought I read Mr. Sternfan

mention a heads up tie breaker.

by Landlord on Sep 18, 2011 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

well I would trust his word a lot more than mine

I am far from certain on this topic so this is good news to me.

by Dbullsfan on Sep 18, 2011 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I am not sure on this

My first thought was a playoff game. Maybe somebody that knows for sure would way in.

by Landlord on Sep 18, 2011 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Last I heard

We get Homefield because of heads up. They were using coin flip for Homefield ,but changed it to heads up. I don’t know if things have changed again

by Landlord on Sep 18, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Mr Sternfan said there is not one

but there is one….and it would be at Tropicana Field

If two or more Clubs in a League are tied in determining the Wild Card Club with identical winning percentages at the conclusion of the championship season as originally scheduled, including all rescheduled games and discounting additional games to determine the Division champion, as set forth in Rule 33©(2), the Commissioner shall determine the Wild Card Club as follows:
(A) Two-Club Tie. If two Clubs are tied for the Wild Card designation then the championship season shall be extended to include one additional game between such Clubs. Such game shall be played the day after the conclusion of the championship season as originally scheduled. The site of the game may be determined by mutual agreement among the Clubs and the Commissioner to keep travel at a minimum. In the absence of such an agreement, the Commissioner shall determine the site of the additional game between the tied Clubs by one toss of a coin. The Commissioner shall declare the winner of the additional game to be the Wild Card Club.

I'm not a fanboy, I'm a _______

by Jason Collette on Sep 18, 2011 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions