Game Recap: Angels win, where's the Devil now?

June, 10, 2008

RAYS: 1

Angels: 6

HIGH-LITES:

Evan Longoria (AKA Dirtbag) coninues to swing a hot bat. Last night he was 2 for 3 with 2 doubles.

Shields pitched a complete game, his third CG of the season. He gave up 6 earned runs on 10 hits in 8 innings. Although he didn't have his best stuff he was able to stay in the game and give the 'pen a much needed rest.

Gabe Gross once again showed that he can be more than just a defensive player by cracking his 5th HR of the year into centerfield in the eighth, effectively spoiling Weaver's shut-out.

Willy Aybar made a nice diving grab at first to complete the 1,2,3 second inning.

Noodle-Arm Bartlett broke his form and made a great stop and throw on the run to end the eighth.

LOW-LITES:

The Rays as a team combined for only 4 hits. Part of this was the pitching of LAA starter, Weaver, but part of it was just inconsistant AB's for the Rays.

James Shields went out and pitched without his "stuff" again. Shields is supposed to be the consistant pitcher in this rotation, but has been struggling to put a game together on the road as of late. Don't get me wrong, I'll take a complete game, but i'd like to see him in better control of a game.

Shields is a different pitcher on the road this year than at home, as detailed in this snipet of an article by Bill Chastain at MLB.com:

"In seven home starts this season, Shields is 3-1 with a 1.72 ERA, including a two-hit shutout against the Red Sox and a one-hit shutout against the Angels on May 9. After allowing six earned runs in eight innings Tuesday night, Shields actually lowered his road ERA from 7.06 to 6.99 as his record away from home moved to 1-4."

When asked about his struggles on the road Shields replied:

"Bad luck, pitching well. What are you going to do?"

Hopefully start winning on the road, mister!

Aki and Crawford, the one and two batters, combined for a grand total of 0 for 8 at the plate.

Upton was caught stealing, again.

Last night's loss ensures a losing road trip. Given that this was one of the toughest roadtrips, if not the toughest roadtrip of the year, I suppose that that's acceptable, but I still can't shake that horrible feeling I got last week during the BoSox series that the wheels are close to falling off of our "dream" season...I hope I'm wrong.

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