Back to the Rays Report

Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

 @RMooneyTrib
 TBO_Rays
Send us your questions

More Links:

• Schedule/Results
• Player Stats
• Team Stats

Most Recent Entries

• Rays @ BoSox: On Bobby V, Maddon and the organist
• Rays-Red Sox, Round II: Can Rays afford a beanball war?
• Robinson product Gibson advances to NCAA track finals
• Panini previews Gold Standard autographs
• UD unveils Military Machines inserts for 2012 Goodwin Champions set
• Rays @ BoSox: Guyer out for the season, Jennings close to returning and lineups
• USF softball: It’s game day
• Weekly Tampa Bay fishing report
• Rays at BoSox: Rivalry renewed
• Karen Cooley returns as Zephyrhills girls swimming coach
• USF beats Pitt, stays alive
• The Nerds head north
• Jeffrey Shank out as Gulf boys basketball coach
• Berkeley Prep captures Academic Team Champion Award - again
• This week’s signings and offers

More

• Bucs Report -Tribune staff
• Rays Report - Roger Mooney
• Bolts Report - Erik Erlendsson
• Bulls Report
• Prep Report - Hillsborough
• Prep Report - Pasco
• Prep Report - Region
• Prep Report - Recruiting Updates
• Prep Report - Football
• Go Fishing: On The Waterfront
• The Sports Bookie - Bob D'Angelo
• Gators Report - Tribune staff
• Youth Sports Report
• NFL Draft Report
• Go Ask: Frank's Tacklebox
• Bucified Bert Blog
• BUK Power - Bucs Fan Blog
• Pigskin Preacher - NFL Fan Blog
• Breakfast Bonus - Tom McEwen
• Highlands Sports

Monthly Archives

• May 2012
• April 2012
• March 2012
• February 2012
• January 2012
• December 2011

Rays starting pitchers vs BoSox this season

Posted Sep 15, 2011 by Roger Mooney

Updated Sep 15, 2011 at 08:09 AM

ROGER MOONEY
BOSTON Here we go, make-or-break time.

This four-game series against the Red Sox that begins tonight in Fenway Park will likely decide the playoff fate of the Rays, who are currently four games back of the BoSox in the AL Wild Card standings.

“Why did I believe we matchup well against them?” Maddon said Wednesday, repeating a question asked after the 6-2 loss to the Orioles. “We pitch really well against them.”

They certainly do.

The Rays have a 2.69 ERA against the Red Sox this season in 14 games, holding the once-believed to be mighty Boston lineup with a .177 batting average.

The Rays are 4-1 at Fenway this season, which means the mystic that surrounds the ancient ball park matters little to the Rays.

“I think the primary reason for the success has been our starters have done so well, and they’ve really given us a chance to win games versus the Red Sox,” Maddon said.

Jeremy Hellickson, James Shields, Jeff Niemann and David Price will face the Red Sox.

The last time the Rays were up here, they won two of three with Shields and Niemann tossing complete games while Price pitched eight scoreless innings.

Here is what each has done against Boston this season:

Hellickson: 1-1 in 3 starts with a 3.93 ERA. He is 1-0 at Fenway.

Shields: 2-2 with a 2,87 ERA and two complete games. He is 0-1 at Fenway despite throwing an eight-inning complete-game up there the last time.

Niemann: 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA and one complete-game two starts. He’s 1-0 at Fenway with the complete-game.

Price: 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four starts, including 2-0 with a 1:14 ERA in two starts at Fenway.