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TAMPA BAY ( MOORE )
BOSTON ( LESTER ) |
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7.5ov
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Final
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| AL Division Series - Best of 5 - Game 1 | |  | |
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| 913 | TAMPA BAY | +125 | Ov 8,+105 | +135 | Ov 7.5,-105 | | 914 | BOSTON | -135 | Un 8,-125 | -145 | Un 7.5,-115 |
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| All Games | 93-71 | +1.6 | 76-79 | 4.3 | 0.256 | 0.328 | 3.9 | 0.240 | 0.301 | | Road Games | 42-41 | -4.8 | 38-40 | 4.3 | 0.258 | 0.325 | 4.1 | 0.251 | 0.318 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 31-24 | -1.6 | 23-28 | 4.5 | 0.258 | 0.333 | 3.5 | 0.234 | 0.303 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +2 | 4-3 | 4.7 | 0.260 | 0.309 | 3.4 | 0.253 | 0.312 | | Grass Games | 37-37 | -5 | 33-36 | 4.3 | 0.259 | 0.328 | 4.1 | 0.252 | 0.315 | | Day Games | 28-25 | -3.7 | 22-30 | 3.8 | 0.232 | 0.304 | 4.0 | 0.247 | 0.313 | | Division | 43-33 | +1.8 | 33-40 | 4.4 | 0.259 | 0.324 | 3.9 | 0.230 | 0.298 | | Playoff games | 1-0 | +1 | 0-1 | 4.0 | 0.235 | 0.278 | 0.0 | 0.257 | 0.278 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.256 | 0.328 | 164 | 5572 | 1429 | 486 | 166 | 0.03 | 674 | 591 | 1182 | 73 | 1178 | 158 | 60 | 148 | 119 | | Road Games | 4.3 | 0.258 | 0.325 | 83 | 2877 | 743 | 255 | 85 | 0.03 | 342 | 286 | 609 | 34 | 592 | 85 | 39 | 71 | 64 | | Lefty Starters | 4.5 | 0.258 | 0.333 | 55 | 1862 | 481 | 159 | 52 | 0.03 | 234 | 207 | 394 | 25 | 411 | 47 | 16 | 51 | 34 |
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| All Games | 3.56 | 1.200 | 501 | 208 | 198 | 407 | 43 | 194 | 521 | 27-24 | 42 | 18 | 70% | | Road Games | 4.39 | 1.398 | 239.6 | 124 | 117 | 220 | 23 | 115 | 257 | 7-15 | 23 | 8 | 74.2% |
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| All Games | 97-65 | +18.4 | 74-81 | 5.3 | 0.277 | 0.344 | 4.0 | 0.248 | 0.313 | | Home Games | 53-28 | +12.4 | 34-43 | 5.2 | 0.285 | 0.351 | 4.0 | 0.243 | 0.305 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 33-22 | +6 | 21-31 | 4.9 | 0.273 | 0.338 | 3.7 | 0.247 | 0.312 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -2.2 | 5-2 | 6.9 | 0.300 | 0.338 | 5.0 | 0.283 | 0.353 | | Grass Games | 86-58 | +13.2 | 65-72 | 5.3 | 0.282 | 0.348 | 4.1 | 0.250 | 0.313 | | Day Games | 28-15 | +8.6 | 14-28 | 5.0 | 0.273 | 0.342 | 3.6 | 0.243 | 0.305 | | Division | 44-32 | +6.7 | 30-45 | 4.8 | 0.264 | 0.328 | 3.7 | 0.239 | 0.306 |
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| All Games | 5.3 | 0.277 | 0.344 | 162 | 5651 | 1564 | 571 | 178 | 0.03 | 819 | 581 | 1308 | 123 | 1211 | 158 | 80 | 142 | 133 | | Home Games | 5.2 | 0.285 | 0.351 | 81 | 2737 | 780 | 306 | 83 | 0.03 | 406 | 278 | 631 | 55 | 586 | 79 | 46 | 68 | 76 | | Lefty Starters | 4.9 | 0.273 | 0.338 | 55 | 1887 | 515 | 185 | 61 | 0.03 | 262 | 184 | 428 | 29 | 389 | 50 | 26 | 50 | 47 |
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| All Games | 3.71 | 1.317 | 470 | 205 | 194 | 446 | 47 | 173 | 464 | 30-23 | 33 | 23 | 58.9% | | Home Games | 3.68 | 1.339 | 230 | 101 | 94 | 226 | 23 | 82 | 216 | 16-9 | 17 | 11 | 60.7% |
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| 9/20/2013 | PRICE(L) | BALTIMORE | HAMMEL(R) | 5-4 | W | -180 | 7.5 un | O | 14 | 16 | 0 | 12 | 13 | 1 | | 9/21/2013 | COBB(R) | BALTIMORE | GONZALEZ(R) | 5-1 | W | -145 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | | 9/22/2013 | ROMERO(L) | BALTIMORE | FELDMAN(R) | 3-1 | W | +105 | 7.5 ov | U | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | | 9/23/2013 | ARCHER(R) | BALTIMORE | CHEN(L) | 5-4 | W | -125 | 7 ov | O | 9 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 9/24/2013 | MOORE(L) | @ NY YANKEES | KURODA(R) | 7-0 | W | -105 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 2 | | 9/25/2013 | PRICE(L) | @ NY YANKEES | HUGHES(R) | 8-3 | W | -160 | 7.5 un | O | 15 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 2 | | 9/26/2013 | COBB(R) | @ NY YANKEES | NOVA(R) | 4-0 | W | -130 | 7.5 un | U | 11 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | | 9/27/2013 | HELLICKSON(R) | @ TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | 3-6 | L | -130 | 7.5 ov | O | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 2 | | 9/28/2013 | ARCHER(R) | @ TORONTO | HAPP(L) | 2-7 | L | -165 | 7.5 ov | O | 6 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 0 | | 9/29/2013 | MOORE(L) | @ TORONTO | REDMOND(R) | 7-6 | W | -180 | 7.5 ov | O | 9 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 11 | 0 | | 9/30/2013 | PRICE(L) | @ TEXAS | PEREZ(L) | 5-2 | W | -120 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | | 10/2/2013 | COBB(R) | @ CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | 4-0 | W | -110 | 7 un | U | 8 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 1 | | 10/4/2013 | MOORE(L) | @ BOSTON | LESTER(L) | | | 10/5/2013 | PRICE(L) | @ BOSTON | LACKEY(R) | |
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| 9/20/2013 | LESTER(L) | TORONTO | ROGERS(R) | 6-3 | W | -205 | 8.5 ev | O | 12 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 9/21/2013 | BUCHHOLZ(R) | TORONTO | BUEHRLE(L) | 2-4 | L | -145 | 8 un | U | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 1 | | 9/22/2013 | DOUBRONT(L) | TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | 5-2 | W | -150 | 8.5 un | U | 6 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | | 9/24/2013 | LACKEY(R) | @ COLORADO | CHATWOOD(R) | 3-8 | L | -150 | 10 ov | O | 7 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 2 | | 9/25/2013 | PEAVY(R) | @ COLORADO | CHACIN(R) | 15-5 | W | -120 | 10 ov | O | 16 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 1 | | 9/27/2013 | BUCHHOLZ(R) | @ BALTIMORE | FELDMAN(R) | 12-3 | W | -130 | 7.5 ov | O | 16 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 0 | | 9/28/2013 | LESTER(L) | @ BALTIMORE | CHEN(L) | 5-6 | L | -125 | 8 un | O | 14 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 1 | | 9/29/2013 | WEBSTER(R) | @ BALTIMORE | TILLMAN(R) | 6-7 | L | 135 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 1 | | 10/4/2013 | LESTER(L) | TAMPA BAY | MOORE(L) | | | 10/5/2013 | LACKEY(R) | TAMPA BAY | PRICE(L) | |
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| |  | TAMPA BAY: HITTING: OF DESMOND JENNINGS' on-base skills will lead to tons of runs and SBs despite his mediocre batting average. 2B BEN ZOBRIST bounced back from a disappointing 2010, and will continue to produce near the top of the batting order. Though a series of nagging injuries plagued his 2011 season, 3B EVAN LONGORIA slugged 17 HR in his last 53 games. Fully healthy this season, he'll be an elite power-hitter with double-digit SB potential. OF B.J. UPTON's days in Tampa may be numbered. He's an elite athlete, but he just might lose his head if he's traded into a tough situation. After a hot start, OF MATT JOYCE settled in as the productive hitter he is. He should get to play every day in right field. SSs SEAN RODRIGUEZ and REID BRIGNAC will battle for ABs but neither hits on a consistent basis. C JOSE MOLINA was acquired for his defense much more than his hitting. DH LUKE SCOTT can also play some 1B when slugger CARLOS PENA, who is returning to Tampa after hitting 28 homers for the Cubs in 2011, needs a rest.
STARTING PITCHING: DAVID PRICE was a little more hittable than in 2010, but he increased his already-high strikeout rate while cutting back on walks. His win total should rise from a disappointing 12 last year. JAMES SHIELDS put his 2010 disaster season behind him and became a Cy Young candidate. His peripheral stats and skills weren't all that different the past two years, it was a big swing of luck. Some people are putting out the Bust Alert on Rookie of the Year JEREMY HELLICKSON. He had the league's luckiest batting average on balls in play (.217), but he improved as last season progressed. MATT MOORE may be this year's R.O.Y. after a dominant late-season call up. He'll be among the league leaders in strikeouts for years to come. WADE DAVIS is a mediocre pitcher who eats innings at the back of the rotation.
RELIEF PITCHING: KYLE FARNSWORTH looked as strong as he has in years, converting 25 of 31 saves in his first season with the Rays. He's the closer again this year, but it won't take much for him to lose that job after an unsteady last third of the 2011 season. JOEL PERALTA may overtake Farnsworth for ninth-inning duties at some point this season. Peralta was 5-for-5 on saves in September when Farnsworth was hurt, and gave up only one run in his final 21.3 innings. Possible future closer JAKE McGEE progressed nicely after a tough start to 2011. He's got potentially lethal stuff. Former Angels hurler FERNANDO RODNEY is looking to bounce back after a wild season (28 walks, 26 strikeouts in 32 IP). | | BOSTON: HITTING: OF JACOBY ELLSBURY's 2011 breakout was no fluke. He has real power to complement his elite speed. 2B DUSTIN PEDROIA bounced back from a slow start to finish with career highs in HR and RBI. He benefits from hitting behind Ellsbury. 3B KEVIN YOUKILIS is a huge injury risk. His best seasons are behind him. 1B ADRIAN GONZALEZ wasted no time winning over Boston fans last year, and should hit even more HR in 2012. DH DAVID ORTIZ has put together two straight impressive years after being left for dead in 2009. 2011 Super Bust OF CARL CRAWFORD will bounce back, just not as much as most experts think. Most of the catcher duties will go to C JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA, with C KELLY SHOPPACH getting ABs against lefties. Right field will be filled by former Giants playoff hero CODY ROSS. SS NICK PUNTO replaces Marco Scutaro, who is now in Colorado. 3B MIKE AVILES is a solid hitter with the defensive flexibility to end up with semi-regular ABs.
STARTING PITCHING: JON LESTER seems to have leveled off as a very good pitcher instead of ascending into an elite class. He lost some speed on his pitches and got hit a little harder in 2011. Coming off the best season of his up-and-down career, JOSH BECKETT's numbers are bound to regress a bit in 2012. Back problems limited CLAY BUCHHOLZ last season, and he lost some of the zip on his fastball. He'll tally a low ERA and 15+ wins if he can stay healthy. ALFREDO ACEVES was outstanding out of the bullpen last year, and will compete for a rotation spot this year. He was a starter for years in the Mexican League and the minors. Former setup man DANIEL BARD is being converted to a starter, but he may wind up back in the bullpen later on. After Tommy John surgeries, DAISUKE MATSUZAKA is due to return around July, while JOHN LACKEY won't be back until 2013.
RELIEF PITCHING: ANDREW BAILEY was a acquired from Oakland in December for a heap of prospects. He's one of the best closers in baseball, and may even be an upgrade from departed Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth. Time will tell how he'll handle the increased scrutiny of playing in Boston. Coming over in a trade for infielder Jed Lowrie, MARK MELANCON was excellent as a closer last season in Houston and should be Bailey's main set-up man in the eighth inning. BOBBY JENKS has ninth-inning experience, but he will be out at least two months coming off a pulmonary embolism. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (TAMPA BAY-BOSTON) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Updates with details, quotes from Farrell, Gomes, Maddon, Moore, Lester. Should stand. With AP Photos.)
*Rays-Red Sox Preview* ======================
By HOWARD ULMAN AP Sports Writer
Tampa Bay (92-71) at Boston (97-65), 3:07 p.m. EDT
BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox didn't mind waiting a few days to start their playoffs.
Not after missing them for the past three seasons.
Not after the September collapse that ruined their chances in 2011.
And certainly not after they stumbled to the club's worst record in 48 years in 2012.
"This was part of the mindset at the end of last year, a strong desire to rewrite what took place," Red Sox manager John Farrell said Thursday.
The revised edition tied the St. Louis Cardinals for the best record, was the highest scoring team in the majors and turned a toxic clubhouse atmosphere into a fun-loving one that was a big reason the Red Sox had 28 more wins than they did last season.
They'll try for their first in the playoffs on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of the best-of-five AL division series.
"Guys in here love playing baseball," Red Sox left fielder Jonny Gomes said. "It's a bunch of baseball junkies, so I'm sure they'll be happy to strap on their cleats."
Boston ended its regular season on Sunday then waited for its opponent to be determined.
Tampa Bay had to win three road games to get this far - at Toronto on Sunday to force a tiebreaker for the second AL wild-card spot, at Texas on Monday night in that tiebreaker, and at Cleveland on Wednesday night to advance to the ALDS.
"It's quite an accomplishment," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "And, moving forward, I want to believe it's going to create some kind of different form of momentum going into this series because we've been playing. We've been playing under duress and we're not tired."
But the Red Sox don't think their layoff will hurt.
"It's just a second All-Star break for us," Gomes said after a nearly two-hour team workout Thursday.
The Rays finished six games behind the Red Sox in the AL East but are on a roll with 10 wins in their last 12 games. And they have star left-handers Matt Moore and David Price ready to go in the first two games at Fenway Park.
Moore (17-4) is 9-1 in his last 13 starts. Price (10-8) is coming off a 5-2, complete-game win against the Rangers in the tiebreaker. In a span of eight days in late July, they combined to go 3-0 against the Red Sox in Boston with each pitching a complete game.
More bad news for the Red Sox: the Rays are 14-2 on the road when Moore starts.
"For me going into a game on the road, I try to take that as a little bit more of a challenge than when you're at home" with support from the crowd, Moore said. "There's nothing better than winning on the road in an environment like this."
The Red Sox have a pretty good left-hander themselves set for the opener. Jon Lester (15-8) was 5-1 with a 2.22 ERA in his last eight starts and 7-2 with a 2.57 ERA since the All-Star break.
"To be named Game 1 starter, especially after last year," Lester said, "big honor, obviously, very excited."
Lester had his worst season in 2012 with a 9-14 record and 4.82 ERA. Even worse was the team's 69-93 record and clubhouse discord under Bobby Valentine, who was fired after his only season as Boston's manager. He took over from Terry Francona after Boston went 7-20 the previous September.
"Last year was just horrendous all the way around," Lester said.
And this year?
No losing streak longer than three games. A total of 158 days in first place. And a lineup with no easy outs.
"It's nine guys in the lineup getting it done," Gomes said, but "it's a clean slate as of (Friday). So it's zeroes across the board."
Farrell said the righty-hitting Gomes, a platoon player, would start in left field in the first two games. He also said first-string catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and backup David Ross would split the first two games.
Third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who bats right-handed, could be a key against Moore and Price.
"He's shown the ability to be streaky, and when he's in those upticks it really lengthens our lineup," Farrell said. "I will tell you that going up against left-handed starters, we're going to need him."
Middlebrooks' position is the only spot where the Rays have an obvious edge. Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria had three hits, including his 32nd homer, in the tiebreaker in Texas.
"He comes in here swinging the bat very well," Farrell said. "And, seemingly, in those key moments he's come up with some big hits. So anytime we focus on one given player, it's not so much that particular guy, it's what we do with the guys ahead of him in the order. And if we can minimize the opportunities when he comes to the plate, we might put ourselves in a decent position."
Both teams know each other very well, having met 19 times this season with the Red Sox winning 12.
But Maddon thinks the Rays surge just to reach the ALDS will help them.
"I want to believe the journey we've just gone through is going to hopefully relax our hitters a bit," he said. "So you might see a better offensive ballclub."
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| | Last Updated: 5/19/2024 1:37:26 AM EST. |
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