“The key will be Garza keeping the ball in the park. Garza has given up 10 HR to date while giving up only 19 all of last year. If he keeps in it we win – simple. If not, we’re in for a battle.”
That my friends was my statement in yesterday’s blog. What did SP Matt Garza do in the rubber game of the 3 game set? Garza allowed 3 long blasts that cost the Rays 4 ER and the game/series. That gives Garza 13 long balls given up to this point in the season. He gave up only 19 all of 2008.
The offense wasn’t much help either. Our #3 and #4 hitters continue to try to pull pitches that are outside and low. Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria combined for a whopping 1 for 8 with 5 K’s with 0 runs scored and 0 RBI’s. As professional hitters these guys must see what the opposition is doing to them and adjust to it. Until they can prove they can spread the ball around the field do not expect to see an inside pitch to either of them. If I was the opposing pitcher they see nothing but off speed down and away.
Ben Zobrist came clutch in the top of the 9th by knocking in BJ Upton and Carl Crawford with a single to close the gap to 1 run. Jason Bartlett provided the other run by banging out a triple and scoring on a Dioner Navarro single.
This team is looking more like the .500 team they have been predicted at being this season. They cannot get any clutch hitting from their big bats. The pitching has been average to below average. If these guys don’t turn that corner soon and start to make some ground they will see themselves sitting in 4th place at the end of this season.
