J. P. Howell looks to hit back in Game 4 as Tampa Bay Rays are 2-1 behind Texas Rangers
The Tampa Bay Rays may not be on top of the American League Division Series but they still have the heart and opportunity to come back from a 2-1 deficit against the Texas Rangers. The club recently lost Game 3 of the series on Monday, October 3 at Tropicana
Field in St. Petersburg. The club was in the lead for the first six innings before the opposition put four runs in the seventh to dislodge the Rays.
David Price was exceptional for the first six innings, going for a scoreless display. In the seventh however he allowed a two-run homer to Mike Napoli. Unable to keep his count with the Rangers, Price was replaced with Brandon Gomes. Instead of stabilising
the situation, he allowed the rivals to load the bases. Manager Joe Maddon called on J. P. Howell to put up the stops. He was unable to as he allowed a two-run RBI single to Josh Hamilton.
The damage was immense as he gave away two runs to the Rangers. Though he was not to blame, his pitches were not consistent and many believed he might have been shaky due to his left shoulder surgery in 2010. He stated that it had nothing to do with his
performance on Monday.
"It's a matter of executing pitches and getting the job done," Howell said. "That's what I'm not doing. That's what it is right now."
Maddon came to the defence of the player, who was 2-3 this season with an earned run average of 6.16 in 46 games.
"He had decent success in the past," Maddon said. "And just everything we do, all the homework we do, that's our best one-on-one matchup, we think, out of the bullpen based on the kind of stuff J.P. has and what he's done to left-handed hitters this year.”
The Rays will be looking to find a way to claw their way back into the series against the Rangers. It will be interesting to see if Howell pitches again in Game 4.
Tags: