Tampa Bay Rays stun Texas Rangers 9-0 – MLB Playoffs
The Tampa Bay Rays’ keep on tossing and winning the innings while the Texas Rangers just struggled to avoid a 9-0 shut-out loss in the opening game of the playoffs at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Friday, September 30.
Rays entered in a dominant mood and grabbed the game without facing many hurdles. Their batters and pitchers made a perfect bridge against the Rangers’ batting powerhouse. With the bat, the Rays scored nine runs, including two three-run innings, one two-run
and one single run inning.
Tampa Bay started their crushing swings in the top of the second inning, when their designated hitter Johnny Damon launched a game-opener 359-feet long two run homer to provide his club an early lead. The hit was so perfect that it provided the Rays a real
boost that remained until Damon finalised the game with his line drive RBI single in the ninth inning.
Matt Joyce followed Damon with a line drive RBI single to right-field, scoring Kevin Shoppach to close down the second inning. Shoppach worked his best with a 429-feet long three run homer in the top of the third inning and elevated the morale of his entire
team. This hit took the Rays into a dominating 6-0 position.
Shoppach again came into action with a 432-feet long two run homer in the top of the fifth inning. This time he advanced his club to 8-0 lead which lasted until Damon closed down the ninth with an RBI single.
Kevin Shoppach scored five RBIs in his five at-bats with a .600 batting averages.
Rookie pitcher Matt Moore, making just his second start, but worked as if he had been in the game for many years. He got out six batters and yielded only two hits over his seven innings spell to grab his first play-off win of the career. His superb performance
amazed not only the opposition but also all the critics and experts of the game.
"You can't be more impressed," Rays’ manager Joe Maddon said. "What he did tonight was spectacular."
It was just like a dream for Maddon to have his rookie pitcher in Friday night’s discussions. Maddon will now be looking to employ him for the upcoming games.
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