(J. Meric/Getty Images)
With 11 strikeouts Saturday, Archer, per Elias, became the 2nd pitcher in the past 25 years to fan at least 25 in his first 3 big-league starts, joining Stephan Strasburg. The last in the AL? Al Leiter, 1987 Yankees.
(14-32) of base runners thrown out by Shoppach, leading the majors.
Last year he was at just 17.1%.
It was the first time in their 14 seasons they’d come back from four or more down in the ninth or later to win at home, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, and the second time overall (at Boston, in July 2002). It also was the first American League game since 1959, according to baseball-reference.com data, to end on a triple and error.
(Source: tampabay.com)
Yay Rays!
the Rays were 10-11 at home, averaging an AL-low 2.7 runs at home, a big drop off from the AL-best 6.2 they are scoring on the road, where they are 13-5.
While I love seeing them play here, well, you know..
% of swings in which Kelly Shoppach has missed (of 121 total), highest in the majors by a non-pitcher, minimum of 10 games played.
home runs Zorilla had all of last year. This year already? 7.
vs Blue Jays 4.24.11
Back to back complete games for this man. It is his 7th career complete game.
Today’s line: 9IP, 4H, 0ER, 2BB, 7K, 95 pitches.
Better late than never?
ERA of Rays starters over the past six games.
Shields set career highs last year in losses (15), ERA (5.18) and home runs allowed (34)
BUT
had career-high strikeout numbers (187 in 203 1/3rd innings) and a 3.67 strikeouts-to-walk ratio that was fourth best in the AL. He also had the lowest run support (of the 10 games the Rays were shutout, he was on the losing end 5 times).
Jim Hickey, the pitching coach, concludes: “There may have been some misfortune, but there were probably more bad pitches than there was bad luck.”
Bounce back year for you, Shieldsy!
Pitching stats for yesterday’s game, March 23rd, 2011, against the Phillies.
