Rays to keep same rotation for ALCS
Sports Network | October 08, 2008
St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays will employ the same rotation in the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox as they did against the White Sox in the ALDS, handing the ball to James Shields in Game 1.
Shields, who went 14-8 this season with a 3.56 earned run average, earned the win in Game 1 against Chicago after throwing 6 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on six hits. In four games against the Red Sox this season, Shields was 2-2 with a 5.85 ERA, including a complete game shutout on April 27.
Scott Kazmir will take the hill for Game 2 after earning a win against the White Sox, allowing two runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Matt Garza will start Game 3 despite absorbing the only loss in the division series for the Rays, giving up five runs on seven hits in six innings pitched of Game 3. Andy Sonnanstine gets the nod for Game 4 after pitching well in the clinching game, surrendering only two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings.
The Rays took the season series from the Red Sox, 10-8, as they captured the AL East title for the first time in team history. Game 1 is slated for Friday at 8:37 p.m. (et) at Tropicana Field.
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