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Rays' Bullpen Falters Again

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By MARC LANCASTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 15, 2007

SEATTLE - The Safeco Field stage belonged to James Shields and Felix Hernandez on Friday night, but neither starter was around for a final act that played out in predictable fashion for the Devil Rays.

A Rays reliever was saddled with the loss for a fourth consecutive game as the Mariners eked out a 2-1 victory in the bottom of the ninth. It was Gary Glover's turn to take the fall this time, as the only out he recorded in relief of Shields - who was pulled after 99 pitches - came on the Jose Guillen sacrifice fly that won the game for Seattle.
Ichiro Suzuki smoked Glover's first offering into center field for a leadoff single in the ninth, and Adrian Beltre moved him to third with a well-placed hit-and-run chopper past first base. Raul Ibanez loaded the bases with a grounder to shortstop that left Josh Wilson with no choice but to hold onto the ball. That set the stage for Guillen, who lifted a high fly to Delmon Young in right that was deep enough to score Ichiro without a play.

Before the bullpens took over, the most appealing pitching matchup of the four-game series didn't disappoint. Shields and Hernandez were locked in with one another from the beginning, neither allowing more than four batters to come to the plate in an inning through the seventh.

That was a testament to both pitchers' damage-control abilities, as any hint of an uprising was quickly quashed by a double-play ball or a runner thrown out attempting to steal.

The Rays got their leadoff man on base three times in the game, but two - Wilson in the third inning and Greg Norton in the fourth - were cut down by Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima on the back end of strike 'em out-throw 'em out double plays.

Shields likewise got some help from his defense, with Wilson and second baseman Jorge Velandia turning double plays to help him out in the fourth and fifth innings. That the Mariners scored their only run on the second of those twin-killings was indicative of the stinginess on display Friday night.
Jose Vidro led off the fifth with a double to right and moved to third on a bunt single by Johjima. Willie Bloomquist followed by grounding to Velandia, who completed a double play as Vidro crossed the plate.

Hernandez overpowered the Rays at times as he racked up eight strikeouts (including three of B.J. Upton's four on the evening), but Shields was going for efficiency. Pitching as if he was determined not to let the bullpen in on the action after three consecutive disappointing evenings, Shields kept things moving by keeping the ball in play.

The Rays' hitters finally paid Shields back by equalizing in the eighth. Jonny Gomes led off with a single and moved to second on a Dioner Navarro ground out. After Wilson flied out, Velandia blasted a double over Ichiro's head in center for his fourth hit in two days, bringing home Gomes with the tying run. That ended Hernandez's night, but Shields pitched on. He just couldn't take the Rays far enough.

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227 or mlancaster@tampatrib.com.

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