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Garza Victimized By What Cards Usually Do Best

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 18, 2008

ST. LOUIS - The seven runs (six earned) allowed by Matt Garza on Saturday were the most surrendered by a Rays starter in two weeks, and Garza's 41/3 innings represented the shortest outing among the rotation since Scott Kazmir went four in his debut two weeks ago today.

Nonetheless, the consensus following Saturday's game was that Garza did what he was asked to do, for the most part.

"Overall, he didn't throw the ball poorly - he was around the strike zone," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I just thought they did a nice job of hitting today."

The top of the Cardinals' order, Skip Schumaker and Aaron Miles, was especially meddlesome. Schumaker singled twice to the opposite field and came around to score both times, while Miles collected hits in all three at-bats against Garza, scoring twice.

"I made the pitches like our scouting report said - away, away, away," Garza said. "Schumaker and Miles, just nuisances, man - they gave me a lot of headaches today."

Those two were the catalysts in the four-run fifth inning that drove Garza from the game, leading off with a pair of singles before Albert Pujols pulled a ball off his shoe tops into left for a single that gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead.

Garza said his arm felt fine but he didn't feel his stuff was as good as it usually is. More than anything, though, he felt the Cardinals just hit them where the Rays weren't.

"This is a team that will single you to death, and that's what they did," Garza said. "They singled me to death."

UPTON FINE: CF B.J. Upton gave the Rays a scare on the final play of the game, coming down clutching his left arm after leaping in an attempt to catch Ryan Ludwick's homer.

Assistant trainer Paul Harker and Maddon met Upton before he left the field to see if he was OK and he said he was. About two weeks ago, Upton missed two games after straining his left shoulder on a swing in Baltimore.

"It was nothing like it was before," Upton said. "I just jumped and turned it wrong. It was all right."

PRICE CHECK: The Single-A hitters LHP David Price will face when he makes his professional debut this week shouldn't look as intimidating after Price watched Alex Rodriguez step into the batter's box five times Saturday.

The rehabbing Yankees third baseman batted in all five innings Price pitched in an extended spring training game at the Naimoli Complex. Rodriguez hit a 95-mph Price offering the other way for a home run and drew the only walk the lefty doled out, but the Rays' top pitching prospect had the upper hand.

Price struck out 10 batters, getting A-Rod twice, as he allowed four hits and two runs in his final tune-up.

"I wish he was on our team," Rodriguez told The Associated Press. "He has a very bright future."

The elbow strain that prompted the Rays to shut Price down briefly in spring training is no longer an issue and the top pick in last year's draft will make his first official start Thursday at Vero Beach against Clearwater.

NOTEWORTHY: The Rays reinstated RHP Juan Salas, who had been on the restricted list, to the 40-man roster and optioned him to Durham. ... RHP Chad Orvella, who has been on the disabled list since the end of spring training, will have season-ending shoulder surgery Friday. ... Baseball America's first mock draft of the year has the Rays selecting Griffin (Ga.) High School SS Tim Beckham with the first overall pick.

Marc Lancaster

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