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Rays Can't Get It Going

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By TONY FABRIZIO

afabrizio@tampatrib.com

Published: October 11, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Daisuke Matsuzaka has a dazzling array off off-speed pitches, including a two-seamer called a shuuto that sinks.

Even after going 18-3 for the Red Sox this season, though, the Japanese pitcher showed the Rays something different Friday in Game 1 of the ALCS.

"He got away from his norm," Cliff Floyd said after the Rays were shut out 2-0. "He usually throws his off-speed stuff and walks a few guys and gets himself in trouble. But after the first inning he went to his fastball."

The Rays managed only four hits off Matsuzaka - and none off the three relievers who pitched the last two innings. And the first didn't come until Carl Crawford opened the bottom of the seventh with a single to break up Matsuzaka's no-hit bid.

Still, the Rays had their chances. They loaded the bases in the first inning and started the seventh and eighth innings with a pair of singles.

It surely didn't look like it would be so difficult early on. Matsuzaka, who, despite his team-leading record, has struggled with his pitch count, walked the bases loaded in the first inning.

But after Floyd grounded out to end the Rays' scoring threat, Matsuzaka walked only one more batter before leaving the game in the eighth inning with a 2-0 lead. Hideki Okajima, Justin Masterson and Jonathan Papelbon completed the shutout.

"In the first inning, we had an opportunity and I kind of jammed myself," Floyd said. "Then he went to his fastball, something he doesn't do often.

"So sometimes you have to tip your hat. As much as you hate to, as much as you want to be sick to your stomach for a minute, you have to tip your hat. They're trying to do the same thing we're trying to do."

After Crawford's leadoff single in the seventh, Floyd followed with another single to move Crawford to third. The Rays trailed 1-0 at the time and appeared to have a chance to at least tie the game.

But Matsuzaka, who was 9-0 on the road during the regular season, got Dioner Navarro to fly out to left, struck out Gabe Gross on a pitch that was almost in the dirt, and Jason Bartlett to hit into a forceout.

Starting with the top of the order in their half of the eighth, the Rays again got two on with none out, with Akinori Iwamura and B.J. Upton each reaching on singles. Red Sox manager Terry Francona went to his bullpen, and Okajima retired Carlos Pena on a fly ball to right.

Evan Longoria came up with runners at first and second against Masterson and hit into a double play. Longoria, after going 3-for-3 with two home runs and an RBI single in the opening game of the division series, is 1-for-16 since then.

"We've come down from worse situations," Floyd said about losing homefield advantage and trailing 1-0 in the series. "That's a good team. You have to capitalize when you have the opportunity."

Reporter Tony Fabrizio can be reached at (813) 259-7994.

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