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Garza Set For Crucial Test

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By TONY FABRIZIO

afabrizio@tampatrib.com

Published: October 19, 2008

Updated: 10/19/2008 01:22 am

ST. PETERSBURG - Much has been made of Matt Garza's improved resistance to pressure and adversity since a June confrontation on the mound with catcher Dioner Navarro.

The right-hander's newfound composure will be tested like never before tonight at Tropicana Field now that the Rays have to play a deciding Game 7 against the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS.

No less than the American League pennant and a berth in the World Series will ride on the outcome.

Feel the heat? Garza will be feeling a lot of heat.

"Right now, I'm just concentrating on Game 6," Garza said Friday in his final pregame media availability (he doesn't do interviews the day before he pitches). "I'm obviously preparing for Game 7, but I have a lot of confidence that Game 6 starter James Shields is going to get the job done."

Since the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Garza is pitching tonight, it means the Rays lost again to the Red Sox after taking a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and blowing a 7-0 lead in Game 5 at Fenway Park. It means momentum has swung to the Sox, given that they have staved off elimination twice.

Garza has already made a mark on the series, earning the victory in Game 3 after holding the Red Sox to one run on six hits through six innings against the previously dominant Jon Lester. Tampa Bay won the game 9-1.

Andy Sonnanstine gave the Rays another outstanding start in Game 4 - won by the Rays 13-4 - and Scott Kazmir followed with a two-hitter through six innings in Game 5. But Kazmir's excellent work went for naught because the Red Sox rallied against three Tampa Bay relievers with eight runs to send the series back to the Trop for a sixth game.

Garza, who will pitch against Lester again, didn't sound worried.

"We had a feeling they were going to make a push like this," he said. "This Red Sox team doesn't go down quietly. So we're going to just come out and keep fighting like we've done all year; play hard for nine innings and see what happens."

Garza went 11-9 with a 3.70 ERA during the regular season after beginning the year as the No. 2 starter behind Shields because Kazmir was injured. The tipping point in a season that looked like it could go south for Garza was a game at Texas in which Navarro scolded the pitcher for losing his poise.

Garza responded by gaining better control of his emotions during the rest of the season, and he pitched well in some key games down the stretch.

He's had mixed results in his two postseason starts. His ALCS victory at Fenway followed a loss in the Game 3 of the Division Series at Chicago in which he allowed five runs in six innings in a 5-3 loss. The Rays came back in the next game and wrapped up the series.

In his two postseason starts, the 24-year-old former Fresno State and Minnesota Twins pitcher is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. He has not allowed a home run.

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