Moore, Shoppach lead Rays to blanking of Rangers

Matt Moore was bathed in sunshine late Friday afternoon as he warmed up in the bullpen before the biggest start of his life. Fans were making their way into the ballpark, ready to fill the place with the largest crowd of the season. Television cameras waited to deliver the game coast-to-coast.

That's when Moore and catcher Kelly Shoppach heard a fan quacking like a duck. Moore laughed. Shoppach relaxed.

"His emotions were good," Shoppach said. "He was in the right place."

It is that composure as much as Moore's ability to blow 98-mph fastballs past hitters that earned the rookie a start against the Rangers in the first game of the American League division series.

The left-hander rewarded the Rays for their confidence by throwing seven shutout innings in the 9-0 victory that gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in this best-of-five series and extended their ALDS winning streak at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington to three.

Moore allowed two hits and struck out six, while Shoppach provided the bulk of the offense with two home runs and five RBIs.

"I was a little nervous for him," said James Shields, tonight's starter. "He was making me nervous he was so calm. He was treating it like a regular-season start. I don't think he realized the magnitude of it. I think that's a good thing."

The Rays jumped all over Rangers starter C.J. Wilson, who has given them fits in the past.

Johnny Damon smacked a two-run homer in the second inning, and Matt Joyce made it 3-0 with a two-out single that scored Shoppach.

Shoppach delivered a three-run run homer to the grass hill beyond center field in the third inning and a two-run shot to left field in the fifth.

With that much of a cushion, Moore carved up a Rangers lineup that led the American League in hitting for the second straight season.

"As a pitcher, you see that many runs, your job is to get your team in the dugout as quick as possible," Moore said. "And the fastest way to do that is pound the strike zone."

Moore did that not only with his fastball, but his above-average curveball and major league-ready change-up.

Asked what made Moore dominant, Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey said, "I hate to use that word, but he's been very convincing, that's for sure."

Friday was just the fourth time Moore has pitched since he was called up to the big club Sept. 12.

He became the youngest pitcher to start the first game of the postseason since Oakland's Vida Blue in 1971 and the youngest to win a postseason start since CC Sabathia in 2001.

He increased his streak of scoreless innings to 14, which stretches back to Sept. 17 against the Red Sox in Boston.

"I think his performance speaks for itself," Evan Longoria said. "From pitch No. 1 he looked pretty calm.

"He looked like he was in control of his emotions, and he was throwing strikes from the first couple of innings. In the first game of a division series, you look for a little bit of nerves from a young guy like him and I really didn't see any."

It was while on a rehab assignment to Double-A Montgomery in May when Longoria first saw Moore pitch this year. That's right, Moore began the season at Double-A. Longoria knew the kid was something special, so he wasn't too surprised with the way Moore handled the Rangers.

"Not really," Longoria said. "Actually, not at all, to be honest with you."

Moore was scheduled to start the one-game playoff with the Red Sox that was rendered moot during the wild final night of the regular season. That made him a candidate for Game 1. Also, manager Joe Maddon was more comfortable with Wade Davis in the bullpen than Moore, so Moore found himself pitching the playoff opener.

"The opportunity fell into my hands, and I'm very grateful," Moore said.

Maddon said the decision to start Moore was made by a committee of Andrew Friedman and his staff, the coaches and scouts and based on a number of factors, including the shadow that would creep from home plate to the mound during the late afternoon start.

"You can't be more impressed," Maddon said. "What he did was spectacular.

"What, seven innings, 98 (total) pitches, two hits? Great night."