Yesterday was a fun day for many reasons, but it wasn't a fun day for the Rays. This was one of those games it's better to just forget and not dwell on for too long, so here are some of the high/low-lights:
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David Price didn't have his best stuff, and he threw his fastball 79% of the time in yesterday's start. While in past starts he's mixed in his changeup and curveball more, yesterday he only threw them around 10 times each. I'm not sure if he just didn't feel like he had good command or movement of the pitches, but he couldn't seem to find the strikezone with his curve (2/10 were strikes) and his changeups almost all ended up high in the zone. Part of the problem was he didn't get many calls low in the zone -- according to Pitch F/x, many of his curveballs were well within the zone, but he wasn't getting those calls.
Even with all this working against him, Price still struck out 6 batters and last six innings while allowing an average of only one baserunner an inning. He let up his fair share of extra base hits, though, and the Twins were able to tag him for four runs. - Offensively, what is there to say? The Rays were shut down by Brian Duensing, who threw a complete game shut out. He allowed six hits and four walks, but the Rays couldn't capitalize on the chances they had. For example, they had the bases loaded with one out in the first inning, but then Justin Ruggiano hit into a double play and ended the threat.
- Today's matchup is James Shields vs. Scott Baker. Hopefully without those stars and stripes hats on, the Rays will be able to wake up their offense today.