Romero Quiets Rays Bats, Tampa Loses 3-2

May 19, 2011

A: Toronto Blue Jays

Attendance: 12,590

W: Ricky Romero (4-4) 3.10 ERA

L: Wade Davis (4-4) 3.47 ERA

Summary:

One day after halting the Blue Jays six game winning streak the Rays fell short against Toronto’s Ricky Romero, who pitched masterfully through seven innings to notch his fourth win of the season and help the Blue Jays split the series as major league baseball heads into inter-league play tonight.

Both teams had two home runs, but it was a two-run dinger from catcher J.P. Arencibia in the 7th that delivered the fatal blow for the Rays and shortened their lead over New York to a single game. B.J. Upton and Kelly Shoppach each hit solo home runs but it wasn’t enough to cool off the red-hot Jays.

Wade Davis took his second loss in a row, but early on it was a pitchers duel. Davis needed only 55 pitches through six innings, using pinpoint control and aggressively attacking the strike zone, something Joe Maddon said prior to the game he wanted to see from Davis. Davis allowed five hits in the first six innings and the only run was a solo home run from Juan Rivera.

The wheels started to wobble in the seventh however, as Davis suddenly lost some command of his pitches. After Aaron Miles flied out to Upton in the bottom of the seventh, Davis walked Rivera. Arencibia came up to the plate and hit a shot over the right field wall to provide Toronto all the offense they’d need. Davis then walked recent call-up Eric Thames and Rajai Davis before striking Jason Nix out looking. Yunel Escobar grounded out to end the inning, but the Rays couldn’t muster any more offense.

Player of the Game: Ricky Romero had the Rays off balance all night. He now has 17 strikeouts in two games against the Rays this season. He struck out ten in seven innings against the Rays on April 24th, but James Shields pitched a complete game shout out, handing Romero the lost in that game.