To make it to the post-season, the Tampa Bay Rays' best hitter, Evan Longoria, delivered a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 12th inning to clinch the Wild Card. To take a one-game lead over the American League West champion Texas Rangers, the Rays got memorable performances from two unlikely sources.
Rays vs. Rangers: Pair Of Unlikely Heroes Propel Rays To Game 1 Win
Rookie left-handed starter Matt Moore, making just his second Major League start, allowed just two hits -- both to Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton -- over seven innings, walking two and striking out six in the 9-0 romp of the Rangers. The 22-year-old native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida was an eighth-round pick in 2007, but has developed into the top pitching prospect in the Rays' organization, going 12-3 in 27 minor league starts this season for the AA Montgomery Biscuits and AAA Durham Bulls.
Moore earned his call-up from the Rays by dominating at the AAA level, going 4-0 and striking out 79 batters of 52 and 2/3 innings. That Moore would be able to so thoroughly dominate baseball’s third-highest scoring offense was a surprise.
"I may have looked a little more calm than I was, especially early. The first inning, I had a little bit of nerves and adrenaline going," Moore said according to the Associated Press.
"But these guys made it really easy for me, putting up those numbers. Looking up there after the fourth, I think it was 8-0, it was just a matter of throwing strikes and getting out of the innings as fast as possible."
Moore's battery mate, journeyman catcher Kelly Shoppach, played a big role in making it easy by belting two home runs off Rangers starter C.J. Wilson.
In each of his two seasons with the Rays, Shoppach has been unable to crack the Mendoza line, hitting .196 in 2010 and a career-low .176 in 253 plate appearances in 2011. In five post-season games before Friday, including three against the Rangers during last year's ALDS, Shoppach was just 3-for-15 with no home runs and no RBIs.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Shoppach had some text messages from his friends and family waiting for him after the game, Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports.
"I got texts all day that were spread out all throughout the stadium, with their Rangers gear on I'm sure but rooting for me silently," Shoppach said.
See More:
