How Many Moore Things Can Go Right?

Rookie sensation, Matt Moore handled his
first career postseason start with the poise
of a veteran. 

When Tampa Bays Rays' manager Joe Maddon tabbed rookie left-handed Matt Moore as his Game 1 starter of the ALDS against the Texas Rangers, it seemed to rise some question marks. Friday afternoon in Texas he put all those to bed.

Turning everything he touches into gold, Maddon saw Moore toss seven shutout innings against the defending American League champion Rangers, allowing only two hits with six punch-outs.

Using the Texas shadows to his advantage, Moore worked fast and efficient throwing only 98 pitches in his seven innings of work, 62 pitches of those pitches for strikes. But it might have be the early offensive support he received that calmed his nerves.

Postseason veteran Johnny Damon got the scoring started with a second inning two-run home run off Texas left-hander C.J. Wilson. It was the surprise offensive contributions of catcher Kelly Shoppach that broke the game open. Shoppach tagged Wilson for two home runs on the game, including a three-run shot in the third and a two-run blast in the fifth.

Shoppach joins Hall of Famer Johnny Bench as the only other catcher in history to have 2 home runs and 5 RBIs in a postseason game.

For Moore, who was called up back on Sept. 12, was making only his second career major league start. He made his major league debut in relief on Sept. 14 in Baltimore, allowing two earned runs in only an inning and a third.

His first major league start came with his team's backs up against the wall and in bright lights of New York City. He took the mound Sept. 22 at Yankee Stadium, shutting down the Bronx Bombers with five shutout innings and eleven strikeouts.

Prior to being called up, Moore was putting together an unbelievable minor league season, spending time between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham. During that time the Fort Walton Beach native posted a 12-3 record with a 1.92 ERA, striking out 210 batters in only 155 innings of work.

The 22-year-old phenom was drafted in the eight-round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft by Tampa Bay, showing once again why their player development is among the best in the game.

The last season when these two teams also met in the ALDS, the road team won every game of the five games that were needed to crown a winner. The Rays continued the trend Friday in Arlington and look to "Big Game" James Shields Saturday to bring a 2-0 series advantage back to St. Pete.

Go Shopping

Shoppach has homered twice in Game 1 of the
ALDS.

The Tampa Bay Rays are continuing their Cinderella run in Game 1 of the ALDS thanks in large part to the bat of catcher Kelly Shoppach. Already leading 3-0 after a three-run second inning off Texas starter C.J. Wilson, Shoppach came to the plate with two-on and two-out in the top of the third, launching a towering drive to dead center increasing the Rays lead to 6-0.

Then in the top of the fifth after two quick strikes outs, Johnny Damon, who got the scoring started with a two-run home run in the second, reached on a throwing error by third baseman Adrian Beltre. The error would allow Shoppach to hit his second home run of the game off Wilson and give the Rays a 8-0 advantage.

Shoppach hit only .176 during the regular season, but flexed his power with 11 home runs and 22 RBIs in only 87 games.

He was acquired by the Rays back on Dec. 2, 2009 in a deal with the Cleveland Indians.

Manager Joe Maddon, who is the now the current favorite to be named the AL Manager of the Year, continues to push all the right buttons including the decision to start rookie phenom Matt Moore in Game 1 of the ALDS.

Moore is currently at 98 pitches, 62 for strikes, after seven shutout innings allowing only two hits with six strike outs, in only his second career major league start and his first postseason appearance.

It is the 58th time this year a Rays starter has gone seven innings with allowing two runs or fewer.

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