(Sports Network) - Lefty Matt Moore can reverse the result of his last start
against Toronto tonight when the Tampa Bay Rays host the Blue Jays in the
second of a three-game series at Tropicana Field.
A native of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Moore won his lone decision in three
late-season starts with the Rays last season and was 10-7 to begin this year
before a recent drought that's seen him go 0-4 in five starts.
The first loss on the skid was a 2-0 decision to the Blue Jays in Toronto,
where Moore allowed two runs on six hits in six innings of a 2-0 Rays defeat.
He'd defeated the Blue Jays four starts earlier in Florida after allowing a
run on two hits in six innings of a 7-1 triumph.
In the four-loss stretch that began with the Aug. 30 game, Moore has allowed
16 runs in 19 1/3 innings while his earned run average has climbed from 3.60
to 3.88.
For the Blue Jays, righty Brandon Morrow meets the Rays for the 16th time
overall and the 12th time in a starting assignment.
The 28-year-old Californian is 5-5 with a pair of saves, a hold and a shutout
in the previous matchups, including a 2-1 win on Aug. 31 in which he allowed a
run on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Morrow is 0-1 with a pair of no-decisions in three starts since the win,
giving up a combined 18 hits and six runs in 16 2/3 innings.
He's 4-2 in seven road starts in 2012 with a stingy 2.09 ERA in 43 innings.
On Friday, Luke Scott smacked a pair of two-run doubles and James Shields
fired seven shutout innings in the Rays' 12-1 rout of the Blue Jays.
Shields (15-9) fanned nine and scattered six hits while walking one for the
Rays, who have won three straight and sit 4 1/2 games off the final wild card
spot in the American League.
Jose Molina smacked a two-run homer and drove in three and Ben Zobrist added a
solo shot and two runs scored in the win.
Carlos Villanueva (7-6) surrendered seven runs on eight hits and two walks in
2 1/3 innings for Toronto, which has dropped eight of its last 10 contests.
Tampa Bay is 12-4 this season against the Blue Jays and has won its last six
at home against them.
The Sports Network