Tampa Bay (0-0) at Chi White Sox (0-0)

TV: TBS | Radio: WHNZ 1250, ESPN Radio 4:07 pm ET U.S. Cellular Field TV: TBS | Radio: WSCR 670, ESPN Radio
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Shutting out distractions is Garza's plan

Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
Rays starter Matt Garza will try to find a way to ignore all distractions as he prepares to take the mound against the White Sox in a pivotal Game 3 in the American League Division Series on Sunday. In fact, Garza is quick to cite that very aspect when asked what will be the biggest key to having a successful outing in Chicago.
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Rays probable pitcher

Matt Garza

  • #22 RHP
  • (0-0) -.-- ERA 0 SO
Garza started for the Rays on Saturday against the Tigers, making his first start since Sept. 17, when he pitched against the Red Sox on short rest for the first time in his career. The 24-year-old right-hander was skipped in his next turn in an attempt to allow him to rejuvenate himself, and the plan seemed to work as Garza had electric stuff against the Tigers. Afterward, Garza reported that his arm felt great and he particularly liked his breaking stuff. Many on the team believe Garza has the best stuff on the Rays staff. He has a mid-90s fastball that sinks, a curve, a slider and a changeup.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 19-22 4.02 317.2 114 233 .267
Season 11-9 3.70 184.2 59 128 .245

Series at a Glance

Standings - 10/05/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Tampa Bay Rays (AL East) 97 65 .599 - 57-24 40-41
Chicago White Sox (AL Central) 89 74 .546 - 54-28 35-46
Stats - 10/05/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
TB .260 774 180 735 142 1224 3.82 1457.2 1349 526 1143
CWS .263 811 235 785 67 1016 4.06 1457.2 1471 460 1147
cws

Danks eyes more black magic

Jason Beck / MLB.com
Facing elimination in Game 3 of their ALDS vs. the Rays on Sunday, the Sox are hoping John Danks can match his gem from the AL Central tiebreaker.
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White Sox probable pitcher

John Danks

  • #50 LHP
  • (0-0) -.-- ERA 0 SO
It will be difficult for Danks to match the best game pitched in his young career, after he held the Twins scoreless over eight innings on Tuesday in the 1-0 tiebreaker victory to win the American League Central. Danks will be coming back on regular rest, after making the first start on three days rest of his career. Danks has a 5-6 record with a 3.66 ERA at home this year, although he has held opposing hitters to a .238 average at U.S. Cellular Field. Danks was picked over Gavin Floyd for Game 3 because Tampa Bay struggles more against lefties, but Danks has a .264 average against with lefties, as opposed to .240 against righties. Danks is 2-1 with a miniscule 1.86 ERA against the Rays this season. He will be making his playoff debut.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 18-22 4.23 334.0 111 268 .265
Season 12-9 3.32 195.0 57 159 .246
Vs. Tampa Bay 2-1 1.86 19.1 3 20 .219

Rays hitters vs John Danks
Regular Season stats only

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Aybar, Willy .400 5 0 0 .400 5 0 0
Bartlett, Jason .400 5 0 1 .300 10 0 1
Brignac, Reid - - - - - - - -
Burrell, Pat - - - - .000 1 0 0
Crawford, Carl .333 6 0 1 .222 9 0 1
Gross, Gabe .333 3 0 0 .333 3 0 0
Jaso, John - - - - - - - -
Johnson, Elliot .000 2 0 0 .000 5 0 0
Joyce, Matt - - - - - - - -
Kapler, Gabe - - - - - - - -
Lobaton, Jose - - - - - - - -
Longoria, Evan .167 6 0 0 .167 6 0 0
Navarro, Dioner .333 6 0 0 .500 8 0 0
Perez, Fernando - - - - - - - -
Riggans, Shawn .000 2 0 0 .000 2 0 0
Rodriguez, Sean .000 4 0 0 .000 4 0 0
Ruggiano, Justin - - - - - - - -
Upton, B.J. .143 7 0 0 .143 7 0 0
Zaun, Gregg - - - - - - - -
Zobrist, Ben .000 3 0 0 .125 8 0 1

White Sox hitters vs Matt Garza
Regular Season stats only

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Armstrong, Cole - - - - - - - -
Beckham, Gordon - - - - - - - -
Castro, Ramon - - - - - - - -
De Aza, Alejandro - - - - - - - -
Flowers, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Konerko, Paul - - - - .600 5 1 3
Kotsay, Mark .000 2 0 0 .000 2 0 0
Lillibridge, Brent - - - - - - - -
Nix, Jayson - - - - - - - -
Pierzynski, A.J. - - - - .333 3 0 0
Podsednik, Scott - - - - .000 5 0 0
Quentin, Carlos - - - - - - - -
Ramirez, Alexei - - - - - - - -
Rios, Alex .133 15 0 0 .133 15 0 0
Teahen, Mark .333 3 0 0 .222 9 0 0
Viciedo, Dayan - - - - - - - -

Danks again: White Sox stay alive (2-1) (1-2)

White Sox 5, Rays 3

ALDS not over

Bill Chastain / MLB.com
The Rays were unable to finish off a sweep in Game 3 of the ALDS as they tasted defeat for the first time in their brief postseason history. Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza allowed five runs in six innings, and the Rays' lineup scuffled until B.J. Upton's two-run homer in the seventh.

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Series at a Glance

 

Sox force Game 4

Scott Merkin / MLB.com
Making his second straight start with the White Sox facing elimination, John Danks came through once again with 6 2/3 strong innings against the Rays in Game 3. Chicago went ahead with three runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Dewayne Wise.
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White Sox 5, Rays 3

Tampa BayABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Iwamura, 2B5021011.385
Upton, CF5122023.214
Pena, C, 1B5020021.333
Longoria, 3B3000113.400
Crawford, LF4000013.250
Aybar, W, DH4000021.333
Navarro, C3120101.455
Baldelli, RF3100103.125
  Gross, RF0000000.333
Bartlett, SS3000112.300
Totals3538341018 

BATTING
2B: Navarro (3, Danks).
HR: Upton (1, 7th inning off Danks, 1 on, 2 out).
TB: Iwamura 2; Upton 5; Pena, C 2; Navarro 3.
RBI: Iwamura (4), Upton 2 (2).
2-out RBI: Iwamura; Upton 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Crawford; Upton 2; Longoria.
Team LOB: 9.

FIELDING
DP: 2 (Longoria-Iwamura-Pena, C, Iwamura-Bartlett-Pena, C).
 
Chi White SoxABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Cabrera, SS4000023.167
Pierzynski, C3021100.500
Dye, RF4000003.385
Thome, DH3110110.167
Konerko, 1B3100102.250
  Swisher, 1B0000000.333
Griffey Jr., CF2120100.333
  1-Anderson, B, PR-CF1100010.000
Ramirez, 2B3001002.222
Wise, LF2112101.400
Uribe, 3B3011012.222
Totals285755513 


1-Ran for Griffey Jr. in the 6th.

BATTING
2B: Thome (1, Garza), Wise (1, Garza), Pierzynski (1, Garza).
TB: Pierzynski 3; Thome 2; Griffey Jr. 2; Wise 2; Uribe.
RBI: Pierzynski (1), Ramirez (2), Wise 2 (5), Uribe (1).
2-out RBI: Pierzynski; Uribe.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Cabrera 2.
SF: Ramirez.
GIDP: Konerko; Dye.
Team LOB: 5.

BASERUNNING
SB: Uribe (1, 2nd base off Garza/Navarro), Wise (1, 2nd base off Garza/Navarro), Anderson, B (1, 2nd base off Garza/Navarro).

FIELDING
PB: Pierzynski (1).
 
Tampa BayIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Garza (L, 0-1)6.07554407.50
Miller 0.00001000.00
Bradford 2.00000100.00
 
Chi White SoxIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Danks (W, 1-0)6.27333714.05
Dotel (H, 1)0.10000106.75
Thornton (H, 1)1.00001100.00
Jenks (S, 1)1.01000100.00

Miller pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

WP: Garza, Dotel.
Pitches-strikes: Garza 95-58, Miller 4-0, Bradford 23-15, Danks 105-66, Dotel 6-4, Thornton 14-9, Jenks 14-9.
Groundouts-flyouts: Garza 8-6, Miller 0-0, Bradford 3-2, Danks 3-10, Dotel 0-0, Thornton 1-1, Jenks 1-1.
Batters faced: Garza 28, Miller 1, Bradford 5, Danks 30, Dotel 1, Thornton 4, Jenks 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Bradford 1-0, Dotel 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Ron Kulpa. 1B: Jeff Kellogg. 2B: Gary Darling. 3B: Eric Cooper. LF: Joe West. RF: CB Bucknor.
Weather: 58 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 7 mph, L to R.
T: 3:07 (:35 delay).
Att: 40,142.
October 5, 2008

Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner