Philadelphia (0-0) at Tampa Bay (0-0)

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phi

Phils to rely on Myers' arm in Game 2

Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com
The Phillies have Brett Myers starting Game 2 of the best-of-seven World Series on Thursday night at Tropicana Field against "Big Game" James Shields. But they'll have to rely on Myers' right arm rather than his potent bat.
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Phillies probable pitcher

Brett Myers

  • #39 RHP
  • (0-0) -.-- ERA 0 SO
Myers has proven to be a better pitcher at Citizens Bank Park, where he produced a 3.01 ERA in the regular season and two wins in the playoffs. On the road, by contrast, he was 3-8 with a 6.21 ERA. Yet manager Charlie Manuel chose to start Myers on the road in Game 2.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 69-60 4.37 1113.0 390 936 .261
Season 10-13 4.55 190.0 65 163 .267

Series at a Glance

Standings - 10/23/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Philadelphia Phillies (NL East) 92 70 .568 - 48-33 44-37
Tampa Bay Rays (AL East) 97 65 .599 - 57-24 40-41
Stats - 10/23/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
PHI .255 799 214 762 136 1117 3.88 1449.2 1444 533 1081
TB .260 774 180 735 142 1224 3.82 1457.2 1349 526 1143
tb

Shields ready for biggest game yet

Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
James Shields picked up the moniker "Big Game James" in the Tampa Bay farm system, long before the parent club could even dream of putting those kinds of contests on its to-do list. Now comes his biggest game yet.
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Rays probable pitcher

James Shields

  • #33 RHP
  • (0-0) -.-- ERA 0 SO
Shields was 0-2 with a 3.46 ERA in two ALCS starts. In Game 1 on Oct. 10, the right-hander allowed just two runs over 7 1/3 innings, but he was outdueled by the Red Sox's Daisuke Matsuzaka, who allowed only four hits in seven-plus scoreless innings of the Rays' 2-0 loss. In Game 6 at Tropicana Field on Saturday, Shields surrendered four runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings in Tampa Bay's 4-2 loss. The 26-year-old right-hander's best pitch has always been his changeup, but he also has a plus fastball and curve and he's added a cutter that has helped him throw inside to left-handers.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 32-24 3.96 554.2 114 448 .259
Season 14-8 3.56 215.0 40 160 .254

Phillies hitters vs James Shields
Regular Season stats only

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Bako, Paul - - - - .500 4 0 0
Berry, Quintin - - - - - - - -
Cairo, Miguel - - - - .333 6 0 0
Dobbs, Greg - - - - - - - -
Feliz, Pedro - - - - - - - -
Francisco, Ben 1.000 3 0 1 .667 6 0 1
Howard, Ryan - - - - .333 3 0 0
Ibanez, Raul .000 3 0 0 .000 11 0 0
Mayberry, John - - - - - - - -
Rollins, Jimmy - - - - .333 3 0 2
Ruiz, Carlos - - - - - - - -
Stairs, Matt .273 11 1 2 .150 20 1 2
Utley, Chase - - - - .000 3 0 0
Victorino, Shane - - - - - - - -
Werth, Jayson - - - - - - - -

Rays hitters vs Brett Myers
Regular Season stats only

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI

Trop-ical paradise: Shields leads way (1-1) (1-1)

Rays 4, Phillies 2

Series all even

Ken Mandel / MLB.com
Offensively, the Phillies had their chances to push runs across the plate, but they were denied for the most part by Rays starter James Shields and the bullpen, negating Brett Myers' solid outing. With Philly's Game 2 loss to Tampa Bay, the World Series is even at one game apiece.

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Series at a Glance

 
James Shields tossed 5 2/3 innings for the win. (Jamie Squire/Getty)

'Big Game' win

Bill Chastain / MLB.com
James Shields backed up his "Big Game James" moniker in Game 2, leading the Rays to a big victory vs. the Phillies at Tropicana Field. Thanks to the righty's strong outing and the Tampa Bay lineup's collective work against Philadelphia starter Brett Myers, the World Series is now even.
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Rays 4, Phillies 2

PhiladelphiaABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Rollins, SS5000014.000
Werth, RF5010022.333
Utley, 2B4000114.250
Howard, 1B5020013.222
Burrell, LF3000111.000
Victorino, CF4020002.500
Dobbs, DH3010024.333
  a-Bruntlett, PH-DH1111000.500
Feliz, 3B4000006.286
Ruiz, C2120200.400
Totals362914826 

a-Homered for Dobbs in the 8th.

BATTING
2B: Howard (1, Shields), Ruiz 2 (2, Shields, Price).
HR: Bruntlett (1, 8th inning off Price, 0 on, 2 out).
TB: Werth; Howard 3; Victorino 2; Dobbs; Bruntlett 4; Ruiz 4.
RBI: Bruntlett (1).
2-out RBI: Bruntlett.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Feliz 4; Utley; Howard.
Team LOB: 11.

BASERUNNING
SB: Ruiz (1, 2nd base off Wheeler/Navarro).

FIELDING
E: Werth (1, fielding), Ruiz (1, pickoff).
Outfield assists: Werth (Baldelli at home).
DP: (Rollins-Utley-Howard).
 
Tampa BayABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Iwamura, 2B3100105.429
Upton, CF4121001.250
Pena, C, 1B3001111.000
Longoria, 3B4001011.000
Crawford, LF4000001.125
Floyd, DH3110000.333
Navarro, C3120000.333
Baldelli, RF2000112.000
Bartlett, SS2021000.667
Totals284743311 

BATTING
TB: Upton 2; Floyd; Navarro 2; Bartlett 2.
RBI: Pena, C (1), Longoria (1), Upton (1), Bartlett (1).
2-out RBI: Upton.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Iwamura; Crawford.
S: Bartlett.
GIDP: Upton.
Team LOB: 4.

FIELDING
E: Longoria (1, fielding).
Outfield assists: Baldelli (Werth at 1st base).
DP: (Baldelli-Pena, C).
 
PhiladelphiaIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Myers (L, 0-1)7.07433203.86
Romero 1.00000100.00
 
Tampa BayIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Shields (W, 1-0)5.27002400.00
Wheeler (H, 1)1.00001200.00
Price 2.12211213.86

WP: Shields.
Pitches-strikes: Myers 85-55, Romero 9-7, Shields 104-67, Wheeler 26-17, Price 42-25.
Groundouts-flyouts: Myers 11-7, Romero 0-2, Shields 7-5, Wheeler 1-0, Price 3-2.
Batters faced: Myers 29, Romero 3, Shields 25, Wheeler 4, Price 11.
Inherited runners-scored: Wheeler 2-0, Price 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Kerwin Danley. 1B: Fieldin Culbreth. 2B: Tom Hallion. 3B: Jeff Kellogg. LF: Tim Tschida. RF: Tim Welke.
Weather: 72 degrees, dome.
Wind: Indoors.
T: 3:05.
Att: 40,843.
October 23, 2008

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