Recap: Tampa Bay vs. Toronto
Sports Network | August 27, 2008
St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Carlos Pena homered and Matt Garza went 7 2/3 strong innings as Tampa Bay edged Toronto, 1-0, in the second tilt of a three-game series at Tropicana Field. Garza (11-7) allowed only six hits without a run for the Rays, who snapped a two-game losing streak and moved four games ahead of Boston for first place in the AL East. The Red Sox and Yankees contest has yet to be completed. Joe Inglett collected a pair of hits for the Blue Jays, who have dropped three of five. David Purcey (2-5) pitched well in defeat, scattering five hits and allowing one run over eight innings, and fanning a career-best 11 batters without a walk. Pena's 27th home run of the season, a solo shot, broke a scoreless deadlock and put the Rays on the board in the fourth. Garza did not allow a runner to advance past second for the duration of his outing but departed in the eighth after allowing a pair of two-out walks to Alex Rios and Vernon Wells. Grant Balfour came in and got Adam Lind to strike out, then Dan Wheeler earned his ninth save after a scoreless ninth. Rays left fielder Justin Ruggiano preserved the shutout and the win with a spectacular diving catch at the wall in left-center on a liner from Rod Barajas. Game Notes Tampa has won 10 of the 14 meetings in 2008...Garza is unbeaten in his last four starts, with a pair of wins and two no-decisions. Game Notes Tampa has won 10 of the 14 meetings in 2008...Garza is unbeaten in his last four starts, with a pair of wins and two no-decisions.
