Edwin Jackson had the dream start to the season: two wins, an ERA not heard of in the same sentence as his name the year prior, and all the control in the world.
Oh how time will change anything. Or rather, what young talent will do. One night after Andy Sonnanstine's shutout performance, Edwin Jackson took the mound looking to build on the momentum delivered to him from night past.
With a 2-1 record and an ERA at 2.48 you couldn't help but hope that his trip up at the Bronx was a one off, and the all mighty, all controlling Jackson would return in body and in mind to deliver a strong start from which the offence would take it's cue, delivering many hits and runs in fairytale fashion to which the crowd would be overjoyed with and *pause* no.
Jackson struggled from the outset, giving a solo shot up to Jim Thome in the first, allowing another run in the third, and three more in the fifth before being pulled in favour of Gary Glover (Jackson would be held responsible for one more run after Glover surrendered a hit to his first batter)
- B/R Ticket Guide
Control was non-existent through his 4 and 1/3 innings of work, failing to find the strike zone with his off speed pitches, and surrendering 7 hits when he did find the zone. In all Jackson was responsible for 10 base-runners, Glover for one in the fifth, (hit) and two in the sixth (bases on balls and a hit), Miller for one in the seventh (hit) and Percival for one in the ninth (hit). Wheeler pitched a perfect eighth.
The offence, once more, failed to deliver, managing only four hits and drawing not a single walk. No base-runner got beyond first, with the entire side looking as impotent as the Rays' bullpen did year prior. Things must change, as they should have been changing over the past week.
On a positive note, once again, the bullpen was solid: Over 4 and 2/3 innings of work they surrendered three hits, one walk, and allowed no runs. The pregame ERA of the bullpen was at 2.93, and will now be lower still.
Not to blow my own horn, but I would like to point out that Jason Bartlett got the shove tonight in favour of Elliot Johnson. Unfortunately, it would appear Bartlett was not the problem, but rather, the short-stop position is cursed. Johnson went 0 for 3 with an error. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Should no improvements be forthcoming I would wager that Ben Zobrist will be given a shot upon his return.
And finally, credit to the White Sox, who one night after being three hit rebounded in true professional style, with solid hitting, and two excellent pitching performances from John Danks and Boone Logan, combining themselves for a shutout with four hits and no walks.
The Rays have a day off now, with time to prepare for the 'visiting' Toronto Blue Jays at Disney's Wide World of Sport Complex.
Go Rays!
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