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Sunday, Apr. 23 1:15pm ET
Eiland strong in return to win column | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Dave Eiland is fighting for a spot in Tampa Bay's starting rotation. Eiland threw six shutout innings in his first start of the season as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the Anaheim Angels 1-0 on Sunday. "I'm going to go out there and battle you," Eiland said. "I don't care who you are. I might give up three or four home runs, but I'm not going to quit. I'm going to keep battling you." Eiland (1-0) allowed three hits, struck out two and walked two. It was his first victory since Aug. 21 against Kansas City, and completed Tampa Bay's first series victory at home series since the August series against the Royals. "I've always had confidence in myself," said Eiland, who beat Boston's Pedro Martinez on July 7 in one of his 15 starts last season. "I like the underdog role, 'Oh, you don't think I can do it' ... watch me." Tampa Bay scored in the fifth on Adam Kennedy's throwing error on Kevin Stocker's slow grounder to second. "I just made a bad throw," said Kennedy, who went 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and two outs. "I had two chances (batting) and messed that up, too." Jeff Sparks worked two scoreless innings and Roberto Hernandez got the final three outs for his second save in four opportunities. The shutout was Tampa Bay's third of the season. In the Devil Rays' other 15 games, the team's ERA is 7.95. "That's as courageous a performance as you're going to see under some tough circumstances," Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild said. "When you see a guy like Dave Eiland go out there and make pitches, it should say something to the rest of the staff -- who can throw the ball harder -- that they need to make pitches also." Anaheim's Jason Dickson (2-1), who missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery, allowed four hits in seven innings. He had struck out six and walked one. "You really don't think in this ballpark, with both offenses, you're going to lose (1-0)," Dickson said. "It's one of those things. Things even out." The teams combined for 35 runs, 11 homers and 42 hits in splitting the first two games of the three-game series. On Sunday, eight of the nine hits were singles. "I think we're just frustrated on not getting it done," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "The way Jason has pitched has been outstanding." Tampa Bay had just one baserunner -- Fred McGriff reached on a walk in the second inning -- through four innings. McGriff got the Devil Rays' first hit leading off the fifth, topping a ball down the third-base line. He scored on Kennedy's errant throw with two outs that pulled Mo Vaughn off first base. Eiland held the Angels hitless until back-to-back singles by Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson with one out in the fourth. Eiland worked out of the jam when Troy Glaus hit a foul pop fly and Scott Spiezio flied out. The Angels, shut out for the first time this season, threatened again in the fifth when Darin Erstad had a two-out double. The game remained scoreless when second baseman Miguel Cairo threw out Kennedy after making a nice backhanded stab on a hard one-hop drive. Game notesScioscia said shortstop Gary DiSarcina (thumb) will be activated from the disabled list Monday and will be in the starting lineup. ... Eiland became just the second Tampa Bay starter in nine home games to pitch five or more innings. ... The Angels were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position through five innings. ... The Devil Rays have been involved in two 1-0 games. In the other, Tony Saunders beat Baltimore 1-0 on April 22, 1999. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Anaheim Clubhouse Tampa Bay Clubhouse RECAPS Cleveland 0 Boston 0
Cleveland 0
Tampa Bay 1
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