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Sunday, Sep. 24 1:05pm ET
Devil Rays rookie pitcher earns first victory | |||||
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TORONTO (AP) -- A rookie pitcher might have ended Toronto's playoff hopes. Travis Harper pitched a two-hitter for his first major league win as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-0 Sunday. "That might be the game that cost us the rest of the season," Toronto starter Steve Trachsel said. "You have to give him credit. He pitched great. It will be very tough for us to win the wild card now." Toronto, which has seven games remaining, fell 5½ games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees. The Blue Jays are 3½ games behind in the wild card race. "Gosh, it was just a great outing for me," Harper said. "It will sink in later tonight. I will really relish this." Harper, making just his fourth big league start, is first AL player to collect a shutout for his first major league win since California's Tim Fortugno blanked Detroit on July 25, 1992. "You have to understand that this is a kid trying to get his feet wet in the big leagues, so for him to do that against that lineup is unbelievable," catcher John Flaherty said. Harper (1-2) gave up a single to Darrin Fletcher in the third, and a double to Tony Batista in the seventh. Before Batista doubled, Harper retired 10 straight. Flaherty couldn't believe Toronto wasn't hitting Harper's fastball. "The first time through the lineup he only threw two or three breaking balls," Flaherty said. "He doesn't have an overpowering fastball, but he picked his spots today." The 24-year-old right-hander, recalled from Triple-A Durham on Sept, 4, struck out three two and walked one. "We were able to get ahead, and work both sides of the plate," Harper said. "I really just relied on Flaherty to get me through it." The two hits tied a season low for Toronto. "I don't know if he just doesn't sweat or what, but he's been really composed since he's been here," Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild said. Tampa Bay improved to just 4-17 in September. Flaherty added to the Devil Ray's 2-0 lead in the seventh when he hit a three-run homer. "That homer gave us a cushion, and it allowed us to be even more aggressive with the fastball," Flaherty said. Ozzie Guillen and Steve Cox led off the sixth with consecutive singles off Trachsel (8-14) before Fred McGriff hit an RBI single. One out later, Aubrey Huff hit a potential double play grounder to second baseman Mickey Morandini, but Morandini bobbled the ball and got only the force at second, allowing Cox to score on the RBI grounder. "Time is running out," Morandini said. "We have to win every remaining game, and also get some help." Toronto reliever Kelvim Escobar gave up seventh-inning singles to McGriff and Huff before Flaherty hit his 10th homer just over the outstretched glove of left fielder Shannon Stewart Ozzie Timmons added an RBI single in the ninth. "There was something on the line for the Blue Jays today, so I put more value on what Harper did today," Rothschild said. Trachsel gave up two runs and eight hits in seven innings. Game notesAfter the series ends Monday, Toronto closes with three games at Baltimore and three at Cleveland. ... The Devil Rays avoided falling to a season worst 30 games under .500. ... McGriff went 3-for-3 with two walks. .. Harper went a combined 10-5 with a 3.71 ERA at Double-A Orlando and Triple-A Durham.for the Devil Rays, who are just 4-17 in September. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Tampa Bay Clubhouse Toronto Clubhouse RECAPS Baltimore 1 Boston 0
Tampa Bay 6
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