"Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bay Rays MLB live streaming" online coverage baseball audio radio feed "espn 360 gamecast" May 5, 2011. Playoffs, Roster, Lineups "5/5/2011" Game Review: Last week following one of the worst starts of David Price's career, Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon said that his team's ace is almost expected to pitch a flawless game every time he gets the ball.
Price looks to improve his undefeated record against the Blue Jays on Thursday when the team's conclude their series at Tropicana Field.
Trying to win four consecutive starts for the second time, Price (3-3, 3.95 ERA) was tagged for a season-high five runs and a career-high 12 hits over 4 1/3 innings of Friday's 8-5 home loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
1:10 PM ET, May 5, 2011
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Pitching Matchup
Toronto vs Tampa Bay live streaming 5/5/2011
Kyle Drabek
2-1, 4.45 ERA
Last appearance:
4/30 at NYY
2.1 IP, 5 ER
Dec = Loss
David Price
3-3, 3.95 ERA
Last appearance:
4/29 vs LAA
4.1 IP, 5 ER
Dec = Loss
Injury Report
Toronto
* Aaron Hill 2B - May 5: 15-Day DL
* Ricky Romero SP - May 4: Day-To-Day
* Jose Bautista RF - May 4: Day-To-Day
* Jayson Nix 3B - May 3: 15-Day DL
* Scott Podsednik LF - May 2: Day-to-Day
Tampa Bay
* Jeff Niemann SP - May 5: Day-To-Day
* Evan Longoria 3B - May 2: 15-Day DL
"David is such a professional," Maddon told the Rays' official website. "That's the thing. A guy like that is not a machine. You expect him to be almost perfect on a nightly basis."
The left-hander won his sixth straight start in this matchup and improved to 7-0 with a 2.30 ERA against the Blue Jays on April 23 when he allowed four runs in eight-plus innings of a 6-4 road win.
The Rays (16-14), 2/3 on a homestand that ends Thursday, could use another lengthy outing by Price after Jeff Niemann had back tightness and left his start after the fourth inning in Wednesday's 3-2 loss.
Looking for its second straight ninth-inning comeback following B.J. Upton's walkoff two-run homer in Tuesday's 3-2 victory, Tampa Bay pulled within a run Wednesday on Sam Fuld's two-out single, but Ben Zobrist grounded out to end the Rays' three-game winning streak over Toronto (14-16).
After avoiding a season high-tying fourth straight defeat, the Blue Jays close their 10-game trip with Kyle Drabek (2-1, 4.45) on the mound. The 23-year-old right-hander was supposed to open Toronto's six-game homestand Friday against Detroit, but his start was moved up one day after Ricky Romero was scratched due to a mild sprain of his left oblique.
Romero is scheduled to start Saturday.
In his last outing, Drabek gave up a career-high five runs and seven hits over 2 1/3 innings of Saturday's 5-4 loss at the New York Yankees. It was the shortest start of his career and Toronto's first loss in Drabek's six appearances this season.
"It's one to forget. It's going to happen," Drabek, who also matched a career high with four walks, told the Blue Jays' official website. "(I) just have to put it behind me, and go out in the 'pen and work and go after it the next start."
This will be the first time Drabek faces the Rays.
Price may not have to face reigning major league home run champ Jose Bautista, who has missed the last two games with neck spasms. Manager John Farrell said Bautista was making progress and may be ready to swing a bat Friday.
"Improved today," Farrell said. "He's getting treatment. When he's up walking around he feels more freed up. So the spasm is relaxing."
Perhaps Price should be just as concerned with Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind. He went 4 for 4 with a two-run homer Wednesday and is batting .514 (18 for 35) with five home runs and 13 RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak.
Tampa Bay, winners of 24 of 31 against the visiting Blue Jays, hasn't dropped two in a row at home in this matchup since 2008.
Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays probably wouldn't be surprised if Price met those expectations.
(14-16, 8-11 away)
Rays
(16-14, 8-10 home)
Price looks to improve his undefeated record against the Blue Jays on Thursday when the team's conclude their series at Tropicana Field.
Trying to win four consecutive starts for the second time, Price (3-3, 3.95 ERA) was tagged for a season-high five runs and a career-high 12 hits over 4 1/3 innings of Friday's 8-5 home loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
1:10 PM ET, May 5, 2011
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Toronto vs Tampa Bay live streaming 5/5/2011
Kyle Drabek
2-1, 4.45 ERA
Last appearance:
4/30 at NYY
2.1 IP, 5 ER
Dec = Loss
David Price
3-3, 3.95 ERA
Last appearance:
4/29 vs LAA
4.1 IP, 5 ER
Dec = Loss
Injury Report
Toronto
* Aaron Hill 2B - May 5: 15-Day DL
* Ricky Romero SP - May 4: Day-To-Day
* Jose Bautista RF - May 4: Day-To-Day
* Jayson Nix 3B - May 3: 15-Day DL
* Scott Podsednik LF - May 2: Day-to-Day
Tampa Bay
* Jeff Niemann SP - May 5: Day-To-Day
* Evan Longoria 3B - May 2: 15-Day DL
"David is such a professional," Maddon told the Rays' official website. "That's the thing. A guy like that is not a machine. You expect him to be almost perfect on a nightly basis."
The left-hander won his sixth straight start in this matchup and improved to 7-0 with a 2.30 ERA against the Blue Jays on April 23 when he allowed four runs in eight-plus innings of a 6-4 road win.
The Rays (16-14), 2/3 on a homestand that ends Thursday, could use another lengthy outing by Price after Jeff Niemann had back tightness and left his start after the fourth inning in Wednesday's 3-2 loss.
Looking for its second straight ninth-inning comeback following B.J. Upton's walkoff two-run homer in Tuesday's 3-2 victory, Tampa Bay pulled within a run Wednesday on Sam Fuld's two-out single, but Ben Zobrist grounded out to end the Rays' three-game winning streak over Toronto (14-16).
After avoiding a season high-tying fourth straight defeat, the Blue Jays close their 10-game trip with Kyle Drabek (2-1, 4.45) on the mound. The 23-year-old right-hander was supposed to open Toronto's six-game homestand Friday against Detroit, but his start was moved up one day after Ricky Romero was scratched due to a mild sprain of his left oblique.
Romero is scheduled to start Saturday.
In his last outing, Drabek gave up a career-high five runs and seven hits over 2 1/3 innings of Saturday's 5-4 loss at the New York Yankees. It was the shortest start of his career and Toronto's first loss in Drabek's six appearances this season.
"It's one to forget. It's going to happen," Drabek, who also matched a career high with four walks, told the Blue Jays' official website. "(I) just have to put it behind me, and go out in the 'pen and work and go after it the next start."
This will be the first time Drabek faces the Rays.
Price may not have to face reigning major league home run champ Jose Bautista, who has missed the last two games with neck spasms. Manager John Farrell said Bautista was making progress and may be ready to swing a bat Friday.
"Improved today," Farrell said. "He's getting treatment. When he's up walking around he feels more freed up. So the spasm is relaxing."
Perhaps Price should be just as concerned with Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind. He went 4 for 4 with a two-run homer Wednesday and is batting .514 (18 for 35) with five home runs and 13 RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak.
Tampa Bay, winners of 24 of 31 against the visiting Blue Jays, hasn't dropped two in a row at home in this matchup since 2008.
