Thursday, August 11, 2011

Tampa Bay Rays: David Price gives Reid Brignac warm welcome; James Shields moves into rare company with eighth complete game

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Rays vs. Royals

When/where: 12:10 today; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

Radio: 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Starting pitchers:

Rays

RH Jeff Niemann (6-4, 3.58)

Royals

LH Danny Duffy (3-5, 5.08)

Promotion: Raymond Cheer Stix for the first 10,000 kids 14 and under.

Watch for ...

Standing tall: Niemann has been on an impressive roll since coming off the DL in late June, 5-0 with a 2.26 ERA in eight starts. He is 3-0, 1.15 in four starts vs. the Royals, with 26 Ks and 5 BBs.

Double D: Duffy, a third-round pick in 2007 who finished last season at Double A, makes his 15th big-league start. In 72 2/3 innings, he has 64 strikeouts and 36 walks.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Duffy

None have faced.

Royals vs. Niemann

Billy Butler 1-for-13

Alex Gordon 2-for-7

Mitch Maier 1-for-7

On deck

Friday: at Yankees, 7:05 p.m. Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (9-10, 3.89); Yankees — CC Sabathia (16-6, 2.81)

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Pickup service of the day

David Price wasn't waiting inside the airport holding a sign with BRIGNAC written on it, but he provided quality pickup service Wednesday afternoon when Reid Brignac returned from the minors. "He just gave me a big hug and was like, 'Man, I'm just happy you're back,' " Brignac said. Price, though, was a bit late. "Just a couple minutes and he pulled right up," Brignac said.

Interesting company of the day

With eight complete games and four shutouts, RHP James Shields, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, is one of only three AL pitchers in the past 17 years to have as many in a season. The others? Roy Halladay, for the 2009 Jays, and David Wells, for the 1998 Yankees.

Quote of the day

"I kind of put that to one of those Maddon moments, I guess you could say.''

OF Matt Joyce, on the lineup switch with him leading off and Sam Fuld seventh working out.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-david-price-gives-reid-brignac-warm-welcome-james-shields/1185397

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