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Moriarty9 · 06-08-2009, 09:47 AM

Angels clipped by Devil Rays
Tampa Bay wins Game 2, loses Nixon to injury
October 1, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays edged the Anaheim Angels, 3-2, in Game of the American League Division Series but lost rightfielder Trot Nixon in the process.

Nixon made a fantastic diving catch to end the top of the second inning, but suffered a shoulder injury in the process. The initial diagnosis is that he dislocated his shoulder, though team doctors said they would exam Nixon tomorrow for further damage.

"It was a hell of a catch, and considering we won by just one run it proved to be a big out, but its an awful big loss to lose Trot," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal.

Nixon, who had 10 big league games under his belt entering this season, hit .269 with 15 home runs, 56 RBI, and 74 runs scored in 428 at bats for Tampa Bay this season.

The Devil Rays rallied to Nixon's cause in the home half of the second, scoring two runs in a two-out rally as Angels starter Johan Santana suddenly struggled with his control. After a Victor Martinez single, Eric Munson drew a walk and Craig Wilson singled to load the bases for Aaron Rowand, who entered the game as Nixon's replacement. Rowand drew a bases loaded walk to push across Martinez for the game's first run. Jimmy Rollins then drew a walk on four pitches to make it 2-0, before Santana was able to retire left-handed hitting Adam Kennedy.

Anaheim countered with a run of their own in the top of the third inning. After a Jeff Bagwell single to open the inning, Delino DeShields hit a two-out double to score Bagwell for the Angels' first run.

In the fifth, Rollins drew another walk and then stole second base before being knocked home by a Carlos Beltran single, making it 3-1 Tampa Bay.

The Angels would cut the Devil Rays lead to one run in the seventh with a Tim Salmon RBI single, but Tampa Bay was able to head to the ninth with a 3-2 lead and bring closer Byung-Hyun Kim out to finish the game.

Kim found himself in trouble quickly, giving up an infield single to the speedy Alfonso Soriano and walking Matt Holliday to open the inning. Tim Salmon, after battling, wound up taking a called third strike for the the first out of the inning. Bagwell hit a deep drive to centerfield, tracked down by Beltran, that allowed Soriano to move up to third base with the game-tying run. Vinny Castilla, who entered the game as a defensive replacement after thirdbaseman Morgan Ensberg was pinch-hit for by Ryan Radmanovich in the seventh inning, hit a hard groundball to Rollins to end the game.

Game 3 of the ALDS will be played Friday night in Anaheim. Carlos Zambrano (15-9, 3.47 ERA) will pitch in hopes of extending the series, while left-hander Barry Zito (17-10, 4.28 ERA) looks to advance the Devil Rays to the American League Championship Series. Outfielder Jay Payton, a career .312 hitter in 146 big league games over four seasons, is expected to be added to the roster in place of Nixon.

06-08-2009, 09:47 AM	#351 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Angels clipped by Devil Rays Tampa Bay wins Game 2, loses Nixon to injury October 1, 2003 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays edged the Anaheim Angels, 3-2, in Game of the American League Division Series but lost rightfielder Trot Nixon in the process. Nixon made a fantastic diving catch to end the top of the second inning, but suffered a shoulder injury in the process. The initial diagnosis is that he dislocated his shoulder, though team doctors said they would exam Nixon tomorrow for further damage. "It was a hell of a catch, and considering we won by just one run it proved to be a big out, but its an awful big loss to lose Trot," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. Nixon, who had 10 big league games under his belt entering this season, hit .269 with 15 home runs, 56 RBI, and 74 runs scored in 428 at bats for Tampa Bay this season. The Devil Rays rallied to Nixon's cause in the home half of the second, scoring two runs in a two-out rally as Angels starter Johan Santana suddenly struggled with his control. After a Victor Martinez single, Eric Munson drew a walk and Craig Wilson singled to load the bases for Aaron Rowand, who entered the game as Nixon's replacement. Rowand drew a bases loaded walk to push across Martinez for the game's first run. Jimmy Rollins then drew a walk on four pitches to make it 2-0, before Santana was able to retire left-handed hitting Adam Kennedy. Anaheim countered with a run of their own in the top of the third inning. After a Jeff Bagwell single to open the inning, Delino DeShields hit a two-out double to score Bagwell for the Angels' first run. In the fifth, Rollins drew another walk and then stole second base before being knocked home by a Carlos Beltran single, making it 3-1 Tampa Bay. The Angels would cut the Devil Rays lead to one run in the seventh with a Tim Salmon RBI single, but Tampa Bay was able to head to the ninth with a 3-2 lead and bring closer Byung-Hyun Kim out to finish the game. Kim found himself in trouble quickly, giving up an infield single to the speedy Alfonso Soriano and walking Matt Holliday to open the inning. Tim Salmon, after battling, wound up taking a called third strike for the the first out of the inning. Bagwell hit a deep drive to centerfield, tracked down by Beltran, that allowed Soriano to move up to third base with the game-tying run. Vinny Castilla, who entered the game as a defensive replacement after thirdbaseman Morgan Ensberg was pinch-hit for by Ryan Radmanovich in the seventh inning, hit a hard groundball to Rollins to end the game. Game 3 of the ALDS will be played Friday night in Anaheim. Carlos Zambrano (15-9, 3.47 ERA) will pitch in hopes of extending the series, while left-hander Barry Zito (17-10, 4.28 ERA) looks to advance the Devil Rays to the American League Championship Series. Outfielder Jay Payton, a career .312 hitter in 146 big league games over four seasons, is expected to be added to the roster in place of Nixon.