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Moriarty9 · 10-11-2009, 11:26 PM

Rays' Haren strains back
Garciaparra homers, has three hits
April 28, 2009

MINNEAPOLIS — Danny Haren will likely skip his next start after leaving tonight's game with back pain, according to Tampa Bay Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal.

Haren, the reigning American League Cy Young winner, threw just 41 pitches before leaving the game against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome tonight. O'Neal said Haren will probably miss his next regularly scheduled start as a precautionary measure. The Devil Rays ace is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA so far this year.

Manny Delcarmen came on in relief of Haren and was credited with the win for throwing 1 2/3 innings of perfect baseball. Jon Lester, who allowed one hit and two walks over the final five scoreless innings was credited with a save.

The pitching stats for Tampa Bay's hurlers was much different from Minnesota's starting pitcher, Lenny DiNardo. DiNardo fell to 0-3 with an 11.81 ERA in the 7-2 Devil Rays win, giving up six runs on seven hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings.

Nomar Garciaparra, making his Tampa Bay debut and his return to the big leagues, went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, driving in one run and scoring three times. Garciaparra, originally pencilled into the lineup as the ninth hitter and playing second base, wound up batting second and playing shortstop with rookie infielder Cliff Pennington being moved from the second spot in the order to last in the lineup, and shifting over from shortstop to second base. Pennington was primarily a second baseman in the minor leagues, and has been scuffling offensively as of late. His average, which had been over .310 just over a week ago is now down to .253 after going 0-for-4 in tonight's game.

Garciaparra played a strong shortstop, fielding all five balls hit his way cleanly. It is the first time he has played shortstop since 2005 with the Kansas City Royals.

"Kind of last minute we talked it over with Nomar and he was more comfortable at shortstop than second base, and at the same time we thought it'd help take some pressure off of Cliff where he would be playing a position he's more familiar with as well," O'Neal said after the game, explaining the last minute lineup change. "Moving Nomar up to the second spot in the lineup was just a hunch and it paid off."

10-11-2009, 11:26 PM	#610 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Rays' Haren strains back Garciaparra homers, has three hits April 28, 2009 MINNEAPOLIS — Danny Haren will likely skip his next start after leaving tonight's game with back pain, according to Tampa Bay Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. Haren, the reigning American League Cy Young winner, threw just 41 pitches before leaving the game against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome tonight. O'Neal said Haren will probably miss his next regularly scheduled start as a precautionary measure. The Devil Rays ace is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA so far this year. Manny Delcarmen came on in relief of Haren and was credited with the win for throwing 1 2/3 innings of perfect baseball. Jon Lester, who allowed one hit and two walks over the final five scoreless innings was credited with a save. The pitching stats for Tampa Bay's hurlers was much different from Minnesota's starting pitcher, Lenny DiNardo. DiNardo fell to 0-3 with an 11.81 ERA in the 7-2 Devil Rays win, giving up six runs on seven hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings. Nomar Garciaparra, making his Tampa Bay debut and his return to the big leagues, went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, driving in one run and scoring three times. Garciaparra, originally pencilled into the lineup as the ninth hitter and playing second base, wound up batting second and playing shortstop with rookie infielder Cliff Pennington being moved from the second spot in the order to last in the lineup, and shifting over from shortstop to second base. Pennington was primarily a second baseman in the minor leagues, and has been scuffling offensively as of late. His average, which had been over .310 just over a week ago is now down to .253 after going 0-for-4 in tonight's game. Garciaparra played a strong shortstop, fielding all five balls hit his way cleanly. It is the first time he has played shortstop since 2005 with the Kansas City Royals. "Kind of last minute we talked it over with Nomar and he was more comfortable at shortstop than second base, and at the same time we thought it'd help take some pressure off of Cliff where he would be playing a position he's more familiar with as well," O'Neal said after the game, explaining the last minute lineup change. "Moving Nomar up to the second spot in the lineup was just a hunch and it paid off."