Expansion Revision: 1998 Devil Rays and beyond

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Hit streak extended to 33 games
Jeter's one hit is all that was necessary
July 27, 1999

CHICAGO — Derek Jeter continued his quest for Joe DiMaggio's record for consecutive games with a basehit by going 1-for-5 tonight against the White Sox.

Yankee fans were likely biting their nails until Jeter picked up the basehit, his 144th of the season, in the eighth inning. He struck out twice, grounded out once and flew out once.

Jeter now has picked up a basehit in 33 straight games and looks to extend that streak tomorrow night as Chicago sends Adam Eaton, 0-4 with an 8.23 ERA, to the mound. Jeter has never faced the Eaton, who has only made six big league starts in his career.

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Homer extends hit streak
Jeter's string reaches 34 games
July 28, 1999

CHICAGO — New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter used the longball to extend his consecutive games hit streak to 34 games.

Jeter hit a two-run home run off Chicago White Sox rookie Adam Eaton in the third inning, bringing him one step closer to Joe DiMaggio's long-standing record of 56 straight games.

The Yankees will conclude a three-game set with the White Sox in the windy city tomorrow night as James Baldwin takes the bump for the pale hose. Baldwin is 4-9 with a 6.63 ERA in 19 starts this season. Jeter has struggled against Baldwin historically, hitting just .188 (3-for-16) against the big right-hander.

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Jeter gets three hits to extend streak
New York shortstop homers two days in a row
July 30, 1999

CHICAGO — Derek Jeter's solo home run in the first inning was all that was necessary to extend his hit streak to 35 consecutive games, but the New York Yankees shortstop added a couple of singles for good measure.

Jeter went 3-for-5 as the Yankees shutout the Chicago White Sox 6-0 tonight.

Jeter and the Bronx Bombers head into hostile territory tomorrow night as the team heads to Fenway Park in Boston for a three-game series with the Red Sox. The Red Sox will send the struggling rookie hurler Dave Coggin to the mound. Coggin is 2-6 with a 7.34 ERA in nine starts with Boston. Jeter has never faced Coggin who has a 1.90 WHIP and a .325 opponents average against.

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Jeter now 20 away from DiMaggio
Yankees shortstop's streak reaches 36 games
July 30, 1999

BOSTON — The New York Yankees won tonight's game against their arch-rival Red Sox, but you would have been hard pressed to find anyone talking about it.

The focus of the game was Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter extending his hit streak to 36 games by going 1-for-3 in the game.

"Sure we are happy that we won, but seeing Derek extend his streak was also special," said Yankees manager. "He's a special player who is capable of doing some amazing things at the plate."

Jeter walked in the first and third innings, hit a RBI single in the fourth inning, and made outs in the seventh and ninth innings. He is hitting .356 with 14 home runs, 61 RBI and 103 runs scored.

Jeter and the Yankees have a favorable matchup tomorrow as they take on Boston hurler Kevin Ritz. Ritz is 0-8 with an 8.31 ERA in 10 starts this season, 0-2 with a 7.52 ERA in his four starts with Boston. He was released by the Oakland Athletics last month. Jeter has never faced the veteran Ritz, who has spent five of the last six seasons with the Colorado Rockies.

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Trade deadline may be quiet in Tampa
Devil Rays front office expect no significant moves
July 31, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have a three-game lead in the American League Wild Card race and sit eight games back in the division, but the club is likely going to have the same roster tomorrow as it does today.

"We just haven't seen anything that makes sense yet," said Moriarty, Tampa Bay's General Manager. "We've reached out but you've got almost 20 teams that think they're still in contention for a playoff spot, half of them think they've got a legit shot at the World Series. So the guys we'd like just are not available or would come at too high a price. We don't have enough depth to deal away the guys we've been asked for."

The Devil Rays have been actively pursuing a starting pitcher and have been rumored to be willing to deal young outfielder Andruw Jones if the right deal comes along.

"We don't have much free cash so for us to take on a contract, we need to give up some money and it just doesn't work," Moriarty said. "We're best suited to give up someone young or on a cheap deal for someone else who is young or on a cheap deal, but its tough to get good young talent, and its definitely tough to get good cheap talent."

[Moriarty9]

Streak stops at 36 games
Jeter foes 0-for-3 at Fenway Park
July 31, 1999

BOSTON — The Fenway Faithful haven't had much to cheer about this year, but Red Sox fans were loud as ever when New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter flew out to centerfield in the eighth inning.

Jeter went hitless in three at bats, snapping his 36-game hit streak and ending his pursuit of Joe DiMaggio's record 56 consecutive games with a hit.

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Durazo suspended 10 games
Devil Rays slugger out as team scuffles
August 3, 1999

SEATTLE — Tampa Bay Devil Rays firstbaseman/designated hitter Erubiel Durazo has been suspended 10 games for his role in a bench-clearing brawl last night.

The suspension comes at an awful time for the second-year team, as the Devil Rays have lost five consecutive games and now sit just one game ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays in the Wild Card race. The Anaheim Angels and Oakland Athletics are just 1 1/2 back while the Minnesota Twins are 2 1/2 behind Tampa Bay.

Durazo and Seattle Mariners pitcher John Riedling were each handed 10-game suspensions by Major League Baseball.

"We do not condone this kind of behavior on the field," the league's announcement said. "As such, we feel that this punishment fits the actions taken by these two players."

Durazo, a rookie, is hitting .275 with 22 home runs and 81 RBI this year. He was on pace to hit 34 home runs and 124 RBI, numbers that will be a bit harder to attain as he sits out the next 10 games.

Riedling, a rookie reliever, is 2-0 with 2 saves and a 0.86 ERA in 21 innings out of the bullpen.

"It's a big blow for the next week and a half," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "We need some of the other guys to step and make the most of the opportunity to get some additional at bats in."

[Moriarty9]

Wilson dealt for minor leaguer
Tampa Bay dumps veteran catcher for prospect
August 12, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Dan Wilson and minor league pitcher Jaret Wright made it through waivers, making a trade between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Cleveland Indians official.

Wilson will head to Cleveland and serve as the backup catcher to Eddie Taubensee, leaving Charles Johnson as the everyday backstop for the Devil Rays. Wright will be placed in Tampa Bay's farm system while Scott Servais will take Wilson's spot on the Devil Rays roster.

Wilson was Tampa Bay's starting catcher last season, hitting .280 with 12 home runs and 47 RBI in 123 games, but has struggled this year, hitting just .194 with six homers and 25 RBI in 59 games. Johnson began platooning with Wilson and soon was getting more and more playing time until suffering a minor injury that placed him on the 15-day disabled list. Johnson is hitting .269 with 17 home runs and 45 RBI in 69 games.

Wilson is signed through the 2000 season at $1.25 million annually.

Wright went 8-12 with a 3.51 ERA in 25 starts for Cleveland's AAA affiliate this season. He has big league experience, first coming up with the Indians in 1997 and going 3-7 with a 6.11 ERA in 26 games, 20 starts, and then 3-8 with a 5.94 ERA in 15 starts last season. He has not pitched at the big league level this year.

The Indians sit atop the American League Central at 64-49, holding a 2 1/2 game lead over the Minnesota Twins. The Devil Rays are a distant 10 1/2 behind the New York Yankees in the East and have fallen to 3 games out in the Wild Card race that they led earlier this month.

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Martinez dominates Royals
Devil Rays ace wins 15th game
August 22, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pedro Martinez had one of the most impressive performances of any pitcher this season tonight, striking out 15 batters and allowing only four to reach base.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays shutout the visiting Kansas City Royals, 2-0, at Tropicana Field. Martinez went the distance, throwing a three-hit complete game to improve to 15-2 on the season.

"It was a great job tonight, and he's a huge reason we're still fighting to try and make the playoffs," Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal said of Martinez. "He's got electric stuff. Just some filthy stuff."

Tampa Bay is 2 games behind the Seattle Mariners in the Wild Card race.

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Millwood placed on disabled list
Back problems put hurler on shelf rest of the way
September 10, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Kevin Millwood left tonight's game with back spasms that team doctors fear may keep the Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher off the mound the rest of the season.

Millwood left after just three innings on the mound, during which he gave up one run, and was charged with a loss as the visiting Oakland Athletics topped the Devil Rays 6-3 at Tropicana Field. Millwood falls to 9-12 with a 4.22 ERA in 28 starts. The 24-year-old may be available for the playoffs, if Tampa Bay can hold onto its one-game lead in the American League Wild Card race.

"It's a tough loss," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "He's a young kid but he's been a solid contributer and has been one of many reasons we are where we are right now."

Tampa Bay pitching coach Brian Hoskins suggested Jaret Wright, Matt Beech and Kip Wells would be the candidates to take Millwood's rotation spot down the stretch, but said he and O'Neal had not yet spoken to one another in detail about the matter just yet.

Wright has given up three earned runs in as many innings with Tampa Bay this year after going 9-12 with a 3.42 ERA in the minor leagues. Beech, a left-hander, is 2-2 with a 7.07 ERA in six games, five starts, with the Devil Rays, 7-7 with a 3.29 ERA in AAA. Wells began the year in the team's rotation but was demoted to the bullpen and then the minor leagues after going 2-4 with a 6.34 ERA in 11 games, including eight starts. Wells went 9-0 with a 1.66 ERA in 12 minor league starts.

The team also recently lost reliever Danny Graves to a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The injury will likely keep Graves out of action into next season. He had been one of the team's most effective pitchers down the stretch, and ends his season with a 1-2 record with two saves and a 3.62 ERA in 38 relief appearances.

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Damon hit streak reaches 33 games
Outfielder gives Diamondbacks fans something to cheer
September 13, 1999

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks may be just riding out the season, hoping to play the spoiler role, but outfielder Johnny Damon is making headlines for his pursuit of an unbreakable record.

Damon has hit in 33 straight games, the longest streak in the National League this year and second only to Derek Jeter's 36-game hit streak. The record was set by Joe DiMaggio when he hit in 56 consecutive games, a goal Damon can not reach this season. The Diamondbacks have 18 games remaining on their schedule, meaning that Damon could — at best — hit in 51 straight games this season with at least one basehit in each game left.

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Dempster throws no-no
Brewers hurler walks eight in no-hitter
September 14, 1999

ST. LOUIS — Milwaukee Brewers rookie pitcher Ryan Dempster was as good as any veteran tonight as he threw a no-hitter against the Cardinals.

Dempster, 22, gave up no runs on no hits and eight walks while striking out nine St. Louis batters in a 10-0 Brewers romp over the Cardinals. The outing was a surprise to everyone in the stadium, including Dempster.

"I felt prett good throughout the game and really didn't realize what was going on until pretty late in the game," Dempster said. "I had enough guys on base that I wasn't thinking that nobody had a hit yet. When you spend as much time working out of the stretch as I do, or as I did tonight, you don't think so much about how many hits you've allowed."

Dempster is 6-6 with a 5.38 ERA in 14 starts with the Brewers. Big league batters have hit .298 against him this year.

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Damon matches Jeter's streak
Arizona outfielder has hits in 36 straight games
September 17, 1999

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Johnny Damon has reached base with a hit in 36 consecutive games, matching New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter's season-high streak.

Damon went 2-for-2 against Florida Marlins pitching in a 2-1 Diamondbacks win at home tonight.

"He's definitely on a roll right now," said Marlins starting pitcher Seth Greisinger. "I thought I made some good pitches against him but he's a good hitter and hit 'em anyway."

Damon hit a two-run home run off Greisinger in the first inning to extend his hitting streak. He is hitting .327 with 19 home runs, 95 RBI, 104 runs and 36 stolen bases in 143 games. He cannot match Joe DiMaggio's record 56 game hit streak in a single season because of Arizona's remaining games. If Damon gets a hit in each game left on the Diamondbacks schedule, he would have a 51-game streak.

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Three teams tied for Wild Card
Four teams in contention for fourth playoff spot
September 18, 1999

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The American League Wild Card race has continues to tighten after the Tampa Bay Devil Rays lost last night, putting them in a three-way tie for the Wild Card spot.

The Devil Rays, Anaheim Angels and Toronto Blue Jays are each 81-67, while the 79-68 Seattle Mariners sit just 1 1/2 games back, making the final two weeks of the season sure to be filled with excitement.

The Angels will host Tampa Bay in a three-game set next week, and the Devil Rays will host the Blue Jays for a two-game set inbetween seven games with the division-leading New York Yankees to end the season.

"We've definitely got a tough road to go down the stretch with a lot of really tough opponents," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "We need to hold our ground, maybe get a little help, but we have a good chance to do something here in just our second year and we've got to make a go for it."

In addition to their three games with the Devil Rays, Anaheim will travel to Seattle to take on the Mariners.

"We control our destiny," said Angels manager Terry Collins. "The Wild Card is there for the taking."

Toronto has just the two games with Tampa Bay in terms of remaining contests with Wild Card contenders, but the Blue Jays have seven of their last nine games against the Cleveland Indians, who have a magic number of four to clinch the American League Central.

"We've been working hard all year and we're going to continue working hard," said Blue Jays manager Bruce Bochy. "We want the playoffs because anything can happen once you get there."

[Moriarty9]

Damon's streak dead at 37
Outfielder goes 0-for-3 against Marlins
September 19, 1999

PHOENIX — Johnny Damon brought the most media attention the Arizona Diamondbacks have seen since the first game in the franchise's short history, but that attention will now subside as his hit streak ended at 37 games.

Damon went 0-for-3 against the Florida Marlins this afternoon, snapping his hitting streak. The streak is the longest in baseball this season, barely edging out New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter's 36-game streak earlier this season.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays sting Angels
O'Neal thrilled by 'playoff' victory
September 20, 1999

ANAHEIM — The Angels and Tampa Bay Devil Rays are now each a half-game out in the American League Wild Card race after an exciting head-to-head matchup tonight.

Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal was "thrilled" by his team's victory in what he billed as "the first playoff game in franchise history."

"I know there are still games to go but this was as much of a must-win game this team has ever played in and the atmosphere was electric," O'Neal said. "These guys played their hearts out and stepped up to the plate tonight."

Tampa Bay won the game 6-4 as the Angels had the tying run on second base in the bottom of the ninth when Benny Agbayani made a running catch on a sinking linedrive to rightfield to end the game.

Agbayani, Erubiel Durazo and rookie Jerry Hairston, Jr. each homered for the Devil Rays while Jim Edmonds and Robert Fick went deep for the Angels.

"A lot of guys did a lot of things tonight," O'Neal said. "Erubiel got three hits, a big homer in the fourth; Benny hit a big two-run shot and made a couple nice plays, including that last one; and Hairston, gets a shot and makes the most of it with his first homer of the year."

The difference in the game was the pitching. Tampa Bay starter Kip Wells went seven innings before handing the ball over to the bullpen, whereas Chuck Finley lasted just five innings, forcing the bullpen to work a little harder.

"How big was Kip Wells tonight?" O'Neal said. "The kid's had a rough go of it this year but has the confidence in himself, just as we do, to go out there and throw a solid game and give his team a big win."

Wells gave up four runs on eight hits and two walks in seven innings. Gabe White and Todd Jones worked the eighth inning while Paul Quantrill picked up his 27th save of the season in the ninth.

The Angels loss put the idle Toronto Blue Jays in the lead for the Wild Card. Toronto resumes play tonight at Fenway Park in Boston as Kelvim Escobar (11-9, 4.97 ERA) takes on Red Sox starter Jeff Suppan (7-7, 5.05 ERA). The Devil Rays will send Bruce Chen (6-4, 4.04 ERA) to the mound against Anaheim's Jason Dickson (12-14, 5.25 ERA).

[Moriarty9]

Angels fall in slugfest
Devil Rays win one-run ballgame
September 21, 1999

ANAHEIM — Momentum swung back and forth almost violently tonight and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays came out on top of the Angels, 14-13, when all was said and done.

The Angels looked as if they could roll along after the first couple innings, jumping out to a 3-0 lead that felt as if it could and would grow quickly. Tampa Bay roared back in the fourth inning with a six-run frame — highlighted by a Paul Konerko grand slam — before the Angels fought back. The Devil Rays surged again in eighth inning with five more runs before the Tampa Bay bullpen coughed up five runs of their own in the last two innings before a hard-hit double play ended the game with tying run in scoring position and the winning run on first base.

"This was an exhausting game, I think, for both teams, mentally and physically," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "It was the kind of game that may have gotten out of hand in April or May but everyone on both teams played this game, from out number one to out number 27, as if there was a perfect game on the line or as if this was Game 7 of the World Series."

The two teams combined for 10 pitchers and six home runs. In addition to Konerko's fourth-inning grand slam, the Devil Rays saw home runs from Rickey Henderson, Andruw Jones and Charles Johnson while Robert Fick and Homer Bush went deep for the Angels.

The Toronto Blue Jays picked up a win over the Boston Red Sox tonight, holding on to their half-game lead for the Wild Card while the Angels are now 1 1/2 games back.

The Red Sox will host Toronto again tomorrow night with Javier Vazquez (10-3, 3.59 ERA) toeing the rubber against Boston's Dave Coggin (3-9, 6.48 ERA). Tampa Bay's Chad Ogea (7-14, 5.26 ERA) will square off against A.J. Burnett (14-6, 4.24 ERA) in the series finale.

[Moriarty9]

Devil Rays sweep Angels
Ogea holds Anaheim lineup down
September 22, 1999

ANAHEIM — Chad Ogea pitched like an ace tonight as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays defeated the Angels, 3-1, to complete a three-game sweep on the road.

Ogea gave up one run on seven hits and no walks over seven innings of work, leading the Devil Rays to an impressive win, bettering the second-year team's chances of making it to the playoffs.

Ogea and Angels pitcher A.J. Burnett locked horns in a pitchers' duel into the seventh inning. Tampa Bay took the lead in the fourth inning with a two-run home run from designated hitter Erubiel Durazo. Alfonso Soriano responded with a solo shot off Ogea in the fifth inning, narrowing the Devil Rays lead to one run. Tampa Bay would add an insurance run in the seventh inning on a Paul Konerko RBI single.

Shigetoshi Hasegawa worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, giving up just one hit and striking out three for Anaheim. Left-handed pitcher Matt Beech and Rich Garces combined for two perfect innings of relief for Tampa Bay.

"It was one hell of a night in terms of solid pitching," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "It wasn't a Pedro type of performance with only a few hits and a dozen strikeouts, but just a good job of challenging the hitters and trusting the defense. That's what happened tonight and it worked out pretty well."

"Chad has had some ups and downs, but this was probably the best he's thrown here," O'Neal said.

Beech, who started the season in the Devil Rays rotation before being sent to the minor leagues, worked 1 1/3 innings of no-hit ball, striking out two Angels batters.

"Matty really did a good job tonight. They had a few lefties in a row, Gabe [White] wasn't available to pitch tonight and we decided to bring Matt out there," said O'Neal. "He really looked good out there tonight too. He showed why he's in the big leagues and that his numbers, his ERA, don't really reflect what we think of him."

Beech, who picked up his first hold of the year, is 2-2 with a 7.16 ERA on the season. With closer Paul Quantrill unavailable tonight, it was Garces that was given the ball for the final two outs of the ninth inning, although the bullpen was up and working as El Guapo took the mound. Garces threw just five pitches to end the ballgame, picking up a strikeout and a flyball out. It was Garces's third save of the season.

The Devil Rays have regained the lead in the Wild Card race with their win and a Toronto Blue Jays loss, giving Tampa Bay a half-game lead. The Angels are now two games back with the Seattle Mariners creeping back into the picture at 2 1/2 games behind the Devil Rays.

Tampa Bay, which is clinging to a magic number of 10, will be traveling across the country tomorrow to start a four-game series in the Bronx against the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays will wrap up their three-game set at Fenway Park with the Boston Red Sox tomorrow night before heading home for three-games with the Cleveland Indians. The Angels and Mariners will both have tomorrow off as Anaheim travels to Seattle for a big three-game set.

[Moriarty9]

Yankees falter in eighth
Five-run inning gives Devil Rays win
September 24, 1999

NEW YORK — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays continue an improbable run to the playoffs with an impressive comeback victory over the Yankees tonight.

The Yankees held a 4-1 lead after seven innings with Jon Lieber seemingly cruising along without a great deal of difficulty handling the Devil Rays lineup. Then came the eighth inning.

Dave Berg and Rickey Henderson hit back-to-back singles to open the inning before Andruw Jones hit a two-run double, knocking Lieber from the game as the tying run was now in scoring position. Left-handed reliever Mike Stanton took the mound and struck out Paul Konerko for the first out before walking Erubiel Durazo on five pitches. Danny Patterson was handed the ball and was rudely greeted by a Raul Mondesi three-run home run, giving Tampa Bay a two-run lead.

The late rally silenced the eternally boisterous Yankee Stadium crowd. Boos began to rain down in the ninth inning as the New York bullpen gave up two more runs.

"These guys just do not quit, and that's why we are where we are," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal.

Henderson got the start in leftfield and hit in the leadoff spot, going 5-for-5 with a RBI and two runs, and stealing a base.

"He's been here before and knows what this time of year is all about," O'Neal said of the 40-year-old Henderson. "He's such an invaluable resource in the clubhouse and he can still be an impact on the field too."

Pedro Martinez improved to 18-3 with the win, giving up four runs on nine hits and three walks over seven innings, striking out five New York batters.

The Devil Rays, now riding a four-game win streak, have extended their slim Wild Card lead to one full game over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Anaheim Angels, with a win tonight over the Seattle Mariners, are two games back. The Mariners are 3 1/2 behind Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay will send Aaron Sele (12-10, 4.63 ERA) to the mound tomorrow afternoon while Hideki Irabu (2-1, 3.38 ERA) counters for the Yankees. Joel Guzman (5-5, 5.06 ERA) toes the rubber for Toronto while Orlando Hernandez (11-13, 5.76 ERA) goes for the visiting Cleveland Indians. In Seattle, the Angels will send veteran southpaw Chuck Finley (7-11, 7.41 ERA) to the hill as the Mariners put Dennis Martinez (7-11, 6.11 ERA) on the mound. The Devil Rays' magic number to clinch the Wild Card playoff berth is down to eight with eight games to go.

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Cameron bops bomb in Bronx
Late three-run homer gives Devil Rays 4-2 win
September 25, 1999

NEW YORK — Mike Cameron belted a three-run home run to push the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to another big win as they pursue a spot in the playoffs.

Cameron went deep off New York Yankees starter Hideki Irabu with two outs in the eighth inning, giving the Devil Rays a 4-1 lead and putting Tampa Bay starter Aaron Sele in position for his 13th win of the year.

"He almost got me to chase on the 0-2 pitch, but I managed to hold off, and I'm glad I did," Cameron said. "He followed up with an inside fastball and all I wanted to do was let it touch some grass somewhere and get Carlos [Beltran] home, maybe with a little luck [Jerry Hairston] Junior would be able to score for some insurance. I tried to just hit a line drive, hoping to split a gap, but the ball just carried out there."

"Tonight was really a well-played game," said Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal. "There was a lot of strategy, a lot of guys executing the way they needed to, some small ball, some good defense, some good pitching. This is what baseball is."

Sele improved to 13-10 with the win, giving up just one run on eight hits and one walk over seven innings despite not striking out a single Yankees batter. The Devil Rays bullpen closed out the game with help from Gabe White, Todd Jones, Benji Sampson, and Rich Garces.

The win, coupled with a Toronto Blue Jays loss today, puts the Devil Rays two games up in the Wild Card race. Tampa Bay's magic number has been reduced to six. The Anaheim Angels are three games back with the Seattle Mariners sitting 3 1/2 behind.

Bruce Chen (7-4, 4.20 ERA) will toe the slab tomorrow afternoon as the Devil Rays continue their quest. He will be opposed by New York's Omar Daal (13-9, 4.60 ERA). The Blue Jays will send Kelvim Escobar (12-9, 4.84 ERA) to the mound against Bartolo Colon (18-7, 4.01 ERA) of the Cleveland Indians in hopes of keeping Toronto's playoff hopes alive. Seattle will send Jamie Moyer (9-14, 5.03 ERA) to the mound to square off against Jason Dickson (12-15, 5.46 EA) and the Angels.