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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Chris Carpenter can't explain why
he's had so much success against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
|  | | Chris Carpenter pitched eight scoreless innings on Thursday. |
The Toronto right-hander improved to 5-1 lifetime against the
Blue Jays' AL East rivals on Thursday, allowing four hits, walking
one and striking out a career-high 11 in an 11-0 blowout at
Tropicana Field.
The Devil Rays helped Carpenter (1-0), committing four errors
that led to five unearned runs in the first two innings. A fifth
Tampa Bay error paved the way for a four-run ninth.
"It was a tough game for them," Blue Jays manager Buck
Martinez said. "This is the kind of lineup that you give us an
extra out or two, you're probably going to give up some runs. They
certainly took advantage of it and set the tone in the first
inning."
Carpenter has four complete games and two shutouts in six starts
against Tampa Bay, but didn't get an opportunity go the distance
this time. Kevin Beirne got the last three outs after Martinez
decided against letting Carpenter, slowed late in spring training
by a back strain, work the ninth.
"Early in the season, why take the chance, especially coming
back with the back thing?" Carpenter said. "I understand it.
Obviously I'd love to go back out and finish that game. But early
in the season, there's no room to take the chance."
The Devil Rays didn't get a runner past second base. In 49
innings against Carpenter, Tampa Bay has been limited to seven
runs. The Toronto pitcher is at a loss to explain the domination.
"It's just one of those things," he said.
Darrin Fletcher's two-run double keyed a four-run first inning
after Devil Rays rightfielder Ben Grieve lost Raul Mondesi's fly
ball in the lights for a two-base error and Vinny Castilla
misplayed Brad Fullmer's bases-loaded grounder to third to allow
two runs to score.
Tampa Bay's fielding troubles continued in the second when
Shannon Stewart doubled and scored after pitcher Bryan Rekar
couldn't handle Mondesi's checked-swing dribbler to the right of
the mound and second baseman Bobby Smith compounded that error by
throwing the ball past first base.
Jose Cruz's RBI single made it 6-0 in the third and the Blue
Jays added another run in the fourth when Stewart tripled and
scored on Alex Gonzalez's sacrifice fly.
Toronto scored four more in the ninth when Fullmer had a two-run
single and Tony Batista followed with an RBI triple off Esteban
Yan.
Carpenter allowed a double by Felix Martinez in the third and
three singles.
"The way he was throwing," Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild
said of the Blue Jays starter, "he would have been effective
against anybody."
Carlos Delgado, who hit three home runs Wednesday night, went
0-for-4. He drew an intentional walk to load the bases in the first
and grounded out with the bases filled to drive in a run in the
ninth.
Tampa Bay's five errors tied a team record. The six unearned
runs allowed were two shy of the club mark.
"That was ugly," said Greg Vaughn, who had one of the Devil
Rays' four hits. "I've been playing a long time and it doesn't get
any uglier than that."
Game notes
Toronto 2B Homer Bush was placed on the 15-day disabled
list after suffering ligament damage in his left thumb making a
diving stop of Fred McGriff's infield single a grounder in the
ninth inning Wednesday night. Rookie Cesar Izturis was recalled
from Triple-A Syracuse. Ryan Freel started at second base Thursday
and singled in the second inning for his first major league hit ...
Steve Cox made his second straight start in left field for Tampa
Bay with Vaughn remaining in the lineup as the designated hitter.
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RECAPS
Toronto 11
Tampa Bay 0
Minnesota 9
Detroit 5
NY Yankees 1
Kansas City 0
Baltimore 2
Boston 1
Anaheim 10
Texas 3
Cincinnati 4
Pittsburgh 1
Chicago Cubs 2
Montreal 1
Colorado 11
St. Louis 2
NY Mets 7
Atlanta 1
Houston 8
Milwaukee 2
Los Angeles 7
Arizona 5
San Francisco 8
San Diego 2
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