Rays/MLB

Brilliance befitting a star

A day after being named an All-Star for the first time, Scott Kazmir dominates the powerful Red Sox in his first complete game and shutout.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published July 4, 2006

	[Times photo: James Borchuck]
	Scott Kazmir revels in the moment after getting a groundout to cap his first complete game.

ST. PETERSBURG - Ever have one of those days when it seems like everything is going your way? Then you felt like Scott Kazmir did Monday night.

Talk about stars aligning.

The Devil Rays pitcher said he had one of his best pregame bullpen sessions. There was a rockin' crowd of 26,149 at Tropicana Field, including 12 close friends from his hometown of Houston.

There was the sense of relief he said he felt after being named to play in next week's All-Star Game. And the Red Sox were in town, a team for which Kazmir admittedly gets stoked.

"I try to go out there with the same intensity every time," Kazmir said. "But sometimes you can't help getting (going) with all the atmosphere that's around you. It's special."

Kazmir pitched a special game, a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts as the Rays earned a 3-0 victory over one of baseball's hottest teams in the left-hander's first complete game.

"Wall-to-wall," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "He had his stuff going on from his first pitch."

"That's what grunts live for," catcher Josh Paul said, "to catch a game like that."

Kazmir had some help as the Rays (36-47) snapped a two-game losing streak.

Ty Wigginton hit two home runs. His second, in the fifth inning, gave Tampa Bay its three-run lead and came after Russell Branyan led off with his 10th home run.

Wigginton, who has 15 and hadn't hit one since June 3, said he didn't mind if his home runs were overlooked. In fact, he insisted on it.

"You shouldn't even be talking to me," he said. "You should be standing by (Kazmir's) locker. He deserves all the credit."

At 10-5, Kazmir is tied for the American League lead in wins and is one short of Tom Glavine's major-league best. The 22-year-old also tied his win total from last season and beat fellow 10-game winner Josh Beckett and a team that had won nine of its previous 10 games.

He struck out Jason Varitek four times and slugger David Ortiz twice. And he made Manny Ramirez look silly to end the third inning on a three-pitch strikeout with the bases loaded.

"That was impressive," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "He has that explosive fastball that we've seen since Day 1, but now he's mixing in a slider. Some of the sliders he was throwing were as good as I've seen."

"He's throwing great," Beckett said. "He shut down one of the premier lineups probably in the world."

It shouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why.

For perhaps the first time this season, Kazmir had total control of his fastball, changeup and slider. His pitch count, which so often prevents him from going deep into games, was a manageable 120.

Kazmir also went to his breaking pitches more as the game went on. That is important against a team such as Boston which is so good at making adjustments

"I had all my pitches," Kazmir said.

Especially his slider.

"I haven't had that pitch in quite a while," he said. "It was great to have it and bury it in crucial situations."

Kazmir also kept his poise when he could have frayed. Shortstop Julio Lugo made two errors. Neither caused damage.

Ramirez opened the ninth with a double. But after a brief meeting at the mound with pitching coach Mike Butcher, who reminded Kazmir to stay with his game plan, the Red Sox went down in order.

"I had to calm down a little bit," Kazmir said. "I was kind of overthrowing, trying to do too much. But I stayed within myself after Butch came out and talked to me. I just kind of took a deep breath and settled down."

Kazmir improved to 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA against Boston and 2-0 against the Sox with a 1.69 ERA at the Trop.

"If there's a way to elevate his game, I think he does against those guys," Maddon said. "Maybe the sight of the Red Sox turns him on a little bit."

As did the big crowd, his buddies from Houston and the All-Star designation, which Kazmir admitted "took a big load off my shoulders.

"It was a great feeling to get the first one out of the way," he said of his complete-game shutout. "I just went out there and had fun."

[Last modified July 4, 2006, 05:48:57]