Rays Rout Rangers, 9-0; Hamilton Spoils No-Hit Bid

Players of the Day for Friday, September 30, 2011

AL Playoffs, game one: Rays 9, Rangers 0

Kelly Shoppach

Tampa Bay's Matt Moore caught an early taste of October magic, shutting out the Texas Rangers over seven innings on two hits in the opening game of the AL five-game series. The only hits by Texas were collected by Josh Hamilton, who singled in the first inning and doubled in the fourth.

It was only the third time all season that the Rangers had been shut out at home.

Johnny Damon got the Rays going with a two-run homer in the second. Kelly Shoppach singled and scored in the inning, then delivered a three-run blast in the third, followed by a two-run homer in the fifth inning that put the Rays up, 8-0. Shoppach's two-homer, five RBI, three run game matched Moore's brilliance on the mound.

Moore walked two and struck out six, getting the Game One win in just his second major league start. Brandon Gomes and Wade Davis worked perfect eighth and ninth innings to secure the victory.

Game Two is Saturday in Arlington.