BOSTON — With the exception of six games with the Tigers in 2003, Cody Ross spent his entire major league career in the National League before this season. Some old memories were evoked on Monday.
Daniel Bard and James Shields engaged in a Patriots' Day pitchers' duel, with Tampa Bay coming away with a 1-0 victory. The stellar pitching performances by both sides reminded Ross a bit of his time in San Francisco, when he frequently saw two of the game's best young hurlers go toe to toe.
"Those are the kind of games that I was used to in the National League West. [Clayton] Kershaw against [Tim] Lincecum-type games. Ya know, 1-0, two-hour game. That's what it kind of felt like [on Monday]. Two horses just going at it. It was a well-played game all-around."
Bard allowed one run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings before some control issues allowed the Rays to get on the board. Shields, meanwhile, lasted into the ninth inning, tossing 8 1/3 shutout frames before Fernando Rodney came in to shut the door on Boston's rally.
Bard and Shields certainly have a ways to go to match Lincecum and Kershaw — who have three NL Cy Young Awards between them. But Ross' point is still valid, as pitching ruled the day on Marathon Monday.
