导出博客文章OAKLAND -- Oakland As right-hander Kendall Graveman was 12 starts into the
season and was searching for answers. He was 2-6 with a 5.28 ERA, and opposing
hitters were batting .309 with 11 home runs against him.Thats when pitching
coach Curt Young made a suggestion that helped turn Gravemans season around.Curt
came up to me and said, You got to find what works for you, what makes you have
a chip on your shoulder, whats going to lock you in, Graveman said.Graveman said
he remembered how locked in he was in 2014, when he visualized his pitches
before every game and rocketed through the Toronto Blue Jays system, earning
five promotions and finishing the season in the major leagues.It was something
that I just had to get back to, visualize throwing every pitch to both sides of
the plate to lefties and righties, Graveman said. Its almost like youre
visualizing a pitch that you want to make in a big situation to try to get
someone out, but also just visualizing quality pitches.I think for me it sets up
nicely because I get to see the movement when I visualize it. Youve seen it so
much after you throw it and watching video that I think that just reinforces it.
The minds a powerful thing. I think we know that now in the game of baseball.
You start really thinking positively before a start, I think positive outcomes
will happen.In his past six starts, Graveman has gone 4-0 with a 2.68 ERA, and
opposing hitters are batting .232 with two home runs.Graveman will take a
career-high five-game winning streak into his start Saturday against the Tampa
Bay Rays and left-hander Drew Smyly.Smyly has lost a career-high seven straight
games and is trying to escape the worst slump of his career. Hes 2-11 with a
5.64 ERA. Smyly, who missed 105 last year because of a left shoulder injury,
entered this season with a career record of 24-15 with a 3.24 ERA.Its just been
a slump, man, Smyly said. I wish I had an answer but I dont. You just got to
keep grinding, keep searching. Im healthy. I feel fine. Every chance I get Im
competing my hardest, so hopefully I can get it turned around. It is what it
is.Despite Smylys struggles, the Rays have no plans to take him out of the
rotation, manager Kevin Cash said.Were very confident he is going to pitch his
way out of this, Cash said before the Rays 1-0, 13-inning loss to Oakland. Were
looking forward to getting him on the mound (Saturday). I sat down and talked to
him casually with him after his start in Colorado. Hes doing all the right
things. The results just arent coming. Sometimes youve got to let it kind of
work its course and one start, one, two good innings of something clicking can
be really beneficial for him.Smyly gave up five runs and needed 100 pitches to
get through five innings in a 7-4 loss to the Rockies on Monday at Coors
Field.First of all, I believe hes healthy, too, Cash said. Weve talked to Drew.
I think its just inconsistencies in his off-speed pitches. He has not gone into
a start here recently where hes really had his wipeout cutter or wipeout
breaking ball and it becomes difficult. Youre facing some good hitters, good
lineups and to go out there with just a fastball -- he tries to get really picky
with the fastball knowing that he doesnt have that. I know thats kind of been
the focal point for him, to try to get one if not two of those off-sped pitches
going for him.Graveman, who relies heavily on a nasty sinker, is 1-1 with a 2.04
ERA in three career starts against Tampa Bay. He took the loss on May 14 at
Tropicana Field, allowing four runs over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-0 defeat.Smyly is
1-2 with a 6.87 ERA in six appearances against the As, including three starts.
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-- Edwin Jackson got off to a great start Sunday by retiring the first nine
Colorado Rockies batters.He couldnt keep it going.Charlie Blackmon homered
leading off the fourth and then hit an RBI single in the fifth.Jackson was long
gone by the time Mark Reynolds homered leading off the 10th inning to give the
Rockies a 3-2 victory and a split of a four-game series.I didnt necessarily feel
like I had my best stuff, as far as strength-wise, Jackson said. I think I
couldve went out there for another inning, but its a two-nothing game. We have
guys on the bench trying to come out and produce runs. Its a pitchers
duel.Jackson allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, struck out four and
walked one.I thought he was able to hold them down without having his sharpest
stuff, manager Andy Green said. I think his mentality was right. I think his
approach was right. Wasnt his absolute best stuff, but he was still more than
enough to navigate six innings very well.Reynolds homer was the 250th of his
career and 13th of the season. It came on a 2-2 pitch from Kevin Quackenbush
(7-6).Jake McGee (2-3) pitched the ninth for the win. Adam Ottavino pitched the
10th for his fourtth save in eight chances.dddddddddddd.Blackmon gave the
Rockies a 2-0 lead with his homer leading off the fourth and an RBI single with
two outs in the fifth.Nick Hundley hit a leadoff double in the fifth and scored
on Blackmons single. Blackmon got caught in a rundown to end the inning.Rockies
right-hander Chad Bettis was cruising with a one-hit shutout before the Padres
tied it at 2 in the sixth. Travis Jankowski doubled to left-center and scored on
Wil Myers triple that rolled to the fence in right-center. Yangervis Solarte
brought in Myers with a sacrifice fly.Bettis went seven, allowing two runs and
four hits, with five strikeouts and one walk.UP NEXTRockies: LHP Tyler Anderson
(5-5, 3.35) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game series at Arizona
that starts Monday night. Shelby Miller (2-11, 6.89) is scheduled to start for
Arizona.Padres: RHP Paul Clemens (2-5, 5.44) is scheduled to start the opener of
a three-game series at San Francisco starting Monday night. The Giants are
scheduled to counter with Jeff Samardzija (11-9, 4.00). ' ' '
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