Felix Doubront looks to avoid a third rough game when he gets the start on the mound for Thursday night's Boston Red Sox road game against the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:10 pm ET.
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Via ESPN:
Tampa Bay's Alex Cobb earned an unique distinction in his last start, but likely needs to pitch better than he did if the Rays are to bounce back from their first defeat in a week.
Cobb (4-2, 3.09 ERA) allowed three runs and struck out 13 while throwing 112 pitches in 4 2/3 innings of a 6-3 win over San Diego on Friday. The right-hander became the first major leaguer to fan 13 while failing to complete five innings.
"I don't know if that's a good thing," he said. "As a starting pitcher, you want to go at least five innings every time out."
He recorded 12 of 14 outs on strikeouts, including four in the third inning when a wild pitch on strike three allowed Will Venable to reach base.
"I can't really explain why or how that happened. It was just one of those weird days," he said. "Obviously, that's not my goal. I never go into a game trying to strike everybody out."
The Boston native is 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA in four starts against the Red Sox (23-17). He gave up four runs in 6 2/3 innings of a 5-0 loss at Fenway Park on April 14.
Cobb looks to help the Rays (20-19) regroup after their season-high six-game winning streak ended with a 9-2 loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday.
