Rays' Garza focuses on the moment

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garza thanked the media for being understanding the day before.

ALCS protocol has starters talk to the media the day before their next game. Garza declined, saying he didn't like to talk the day before he pitched.

But with an off day today before tomorrow's Game 3 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park, Garza decided talking yesterday would not provide any bad karma to his normal routine.

And considering the mojo Garza has had rolling through the postseason, why would he want to mess with anything he's been doing?

"I'm not really anticipating going into Saturday's start," Garza said before last night's Game 2 of the World Series. "I can't look past [last night].

"That's our team motto, 'Live the moment. Don't worry about what's happening later. Live the moment.' "

Garza was the ALCS version of Phillies ace Cole Hamels.

He was brilliant in winning two starts against the Boston Red Sox, while allowing only two runs in 13 innings. Garza yielded only two hits and had nine strikeouts in the Rays' clinching victory in Game 7.

"I just didn't want to have that sour taste in my mouth like I did after the Chicago game," Garza said, thinking back to the AL Divisional Series, when he lost, 5-3, to the White Sox. "I just kept telling myself I don't want to end my year like this.

"I didn't want that taste, because it would be bitter. I wanted to go out there and kind of make a statement to myself."

In an extreme contrast, Garza, 24, will go up against Jamie Moyer, the Phillies' ageless starter - well, actually, he's 45.

Asked whether he envisioned himself pitching at that age, Garza replied: "No. When I'm 45, I want to be watching my son play.

"[Moyer] is doing it with will and guts. Pitching at 45 is amazing. That's a feat.

"It's undeniably amazing, the way he does it successfully still, and competes at the highest level."

In his first full major league season, Garza went 11-9 in 30 starts with 3.70 ERA.

Garza said he is not concerned about how Phillies fans will react at their first World Series game in 15 years.

"I anticipated a ton of noise in Chicago and I anticipated a whole lot of noise in Fenway," said Garza, the ALCS MVP. "There's even more noise here at the Trop.

"Whatever noise [Phillies fans] bring, I'm all for it. You just have to block it out." *