The Rays go into tonight's game looking to do something they haven't done in more than 9 years - win a series in Anaheim. With a win tonight or in Wednesday's finale, the Rays will have their first series win since May 14-16, 1999.
That was so long ago that the only person who was there then and is still in a Rays uniform is bench coach Dave Martinez, who was an active player at the time.
Otherwise, the only holdovers are support staff such as bullpen catcher Scott Cursi, video coordinator Chris Fernandez, travel director Jeff Ziegler, communications director Chris Costello and broadcasters Joe Magrane, Dewayne Staats and Todd Kalas.
Joe Maddon and George Hendrick were there - as Angels coaches.
As for tonight's game, Cliff Floyd is again out of the lineup - that's four straight games - and the official word is that the Rays want to stick with the hot bat, which means Willy Aybar is at first again, and what's worked, as they've won three of the four.
Floyd said he had no problem with the decision, and admitted that the time off gives him an opportunity to strengthen his right knee, on which he had surgery in April, and to work on his swing.
Here is the lineup, which looks a lot like Monday's:
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Upton, cf
Hinske, dh
Longoria, 3b
Aybar, 1b
Navarro, c
Gross, rf
Bartlett, ss
Shields, p
Angels
Willits, rf
Izturis, ss
Anderson, lf
Guerrero, dh
Hunter, cf
Kotchman, 1b
Kendrick, 2b
Mathis, c
Wood, 3b
Weaver, p
Joe Maddon, Johnny Damon and Evan Longoria are only some of the Rays you'll meet through our new video interview series. Don't see your favorite player yet? Check back often, as we'll add to the series as the season progresses.
