Rays news and notes

In print: Friday, May 9, 2008

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Musical note of the day

Syesha Mercado, right, has faced cruel Simon Cowell as a finalist on American Idol. Tonight the Sarasota product faces the Trop crowd, singing the national anthem.
Number of the day

4-13 Joe Maddon's record against his former Angels team.
The dish …

Tonight: Rays vs. Angels

When/where: 7:10; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

TV/radio: FSN; 1250-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers: Rays — RHP James Shields (3-2, 3.80); Angels — RHP Jon Garland (4-3, 5.08)

Rays tickets: $9-$210, available at Tropicana Field box office (no service charge), by phone (888-326-7297), all Ticketmaster outlets and on raysbaseball.com; $2 surcharge for purchases within five hours of that day's game.

Rays info: 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Promotion: Carlos Pena poster to first 7,500 fans; $1 hot dogs.

Watch for …

Big-game James: James Shields, coming off a rough outing, is 2-1 with a 3.55 ERA in four starts against the Angels. But Vladimir Guererro is 6-for-12 off him and Chone Figgins 5-for-11.

Big Jon: Jon Garland has had his way with the Rays, compiling a 5-1, 3.43 mark in nine starts. Carl Crawford is 1-for-14 and Jason Bartlett
4-for-27, but Eric Hinske is
12-for-32 with two homers and Carlos Pena 8-for-36 with two homers.

Family reunion: Angels SS Erick Aybar is the younger, and thus far slightly more accomplished, brother of injured Rays INF Willy Aybar.

On deck

Saturday: Angels, 7:10, Ch. 66. Rays — LHP Scott Kazmir (0-1, 6.75); Angels — LHP Joe Saunders (6-0, 2.61)

Sunday: Angels, 1:40, FSN. Rays — RHP Andy Sonnanstine (5-1, 4.63); Angels — RHP Ervin Santana (6-0, 2.02)

Monday: Yankees, 7:10, Ch. 66. Rays — RHP Matt Garza (1-1, 4.91); Yankees — Chien-Ming Wang (6-1, 3.12)

Tuesday: Yankees, 7:10, Ch. 66. Rays — RHP Edwin Jackson (2-3, 4.04); Yankees — RHP Mike Mussina (5-3, 4.36)