When/where: 12:40; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
TV/radio: FSN; 1250-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Promotions: Parks and Rec Day; first 5,000 fans 14 and under receive Rays mousepads
Probable pitchers:
Rays
RHP James Shields (8-6, 3.69)
a's
LHP Greg Smith (5-8. 3.79)
Watch for …
Home cooking: Rays starter James Shields seems like a different pitcher when he's at home, going 6-1 with a 2.05 ERA in 11 starts. The right-hander was strong in his last outing, giving up just one run in seven innings Friday against the Jays.
Smith struggles: A's starter Greg Smith hasn't won since his complete-game, four-hitter June 30 against the Angels. The former LSU left-hander is coming off the shortest outing of his career, giving up six runs in 32/3 innings Friday against the Yankees. Smith is 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA against the Rays.
On deck
Thursday: at Royals, 8:10, Ch. 66. Rays — RHP Matt Garza (8-5, 3.68); Royals — RHP Gil Meche (7-9, 4.55)
Friday: at Royals, 8:10, FSN. Rays — RHP Edwin Jackson (5-7, 4.25); Royals — RHP Brian Bannister (7-8, 5.49).
Saturday: at Royals, 7:10, FSN. Rays — LHP Scott Kazmir (8-5, 2.80); Royals — RHP Luke Hochevar (6-8, 5.47)
Sunday: at Royals, 2:10, FSN. Rays — RHP Andy Sonnanstine (10-5, 4.54); Royals — RHP Kyle Davies (3-1, 4.59)
Numberof the day 1
30Rays errors in their first 71 games, with a record of 42-29.
Number of the day 2
27 Rays errors in their past 28 games, with a record of 16-12.
Quote of the day
"I just can't find thestrike zone right now."
LHP Trever Miller, who has walked five batters (one intentionally) in his past two outings
More online
To view a gallery of photos from the Rays-A's game, go to rays.tampabay.com.
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