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Flu ends Longoria's consecutive-game streak

 
MAY 3: Evan Longoria #3 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts to a called strike against the Baltimore Orioles on May 3, 2015 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The three-game series was moved to Tropicana Field due to the civil unrest in Baltimore after the arrest and death of Freddie Gray. The Baltimore Orioles were designated the home team for the series. (Photo by Cliff McBride/Getty Images)
MAY 3: Evan Longoria #3 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts to a called strike against the Baltimore Orioles on May 3, 2015 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The three-game series was moved to Tropicana Field due to the civil unrest in Baltimore after the arrest and death of Freddie Gray. The Baltimore Orioles were designated the home team for the series. (Photo by Cliff McBride/Getty Images)
Published May 8, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG — The flu bug flying around the Rays clubhouse claimed the longest active starting and consecutive games streaks in the majors.

Evan Longoria, who wasn't feeling well Wednesday when he hit two homers on Boston, got worse Thursday and went from being the scheduled DH to being scratched from the lineup to being sent home before the game, with his availability for tonight in question. Longoria had started 198 consecutive games and played in 270, the longest active streaks in the majors, both going back to 2013.

"Just not feeling well at all,'' manager Kevin Cash said.

Several other Rays are also not feeling well, which may have something to do with RHP Matt Andriese being scratched from his scheduled Thursday for Triple-A Durham.

RHP Nathan Karns is scheduled to start for the Rays tonight, RHP Jake Odorizzi on Saturday and LHP Drew Smyly on Sunday. There also could be concern about a slight drop in velocity Smyly showed Tuesday in his third start since coming off the disabled list following shoulder tendinitis.

With Longoria out, Joey Butler became the DH.

Cash had already done some shuffling, giving SS Asdrubal Cabrera, who is in a 2-for-27 slump, a second day off in the last five, and C Bobby Wilson his second start in three days ahead of Rene Rivera, who is hitting .136 overall and has one hit in his past 19 at-bats. Cash said INF Tim Beckham, who started at shortstop Thursday, will play "quite a bit" this weekend.

MEDICAL MATTERS: OF Desmond Jennings (left knee bursitis) is feeling better but has no timetable to return, Cash said. "He said he's feeling good, the swelling's gone down, he's seeing progress, so that's a great sign." … LHP Jake McGee (offseason elbow surgery) is scheduled to make his fourth rehab appearance tonight for Triple-A Durham, with the potential to rejoin the Rays at the end of next week. … LHP Matt Moore (Tommy John surgery) today will throw the second of a planned three or four batting practice/simulated games before starting a rehab assignment, eyeing a June return. … INF Nick Franklin (oblique) was off Thursday and expected to continue his rehab at Durham tonight.

NEXT UP: Karns said Cash talked to him about pulling him after five scoreless two-hit innings on Sunday, the product, in part, of a plan to limit him to two times through the Orioles order and then go to the bullpen.

"I appreciate him coming and apologizing, but to me they have a game plan, it just didn't work out that day," Karns said. "I'm cool with everything."

AHOY MATEY: U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will throw the first pitch and administer the oath of enlistment to approximately 35 new recruits before tonight's game.

MISCELLANY: The crowd of 8,701 was smallest at the Trop since May 23, 2007, when 8,440 attended. … RHP Erasmo Ramirez had another solid outing, working 3 2/3 scoreless innings. …. Many Rays players were sporting Lightning caps that were waiting in their lockers. … This series is just the Rays' second against a non-AL East opponent.