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Rays: Another Patriots' Day matinee

 
Tampa Bay Times
Published April 15, 2013

Rays at Red Sox

When/where: 11:05 a.m. today; Fenway Park, Boston

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers

Rays: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (0-1, 6.35);

RED SOX: RHP Ryan Dempster (0-1, 3.60)

Rise and shine: Hellickson, coming off a no-decision in Texas, has as many homers allowed as strikeouts (3). He has done well in day games, 11-8, 2.91 compared to 16-14, 3.27 at night. He is 3-2, 4.10 in nine starts vs. Sox, 2-0, 4.18 in four at Fenway.

Different look: Dempster, primarily a National Leaguer, hasn't faced the Rays since 2008 though is 3-4, 4.24 against them. Has lasted only five innings in both starts this season but has 15Ks in 10 innings.

Key matchups

Rays VS. DEMPSTER

Yunel Escobar 1-for-9

Kelly Johnson 1-for-11

James Loney 3-for-19, HR

red sox vs. hellickson

Jacoby Ellsbury 3-for-17

Dustin Pedroia 5-for-22, HR

J. Saltalamacchia 5-for-18, HR

On deck

Tuesday: at Orioles, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — RH Roberto Hernandez (0-2, 6.08); Orioles — RH Jake Arrieta (0-0, 7.20)

Wednesday: at Orioles, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — LH Matt Moore (2-0, 0.00); Orioles — RH Chris Tillman (0-0, 7.20)

Thursday: at Orioles, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — LH David Price (0-1, 5.82); Orioles — RH Miguel Gonzalez (1-1, 2.92)

Friday: vs. A's, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — RH Alex Cobb (1-1, 1.93); A's — TBA

Rays disabled list

RHP Jeff Niemann, sore shoulder, 15-day, eligible April 13

RHP Juan Carlos Oviedo, elbow surgery, 60-day, eligible May 30

DH Luke Scott, calf strain, 15-day, eligible April 8.

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Quote of the day

"I don't think anyone could run 26 miles in here."

RHP Jeremy Hellickson, on the idea of a Ray in today's marathon.

Meet the Rays: Joe Maddon

Who, really, is Joe Maddon? What look is the Rays manager going for this year?

What's the best meal he cooks? What is his proudest moment? Watch video of Maddon answering these questions and more at tampabay.com/meettherays.

Power outage clock

6 games, 58 innings, 208 at-bats

Totals since Rays last homer on April 6

Number of the day

23 Consecutive hitless at-bats with a runner in scoring position by Rays

Brunch with the Rays

For the second straight year, third time in four and fourth time overall, the Rays are playing in the Marathon Monday Patriots' Day game with the obviously odd 11:05 a.m. start, though they are 3-0. Manager Joe Maddon said having it earlier in the season, when the Rays are still on something of a spring schedule, helps. But knowing starter Jeremy Hellickson is usually a late sleeper, he joked, "Helly needs to sleep here."