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Rays: Bobblehead may be culprit in unwanted doubleheader

 
Tampa Bay Times
Published May 1, 2014

Rays at Red Sox

When/where: 1:05 and 7:10 today; Fenway Park, Boston

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

Probable pitchers (Game 1)

RAYS: LH Cesar Ramos (1-1, 3.38)

RED SOX: RH Jake Peavy (1-0, 2.87)

On Ramos: Coming off win over White Sox, working career high-matching 5 innings. Is 0-1, 2.35 in 13 relief outings vs. Sox, has not allowed an extra-base hit.

On Peavy: Has had four quality starts in five outings, but lone win came in last game vs. Toronto. Is 3-1, 4.91 in six career starts vs. Rays.

Key matchups

RAYS VS. PEAVY

J. Loney 10-for-33, 2 HRs

Evan Longoria 3-for-17, HR

Ben Zobrist 4-for-15, HR

RED SOX VS. RAMOS

Jonny Gomes 0-for-4

David Ortiz 1-for-8

Dustin Pedroia 0-for-3

(includes postseason)

Probable pitchers (Game 2)

RAYS: RH Chris Archer (2-1, 4.11)

RED SOX: LH Felix Doubront (1-3, 6.00)

On Archer: Coming off a no-decision vs. White Sox. Has worked 6-plus innings in four of five starts. Is 1-2, 5.27 in three starts vs. Sox, failing to get through 5th twice.

On Doubront: Off to a rough start, allowing 42 baserunners (30 hits, 11 walks, 1 HBP) in 24 innings. In 11 games (eight starts) vs. Rays is 2-3, 3.24.

Key matchups

RAYS VS. DOUBRONT

Yunel Escobar 6-for-20

Evan Longoria 6-for-17

Sean Rodriguez 4-for-19

RED SOX VS. ARCHER

Mike Napoli 0-for-5

David Ortiz 2-for-5

Dustin Pedroia 1-for-7

(includes postseason)

On deck

Friday: at Yankees, 7:05. Rays — LH David Price (3-2, 4.75); Yankees — LH Vidal Nuno (0-0, 6.59)

Saturday: at Yankees, 1:05. Rays — RH Jake Odorizzi (1-2, 5.63); Yankees — RHP Masahiro Tanaka (3-0, 2.27)

Sunday: at Yankees, 1:05. Rays — LH Erik Bedard (0-1, 5.52); Yankees —LH CC Sabathia (3-3, 5.11)

Rays disabled list

• INF Tim Beckham, knee surgery, 15-day, eligible April 14 (targeting post-All-Star break)

• RHP Alex Cobb, left oblique strain, 15-day, April 28 (targeting late May)

• RHP Jeremy Hellickson, right elbow surgery, eligible April 14 (targeting early June)

• LHP Matt Moore, left elbow soreness, eligible April 23 (had surgery April 22, out for season)

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Bobblehead-gate

This Dustin Pedroia bobblehead, which was to be given out Wednesday night, is quite a big deal. Big enough, depending on whom you believe, that it may have factored into the Red Sox wanting to play a doubleheader today as they had nowhere to store 30,000 bobbleheads if they weren't given out this afternoon. And big enough that some Red Sox fans who have jobs and can't attend today's matinee took to Twitter to vent their frustration, hoping the Rays prevailed in delaying the makeup game.

Dumpy doubleheader digs

Rays manager Joe Maddon is no fan of split doubleheaders, disliking the idea having to be at the field for 12-plus hours. And he particularly doesn't like them at Fenway Park, where the small visitors clubhouse is uncomfortably cramped. "Quite frankly, it's less than luxurious and it's very difficult to be here all day," he said.

Date of the day

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September 2009

The last month in which the Rays lost 16 or more games.