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Rays: Seeking runs; Konerko farewell; Yankees hit batters

 
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (58) pitching in the second inning of the MLB game between the Los Angeles Angels  and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Friday, August 1, 2014.
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (58) pitching in the second inning of the MLB game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Friday, August 1, 2014.
Published Sept. 19, 2014

Rays vs. White Sox

When/where: 7:10 tonight; Tropicana Field

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM

Tickets: $14-200, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team Tampa store; $3 surcharge within 5 hours of game time.

Promotion: Oktoberfest stein as part of Tampa Bay Times ticket tandem.

Probable pitchers

RAYS: RH Jeremy Hellickson (1-3, 3.63)

WHITE SOX: LH Jose Quintana (8-10, 3.30)

On Hellickson: Went six solid innings vs. Jays on Saturday, hurt by his own fielding mistakes. Hasn't won at Trop since beating White Sox on July 5, 2013. Is 1-2, 3.86 in three starts vs. Sox.

On Quintana: Coming off strong seven-inning outing vs. Twins, striking out career high 13. Approaching 200 innings for second straight year. Is 0-1, 5.87 in two starts vs. Rays.

Key matchups

RAYS VS. QUINTANA

Yunel Escobar 2-for-6

Evan Longoria 0-for-2

Ben Zobrist 0-for-2

CHISOX VS. HELLICKSON

Paul Konerko 2-for-6

Alexei Ramirez 3-for-9

Moises Sierra 3-for-7 HR

On deck

Saturday: vs. White Sox, 7:10. Rays — RHP Chris Archer (9-8, 3.54);. White Sox — RH Hector Noesi (8-10, 4.77)

Sunday: vs. White Sox, 1:40. Rays — RHP Nathan Karns (1-0, 0.00); White Sox — LH John Danks (9-11, 4.88)

Monday: Off

Tuesday: at Red Sox, 7:10. Rays — RH Alex Cobb (9-8, 2.82); Red Sox — TBA

Wednesday: at Red Sox, 7:10. Rays — RH Jake Odorizzi (11-12, 3.98); Red Sox — TBA

Thursday: at Red Sox, 7:10. Rays — RH Jeremy Hellickson (1-3, 3.63); Red Sox — TBA

Next Friday: at Indians, 7:05. Rays — RH Chris Archer (9-8, 3.54); Indians — TBA

Sept. 27: at Indians, 6:05. Rays — RH Alex Colome (1-0, 1.65); Indians — TBA

Sept. 28: at Indians, 1:05. Rays — RH Alex Cobb (9-7, 2.75); Indians — TBA

Power outage

Besides trying to finish with at least a .500 record, the Rays have something else to battle for over their final nine games, avoiding finishing last in the AL in runs. Here, going into play Thursday, are the bottom five:

1. Red Sox 581

1. Yankees 581

3. Rays 587

4. Rangers 591

5. Astros 593

Farewell tour, part II

He doesn't have the luster or career accomplishments of Derek Jeter, but White Sox DH/1B Paul Konerko makes his final appearances vs. the Rays this weekend before ending his 18-year career that includes 2,338 hits and 439 home runs (59 and 10 at the Trop). "This guy has been one of the better clutch hitters I've seen, just one of the better hitters period," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

Hit show

Going back to Yankees manager Joe Girardi's criticism of Rays pitchers for hitting batters, here are the totals since Girardi took over in 2008:

Batters hit by Yankees: 404

Batters hit by Rays: 344

Rays hit by Yankees: 56

Yankees hit by Rays: 35