Rays vs. Astros
When/where: 7:10 tonight; Tropicana Field
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Tickets: $14-$210, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team Tampa store; $3 surcharge within five hours of game time.
Probable pitchers:
Rays: LH David Price (3-4, 4.18)
Astros: RH Jarred Cosart (MLB debut)
On Price: Dominant in two starts since returning from a seven-week stint on the DL (triceps strain): 2-0, 0.56 ERA, 16 innings, 11 hits, 15 strikeouts, no walks (and one three-ball count). Is 2-0, 3.75 against the Astros, including a win July 2.
On Cosart: Top prospect, acquired from Phillies in 2011 Hunter Pence trade, called up for first big-league start. Is 23, throws hard, from Houston area. Was 7-4, 3.29 ERA in 18 games at Triple A.
Key matchups
Rays vs. Cosart
None have faced
Astros vs. Price
Jose Altuve 0-for-3
Chris Carter 1-for-4
Jake Elmore 0-for-3
On deck
Saturday: vs. Astros, 4:10, Sun Sports. Rays — RH Roberto Hernandez (4-10, 4.93); Astros — LH Dallas Keuchel (4-5, 4.59)
Sunday: vs. Astros, 1:40, Sun Sports. Rays — RH Chris Archer (3-3, 3.59); Astros — LH Erik Bedard (3-5, 4.67)
Rays disabled list
• RHP Alex Cobb, concussion, 15-day, eligible July 1
• RHP Brandon Gomes, right lat strain, 15-day, eligible May 22
• RHP Jeff Niemann, shoulder surgery, 60-day, out for the season
• RHP Juan Carlos Oviedo, elbow surgery, 60-day, out until September
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Zo's secret weapon
Turns out Ben Zobrist had some special inspiration before his 13th-inning winning hit Wednesday: hugs from his kids and a kiss from wife Julianna. Zobrist came up the stairs from the dugout to check some video when he saw 4-year-old son Zion running through the hall that leads to the parking lot. Daughter Kruse and Julianna were close behind on their way out and stopped for an impromptu reunion. "I just gave them a big hug. And Jules came over, and we just said good night," Zobrist said. "And then I went down and ended up getting an at-bat and winning the game."
Related tweet of the day
"Was leaving with the kids in the 13th … saw Ben in the tunnel and he gave me a big kiss … then he got the game winning hit! #boom #itworked! — @thezobrists
Numbers of the day
12:13 Elapsed time from the last pitch Wednesday to the first pitch Thursday
39-22 Rays' record since May 8, best in the majors
1 Major-league pitcher, besides Matt Moore, with 13 wins (Tigers' Max Scherzer at 13-0)
