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Tampa Bay Rays: Joe Maddon enjoys his new "man cave"; Rays sponsoring watch party for non-televised Thursday matinee

 
Tampa Bay Times
Published Sept. 12, 2012

Rays at Orioles

When/where: 7:05 tonight; Camden Yards, Baltimore

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

Probable pitchers

Rays: RH Alex Cobb (9-8, 4.28)

ORIOLES: RH Miguel Gonzalez (6-4, 3.62)

On Cobb: Hasn't lost since July 27, though with two not-pretty no-decisions. Beat Yanks in last start, working on seven days rest as Rays try to monitor workload. First start vs. O's.

On Gonzalez: Has had one bad start vs. Rays (7 ER, 2.2 IP) and one good one (0 ER, 7 IP). Impressive overall since his late May promotion from Triple A, 2-0, 1.93 in past two home starts.

Key matchups

RAYS VS. GONZALEZ

D. Jennings 1-for-5, HR

Ryan Roberts 1-for-3, HR

B.J. Upton 2-for-5

ORIOLES VS. COBB

Omar Quintanilla 1-for-3

On deck

Thursday: at Orioles, 12:35, no TV. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (8-10, 3.33); Orioles — Wei-Yin Chen (12-9, 4.06)

AL East

Team W L Pct. GB

New York 79 62 .560—

Baltimore79 62 .560—

Tampa Bay 77 64 .546 2

Toronto 64 76 .457 141/2

Boston 64 78 .451151/2 * Late game not included.

AL race for wild cards

Team W L Pct. GB

Oakland 80 60 .571—*

Balt./N.Y. 79 62 .560—

Tampa Bay 77 64 .546 2

Los Angeles 77 64 .546 2*

Detroit 74 67 .525 5

Top two wild cards make postseason; GB is games behind second wild card

Number of the day

15 Consecutive games vs. AL East opponents starting Tuesday.

A Sunday watch party

After Sunday's win, manager Joe Maddon went home and enjoyed one of the benefits of his new Tampa house (the one previously owned by original Bucs coach John McKay): A separate "man cave" structure with five TVs — a 60-inch in the center flanked by four 32-inch screens — and surround sound. "It was outstanding," he said.

A Thursday watch party

Watch Thursday's matinee (with the Orioles broadcast) at a team-sponsored watch party at Lykes Gaslight Square Park, 410 N Franklin St., Tampa. The event is a donation drive for the Junior League of Tampa's Love Bundles program, with fans asked to bring toiletries, bottles, pacifiers andchildren's clothing. Food and drinks are complimentary.