Tampa Bay Rays news and notes

Good memory of the day

Joe Maddon has reason to remember his first meeting with new Ray Hank Blalock. Maddon was a coach at the 2003 All-Star Game and was responsible for having Blalock ready to pinch-hit in a certain situation. With Eric Gagne on the mound in the eighth, Blalock delivered a two-run homer, above, to give the AL a 7-6 win.

Promo promo of the day

Bizofbaseball.com rated the Rays as having the best giveaways in the majors based on "pure originality" and singled out the May 30 Carlos Peña action figure toothbrush holder as the promo of the year.

The dish

Rays at Red Sox

When/where: 1:05, City of Palms Park, 2201 Edison Ave., Fort Myers

Tickets: Limited number remain, $10-46, available at stadium, via redsox.com, or by calling 1-888-733-7696 (RED-SOX6)

Webcast: raysbaseball.com (subscription required)

Rays information: 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Pitchers: Rays — David Price, Joaquin Benoit, Richard de los Santos, Heath Phillips, Dale Thayer, Grant Balfour; Sox — Jon Lester, Brian Shouse, Manny Delcarmen, Jonathan Papelbon

Heads-up

Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon can relax; Dan Johnson, who hit the homer off him in 2008, isn't making the trip.

On deck

Thursday: vs. Blue Jays, Port Charlotte, 1:05. Rays: Andy Sonnanstine; Jays: Shaun Marcum; at Pirates, Bradenton, 1:05. Rays: Wade Davis; Pirates: Kevin Hart.

Friday: vs. Phillies, Port Charlotte, 1:05: Rays: James Shields; Phillies: J.A. Happ.

Rays schedule

Tickets: Reserved seats $18-25, berm/boardwalk $8 Monday-Thursday/$10 Friday-Sunday available for all games but March 19 vs. Yankees. Available through raysbaseball.com and Ticketmaster, at Tropicana Field and Charlotte Sports Park box offices and Tampa team store.

MARCH

13: Marlins

14: at Tigers

16: Red Sox, 7:05

17: Twins

18: at Yankees, 7:05

19: Yankees, 7:05

20: Twins

21: at Twins (ss)

21: at Pirates (ss)

22: at Red Sox

23: at Phillies

24: Blue Jays

25: Twins

26: at Blue Jays

27: at Astros

28: Pirates

29: at Red Sox, 7:05

30: Red Sox

31: at Twins

April

1: Orioles

2: Mets at Tropicana Field, 6:10

Numbers game of the day

1B coach George Hendrick, right, started wearing No. 95 (with no name) Friday when his usual No. 25 jersey didn't make it to Tampa. The Rays have won five straight since and are thinking of making the switch permanent. "There's already a 95 with his name on it in his locker," manager Joe Maddon said. "With a high percentage good spring, he may have to jump to 95. It would be great for the fans to respond how they feel about this."

Number change of the day

With big-league veteran Hank Blalock getting No. 9, INF Elliot Johnson switched to No. 37.

Number of the day

155 Rays games, of 162 total, slated to be televised.

Follow the Rays

Most of the Rays' spring training games aren't on TV, so follow along as the Times' Marc Topkin and Joe Smith blog live from each game at rays.tampabay.com.