The dish
Rays vs. Red Sox
When/where: 7:10 tonight; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Probable pitchers:
Rays: RHP Matt Garza (5-2, 2.37)
Red Sox: RHP John Lackey (4-3, 5.07)
Tickets: $18-270, available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com
Watch for
To the Matt: Garza likes facing the Sox, and it shows in his 6-2, 2.92 career mark against them. Further, the Rays have won all six of his starts vs. Boston at the Trop, plus Game 7 of the '08 ALCS.
Nothing lacking: Lackey, the former Angel, typically has his way with the Rays but has gotten roughed up his past two starts. Overall he is 1-3, 3.77 in 13 starts.
Key matchups
Red Sox vs. Garza
Adrian Beltre5-for-13
David Ortiz3-for-22, 2 HRs
Dustin Pedroia7-for-37, 2 HRs
Rays vs. Lackey
Hank Blalock24-for-70, 2 HRs
Carl Crawford14-for-34, HR
B.J. Upton3-for-18, HR
On deck
Thursday: White Sox, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (4-0, 2.54); White Sox — Gavin Floyd (2-4, 6.31)
Friday: White Sox, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (7-1, 2.41); White Sox — Freddy Garcia (3-3, 5.68)
Saturday: White Sox, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (4-4, 4.01); White Sox — John Danks (4-3, 2.37)
Sunday: White Sox, 1:40, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (5-1, 3.08); White Sox — Jake Peavy (3-3, 5.74)
Pinch-hitter of the day
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio stopped by the Trop Tuesday to tape the next episode of her TV show The Mayor's Hour, then stepped into the batting cage to take a few swings off bullpen coach Bobby Ramos. "I think I'll just stick to my day job," said Iorio, who played softball as a kid but figured she hadn't swung a bat since college. "I told him I was really used to the 94 mph fastballs so he was pitching too slowly for me to really focus on my swing."
Fashion statement of the day
The Rays unveiled their first themed road trip of the season, with plans to have all players and staff wear hockey jerseys when they leave Sunday for Toronto. "We're going to Canada, it's Stanley Cup week," manager Joe Maddon said. There also will be another "white-out" trip to South Florida, and Maddon is trying to find a manufacturer to make team blazers, with the sunburst logo on the breast pocket, in a "tasty plaid."
Number of the day
16
Consecutive batters retired by James Shields, two shy of Matt Garza's team record.
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