Tampa Bay Rays outfielder B.J. Upton likely out two games with ankle sprain

ST. PETERSBURG — CF B.J. Upton is likely to miss the next two games with a Grade A left ankle sprain suffered in a fifth-inning warning-track collision with LF Carl Crawford on Thursday.

"I don't think it's going to be extended,'' manager Joe Maddon said of Upton's absence.

Upton left the game and was examined by team orthopedic physician Koco Eaton. X-rays were negative. Upton was chasing a fly ball by Dustin Pedroia to left-center and leaped (bumping into Crawford) before landing awkwardly on the ankle.

"I think it was just, we were both calling it — it was kind of one of those in between balls," Upton said. "It was just something we haven't dealt with a lot of the time. I tried to move out of the way, and just came down funny on my ankle."

Crawford made the catch, then waved to the dugout for help, and head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield and Maddon raced out. Upton writhed in pain for several minutes before slowly walking off.

"The way he was writhing on the ground I was really concerned about that,'' Maddon said.

Upton, who walked with a crutch in the clubhouse, said he was scared at first.

"Definitely in a lot of pain — didn't know what was going on," Upton said. "Once it cooled off a little bit, I was able to get up and walk off myself, definitely made it feel a lot better."

Upton was replaced by Ben Zobrist, who moved from second. Akinori Iwamura, originally given the day off by Maddon due to soreness in his left ankle, replaced Zobrist at second.

Maddon said Iwamura first experienced soreness late in Wednesday's game, when he was replaced in the ninth after striking out in the eighth.

Iwamura has started in four of the six games since completing his rehab from left knee surgery, which sidelined him for three months.

Settling in: The long drive Wednesday night from Durham, N.C., might not have been much fun — or scenic — for RHP Wade Davis, but the Rays' top prospect was pumped to arrive at the Trop on Thursday, eyeing his first major-league start Sunday against the Tigers.

"I'm eager to get out there; I can't wait for it," Davis said.

Davis, the Rays' third-round pick in 2004, had a solid season at Triple A, going 10-8 with a 3.40 ERA.

Davis said he can draw from confidence-building moments in spring training, such as a dominating performance against the Yankees, when he struck out three in two innings, including Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. "I think it helped me realize (that they are the) same hitters but a little bit better, but I can get them out," Davis said.

ROSTER MOVES: With the recall of INF Reid Brignac, Maddon said it gives the Rays more middle-infield depth (especially with Monday's doubleheader in New York looming) and frees them from having to use Zobrist at shortstop.

Maddon said Brignac will start at short in one of Monday's games (allowing SS Jason Bartlett to DH).

The Rays also get to keep RHP Joe Nelson as he cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Durham.

Welcome back: Ex-Ray Rocco Baldelli hit his first home run at the Trop since May 3, 2007, a 441-foot blast off LHP David Price in the second.

MINOR MATTERS: The Class A Charlotte Stone Crabs clinched a playoff berth (via the wild-card spot) with a win Wednesday.

MISCELLANY: Maddon went to the bullpen 17 times in the series. … The Rays lost their first home series to Boston since Sept 21-23, 2007. 3B Evan Longoria's 27 RBIs against Boston this year rank fifth in major league history (since 1954) for most in one season vs the Sox. … Thursday's attendance of 20,823 made for a three-game series total of 57,663.