Rays vs. Red Sox
When/where: 7:10 tonight; Tropicana Field
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM
Tickets: $21-300; available at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team Tampa store; $3 surcharge within five hours of game time.
Promotion: Rays tote bag
Probable pitchers
Rays: RH Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 2.08)
Red Sox: RH John Lackey (11-6, 3.66)
On Hellickson: Earned a no-decision in his only start in the majors this year by giving up one run over 41/3 innings July 8 against the Royals. Has made two starts in the minors since. Is 4-2 with a 4.21 ERA against Boston.
On Lackey: Has won back-to-back starts despite striking out just a combined six batters. Is 1-0 and has given up only two earned runs in two games against the Rays this year. Threw seven shutout innings at the Trop on May 23 but got a no-decision in a 1-0 Rays win.
Key matchups
Rays vs. Lackey
Desmond Jennings2-for-18
Evan Longoria13-for-37, 2 HRs
Ben Zobrist11-for-31
Red Sox vs. Hellickson
David Ortiz9-for-24, 3 HRs
Mike Napoli1-for-12
Dustin Pedroia6-for-31, HR
On deck
Sunday: vs. Red Sox, 1:40. Rays — RH Chris Archer (6-5, 3.31); Red Sox — RH Jake Peavy (1-9, 4.72)
Monday: vs. Brewers, 7:10. Rays — RH Jake Odorizzi (6-8, 3.97); Brewers — RH Kyle Loshe (11-4, 3.07)
Tuesday: vs Brewers, 7:10. Rays — RH Alex Cobb (6-6, 3.76); Brewers — RH Matt Garza (7-7, 3.87)
Matt Baker, Times staff writer
Team Gavin
New Port Richey's Gavin Lambert was a guest on the field before the game. Manager Joe Maddon met the 8-year-old at June's Sneaker Soiree, when he was honored for his courage in battling a rare neuromuscular disease. Maddon gave Lambert a Rays jersey.
Quote of the day I
"I think it's illegal inside the dome."
Manager Joe Maddon on if he expected fireworks between the Rays and Red Sox, who have a contentious history; he added it was purely coincidental that WWE wrestler Fandango threw out the ceremonial first pitch
Longest Rays winning streaks
Games Dates
12 June 9-22, 2004
8July 12-present
8 July 4-11, 2013
8 Sept. 19-27, 2012
8 Sept. 24, 2011-April 8, 2012