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Lend me a paddle
There has been some fairly serious ping-pong competition among the Rays, and 3B Evan Longoria — already pretty good — might have an even bigger edge now with new customized equipment from the Paddle You company. "It's supposed to be game-enhancing, so we'll see," Longoria said.
Text of the day
"Welcome to the Club"
RHP Alex Cobb's message to LHP Matt Moore after seeing on Twitter that he'd been hit by a line drive, as Cobb was last June.
A dog's life
Rays ace LHP David Price is obviously a pretty big star. But some days he's reduced to being the caretaker for his more famous dog, Astro. That was the case again last week, when MTV host and Instagram star Melanie Iglesias came to Port Charlotte's My Buddies Pet Care to tape a segment with Astro getting posh doggie-spa treatment. "It was all about Astro," Price said. "But we had a great time."
Put another dime in the jukebox?
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts — known for I Love Rock 'N' Roll and Bad Reputation —have been added to the Rays summer concert series, performing after the July 12 game vs. Toronto. The schedule to date:
Weezer June 7
The O'Jays June 21
Joan Jett/ Blackhearts July 12
Imagination Movers July 27
The Wiggles Sept. 7
Who is this Ray?
Born in Boston. Played QB and pitched in high school, and was committed to Clemson. Once struck out four batters in an inning.
The dish
Rays vs. Red Sox
When/where: 1:05 today; Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte
TV/radio: Sun Sports/mlb.com
Tickets: Reserved seats $19-29, berm/boardwalk $12. Available through raysbaseball.com and Ticketmaster, at Tropicana Field and Charlotte Sports Park box offices, Tampa team store.
Gates open: 11 a.m.
Directions: Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: I-75 south to Exit 179 (Toledo Blade Road), go west 6½ miles (crossing U.S. 41) to El Jobean Road (SR 776), go right 2 miles, complex is on the left.
Parking: $10, lots open at 10.
Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)
Pitchers: Rays — RH Jake Odorizzi, Joel Peralta, Jake McGee, Josh Lueke; Red Sox — RH Clay Buchholz, Edward Mujica, Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara
Heads-up
Odorizzi makes his first start since being named the No. 5 starter on Saturday.
On deck
Wednesday: vs. Orioles, 7:05. Rays — LH David Price; Orioles — RH Chris Tillman
Thursday: at Orioles (Sarasota), 7:05. Rays — RH Alex Cobb; Orioles — TBA
Friday: at Tigers (Lakeland), 1:05. Rays — TBA; Tigers — TBA
Saturday: at Double-A Montgomery (Ala.), 3:05. Rays — RH Chris Archer; Biscuits — TBA
Sunday: Off
Check out Lunchtime Live
Have a question for Rays manager Joe Maddon? Sign up for a Tampa Bay Times digital subscription and ask him Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in the first of our monthly live video chat series for digital subscribers, "Lunchtime Live with the Rays." Sign up at tampabay.com/lunchtimelive.
Who is this Ray: RHP Alex Cobb
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