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Tampa Bay Rays: First-round picks in an ugly trend; Matt Moore has chance to meet Matt Moore

 
Tampa Bay Times
Published Aug. 29, 2012

Rays at Rangers

When/where: 7:05 tonight; Rangers Ballpark, Arlington, Texas

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 970-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Probable pitchers

Rays: RH Alex Cobb (8-8, 4.32)

Rangers: LH Matt Harrison (15-7, 3.04)

On Cobb: Coming off 4-hit shutout of Oakland, and is 4-0, 3.03 in five August starts (including the one ugly one in Anaheim). Got no decision in only previous start vs. Texas, allowing 3 runs in 61/3 IP on May 31, 2011.

On Harrison: On a pretty good roll, with back-to-back starts of eight-plus innings and two or fewer hits. Got knocked around by Rays April 27 (14 hits), is 1-1, 3.79 in five games, plus a 2011 ALDS Game 4 clincher win.

Rays vs. Harrison

Desmond Jennings 3-for-6

Evan Longoria6-for-10, 2 HRs

Ben Zobrist 3-for-13

Rangers vs. Cobb

Elvis Andrus 1-for-3

Nelson Cruz 0-for-3

Josh Hamilton 0-for-2

All stats include postseason

On deck

Thursday: at Blue Jays, 7:07, Sun Sports. Rays — Matt Moore (10-7, 3.60); Jays — Carlos Villanueva (6-4, 3-30)

Friday: at Blue Jays, 7:07, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (8-9, 3.42); Jays — Brandon Morrow (7-5, 3.06)

Saturday: at Blue Jays, 1:07, no TV. Rays — Jeff Niemann (2-3, 3.38); Jays — Henderson Alvarez (7-11, 4.97)

Sunday: at Blue Jays, 1:07, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (16-5, 2.53); Jays — Ricky Romero (8-12, 5.50)

Rays disabled list

(with eligible-to-return date)

C Robinson Chirinos, concussion, 60-day, June 5

*OF Brandon Guyer, left shoulder surgery, 60-day, July 13

RHP Jeff Niemann, right leg fracture, 60-day, July 14

* out for season

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Number of the day

2 First-round draft picks suspended for drug issues this season; Josh Sale (2010) on Tuesday, Tim Beckham (2008) earlier.



AL East

Team W L Pct. GB

New York 75 54 .581—

Baltimore 71 57 .555 31/2

Tampa Bay 70 59 .543 5

Boston 62 67 .481 13*

Toronto 57 71 .445 171/2

AL race for wild cards

Team W L Pct. GB

Baltimore 71 57 .555—

Oakland 71 57 .555—

Tampa Bay 70 59 .543 11/2

Detroit 69 59 .539 2

Los Angeles 66 62 .516 5*

* Late game not included. Top two wild cards make postseason; GB is games behind second wild card

Introduction of the day

The Rays have a pitcher named Matt Moore and the Dolphins have a quarterback named Matt Moore. And if the stars — or at least the elevators — align, there is a chance they could meet today, as the Dolphins, who play the Cowboys tonight, are staying at the same Fort Worth hotel as the Rays. "Maybe I can run into him in the lobby," the pitching Moore said.

Coincidence of the day

A few months ago, the Rangers scheduled Tuesday as Japan America Friendship Night, with several hundred participants from the ongoing Japan-America Grassroots Summit, including a youth baseball team, participating. And, lo and behold, their high-profile Japanese pitcher, Yu Darvish, made the start.