Rays concert series

The Tampa Bay Rays today announced seven of their eight musical performers for the Summer Concert Series, presented by Hess Express, at Tropicana Field this season.

The concerts will begin shortly after select Saturday home games conclude and are FREE with the purchase of that night’s game ticket. Tickets for these Marquee games start at only $13. The Summer Concert Series, scheduled to begin May 30 and conclude on September 5, is part of Rays Saturday Nights presented by Bright House Sports Network.

As part of its Saturday partnerships, Hess Express will have an exclusive in-store ticket offer, and Bright House will have an exclusive ticket offer available only to Bright House customers.

Full Season Ticket Holders who purchased all 81 games in the Home Plate Club, Whitney Bank Club, Fieldside Box, Lower Infield Box or Lower Box locations will receive wristbands for special on-field access during the concert series. Season ticket plans including all the Summer Concert Series games offer up to 35% savings and include postseason privileges.

For more information on season tickets or group sales, call 888-FAN-RAYS. Tickets for these games and all other Rays home games are available at the Tropicana Field Box Office, Rays Tampa Office & Pro Shop, via the Rays official website (raysbaseball.com or raysbeisbol.com), all Ticketmaster locations, and via Ticketmaster Phonecharge at (727) 898-7297 or (407) 839-3900.

The Summer Concert Series, presented by Hess Express, debuted with eight concerts in 2008 and was a rousing success on all fronts. The Rays went 8-0 on those dates and drew an average of more than 30,000 fans per game.

TBA – May 30 – Rays vs. Twins, 4:10 p.m.

Ludacris – June 13 – Rays vs. Nationals, 6:08 p.m.You can call Chris “Ludacris” Bridges a number of things: hip-hop superstar, actor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, restaurateur, pitchman, online visionary and columnist. All of these labels are accurate. The Grammy® Award-winning, Atlanta-based entertainment maven continues to expand his reach, and his musical prowess remains as potent as ever with singles such as “What Them Girls Like,” “Rollout,” “Money Maker,” “Stand Up,” “Southern Hospitality” and “Get Back.”

Pat Benatar – June 27 – Rays vs. Marlins, 7:08 p.m.
Four-time Grammy® Award-winning singer Pat Benatar is best known for hit songs such as “Love Is a Battlefield” and “Hit Me with Your Best Shot.” She has sold more than 12 million records, including two multi-platinum albums. She also has 19 Top-40 singles to her credit. Billboard magazine ranked her as the most successful female rock vocalist of all time.

Smash Mouth – July 11 – Rays vs. Athletics, 6:08 p.m.
With surf and garage influences, Smash Mouth found a hit in 1997 with the ’50s-influenced “Walkin’ on the Sun.” The group was formed in 1994 in San Jose, Calif., by vocalist Steve Harwell. It became a No. 1 modern rock hit and pushed the album into the Top 40. The follow-up album Astro Lounge was released in 1999, generating the hit “All Star.” The group also contributed numerous tracks to a plethora of motion pictures, most notably their cover of the Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” (from their eponymous release) to the soundtrack of 2001 hit movie Shrek. Many of these appeared on the August 2005 Smash Mouth hits collection All Star Smash Hits.


Daughtry – August 1 – Rays vs. Royals, 6:08 p.m.
Grammy®-nominated guitarist, singer and songwriter Daughtry was the fourth-place finalist on the fifth season of American Idol and has since landed a deal with RCA Records. His band’s self-titled debut album sold more than 1 million copies after only five weeks of release, becoming the fastest-selling debut record album in history. In its ninth week of release, the album reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts. Daughtry’s debut single “It's Not Over” soared to No. 1 on the Adult Top-40 chart, the Hot AC chart and the Billboard Top Singles chart. His follow-up singles “What About Now,” “Home,” and “Feels Like Tonight” also shot up the charts and remain top industry hits. His second album is set for release this summer.

B-52’s – August 15 – Rays vs. Blue Jays, 7:08 p.m.
The first of many acts to cement the college town of Athens, Ga., as a hotbed of alternative music, the B-52’s took their name from the Southern slang for the mile-high bouffant wigs sported by singers Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, a look emblematic of the band’s campy, thrift-store aesthetic. The five-piece group, which also included founding member Fred Schneider, the B-52’s are known for such hits as “Rock Lobster,” “Love Shack” and “Roam.” In 2008 the band returned with a new album for the first time in 16 years. Released by Astralwerks, Funplex was a slick, synthesizer-driven effort produced by Steve Osborne.

Big & Rich – August 22 – Rays vs. Rangers, 7:08 p.m.
Country music duo Big & Rich is comprised of singer-songwriters Big Kenny and John Rich. In 2004, they released their first studio album, Horse of a Different Color, which featured what has become their signature song, “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)”. This album also had three Top-40 singles, including “Wild West Show.” In 2005, they released Comin’ to Your City, which included the Top-5 single of the same name. Their 2007 album Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace peaked at No. 1 on the charts.

The Beach Boys – September 5 – Rays vs. Tigers, 7:08 p.m.
Beginning their career as the most popular surf band in the nation, The Beach Boys finally emerged by 1966 as America’s preeminent pop group, with hit singles such as “Surfin’ USA,” “Little Deuce Coupe” and the album “Pet Sounds.” The Beach Boys remain an iconic group to this day, with timeless hits like “Kokomo,” “Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.” According to Billboard, The Beach Boys are the No. 1 selling American band of all time. They have had 36 Top-40 hits, the most of any U.S. rock band.

Rays Summer Concert Series, presented by Hess Express
Scheduled to Appear:
Saturday, May 30 TBA vs. Twins 4:10 p.m.
Saturday, June 13 Ludacris vs. Nationals 6:08 p.m.
Saturday, June 27 Pat Benatar vs. Marlins 7:08 p.m.
Saturday, July 11 Smash Mouth vs. Athletics 6:08 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 1 Daughtry vs. Royals 6:08 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 15 B-52’s vs. Blue Jays 7:08 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 22 Big & Rich vs. Rangers 7:08 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 5 The Beach Boys vs. Tigers 7:08 p.m.

Two flights and a ring for Burrell

Pat Burrell took advantage of tonight's game in Boston to hop on over to Philadelphia to pick up his World Series ring.

The Rays DH, who played left field for the Phillies last season, delivered the seventh inning double off J.P. Howell that led to the winning run in the Phillies 4-3 series-clinching victory against the Rays in Game 5 of the World Series.

The Phillies received their rings before Wednesday afternoon's win against the Braves.

Burrell, who signed with the Rays in early January, took a private jet back to Boston and is in the lineup against the Rays tonight.

The Rays will receive their American League champion rings before Tuesday's home game against the Yankees.

No word of Jonny Gomes or Trever Miller will fly in for the honors.

Could see Cliff Floyd, who signed with the Padres in the offseason and is on the DL with a shoulder injury.

Hey Boston, need a roof?

The 2009 schedule was completed sometime last August, and at the time, no one envisioned the Rays would begin this season as the defending AL champs.

Well, no one outside of Tampa Bay maybe.

So that's why the Rays are in Boston this week for the first series of the season.

Would have been nice had MLB switched the opening series to Tampa Bay so the defending champs could open at home and raise the pennant on Opening Day.

Seems like a good idea now that today's game at Fenway Park was rained out.

It's raining here, too.

But the dome would ensure that there would be baseball today.

Why the Rays don't open at home every year against a northern team that plays outdoors is a mystery.

But when it comes to logic and Major League Baseball, there are many mysteries.

Hammel traded; Niemann fifth starter

The Rays traded Jason Hammel to the Rockies on Sunday for Double A pitching prospect Aneury Rodriguez, a moves that makes Jeff Niemann the fifth starter and Lance Cormier the long-man in the bullpen.

The trade was made after Hammel pitched in a Triple A game at the Rays spring training complex in Port Charlotte.

The 26-year-old Hammel was 4-4 with a 4.60 ERA in 40 appearances last season for the Rays. He started five games in April in place of Scott Kazmir, who was on the disabled list. Hammel became the long-man once Kazmir returned.

Niemann made two starts when Matt Garza was on the disabled list last April, splitting the two decisions.

The 6-foot-9 right-hander is thought to have more upside than Hammel, though his future with the Rays could be as a relief pitcher, perhaps even as the closer.

Niemann will hold on to the fifth spot until the Rays decide David Price is ready to rejoin the team. Price, who earned his first big league win and save in last October’s ALCS, will begin the year in Triple A.

The 21-year-old Rodriguez was to start the season in Double A for the Rockies. The hard-throwing right-hander was 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA last season at Class A. He had 139 strikeouts and 40 walks.

A Hammel trade?

insidetherockies.com is reporting the Rockies are close to acquiring Rays pitcher Jason Hammel in exchange for minor league pitcher Aneury Rodriguez, a 21-year-old who was 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA in Class A last season.

The Rockies are expected to put Hammel in the bullpen.

This is somewhat of a surprise since it is Jeff Niemann who has garnered the most trade talk during the last week of spring training.

But Niemann has more upside than Hammel. The Rays feel Hammel has reached his peak as a starter, which is why they were happy to leave him in the bullpen as the long man last season after Scott Kazmir returned from the disabled list.

Niemann made just two major league starts last season, splitting two decisions. He looked great in one, awful in the other.

But the Rays see Niemann as a possible closer.

Both Niemann and Hammel are scheduled to pitch Sunday in a Triple A game in Port Charlotte.

The Rays have until 3 p.m. to finalize the Opening Day roster.

Expect some movement either before 3 p.m. or soon after.

We'll keep you posted.

News and a game

Getting a late start here.

Lots going on here as the Rays prepare to break camp after today's game with the Twins.

A few players mentioned they hope they don't get tickets as the speed up I-75 later this afternoon. The Rays have the day off tomorrow then fly to Philly Friday morning for an exhibition game with the Phillies that night.

The news ...

Jason Isringhausen is heading to the disabled list so he can continue to build up strength in his right arm.

No decision on the fifth starer.

No decision on the final outfielder, but it looks like they're leaning toward Matt Joyce since they are scheduled to face four righties in the first six games.

Second baseman Adam Kennedy was optioned to Triple A Durham, but will travel to Philly for the games Friday and Saturday.

As for the game ...

The Rays are down 1-0 in the middle of the third. James Shields has allowed four hits. Aki Iwamura beat out and infield single in the first for the Rays lone hit.

Rays rally falls short

And that's your ball game.

Willy Aybar grounded out to second with runner's on the corner in the top of the ninth.

Your final from City of Palms Park: Red Sox 8, Rays 7.

Here's an interesting note: This was the 88th consecutive sell-out at this park.

Sonny goes seven, Red Sox rally in eighth

Andy Sonnanstine's day is over.

The right-hander was the first Rays pitcher to go seven innings this spring.

He allowed five runs on six hits, walked two and struck out two. Jason Varitek reached him for a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Rays lead to 7-5

Jon Weber hit a pinch-hit home run, a two-run shot in the sixth that gave the Rays a 7-2 lead.

Sonny turned a 7-5 lead over to Grant Balfour, who came on to pitch the eighth and quickly got into trouble.

A two-out, two-run double by one-time Ray Nick Green tied the score at 7-7. A single up the middle by Angel Chavez gave the Red Sox their first lead of the game.

Izzy, Sheff and a five-run lead

Joe Maddon arrived less than an hour before first pitch. He and pitching coach Jim Hickey were caught in traffic as they neared the ballpark.

Maddon said the Rays have talked with Jason Isringhausen this morning and discussed ways to keep the reliever on the roster. Click over to Rays Confidential for the skinny.

Maddon knew the Tigers released Gary Sheffield this morning, but wasn't aware Sheffield said he would like to continue his career in Tampa Bay. Maddon said he took that as a compliment.

Don't hold you're breath, Gary. You don't fit in with your hometown club.

As for the game,

Mike Joyce and Gabe Gross both hit two-run homers in the fourth inning off Clay Buchholz. It was the first homers of the year for both.

Joyce has done nothing but impress Maddon since joining the team less than two weeks ago. His calf issues are behind him. Right now, he looks better than both Gabes - Gross and Kapler.

Rays lead 5-0 with the Sox coming to bat in the bottom of the fourth.

Rays at Red Sox

It's 11:30 and Rays manager Joe Maddon and pitching coach Jim Hickey aren't here at City of Palms Park, fueling speculation that perhaps they decided on the fifth starter, the Rays are about to trade Jeff Niemann or they were trying to sort out the Jason Isringhausen situation.

The boys are expected at the park around noonish. Keep you posted, but don't expect any "stop the presses" news.

The Rays are making the last of three trips in five days to Fort Myers, including one Monday. The Red Sox have all their guns in the lineup. Other than the two Gabes and Ben Zobrist, the Rays didn't bring any regulars.

Here are the lineups
Rays
Ben Zobrist SS
Adam Kennedy 2B
Willy Aybar 3B
Matt Joyce CF
Shawn Riggans C
Gabe Gross RF
Chris Richard 1B
Ray Sadler DH
Andy Sonnanstine P

Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
David Ortiz DH
Kevin Youkilis 1B
J.D. Drew RF
Jason Bay LF
Mike Lowell 3B
Jed Lowrie SS
Jason Varitek C
Clay Buchholz P

Rays at Twins

Back at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, home to the Twins.

This is where James Shields was hammered Friday.

We'll see if Matt Garza can do better against his former team. You know, this is the first time he's every faced the Twins. OK, he's only been a Ray for one season, but still, it's spring training and we can use all the story lines we can get.

The Rays have the varsity going today. Expect some of the starts to play all nine innings.

Here are the lineups:

Rays
Akinori Iwamura 2B
Carl Crawford LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
Pat Burrell DH
Dioner Navarro C
Ben Zobrist RF
Gabe Kapler CF
Jason Bartlett SS
Matt Garza P

Twins
Denard Span CF
Alexi Casilla 2B
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Jason Kubel DH
Delmon Young LF
Joe Crede 3B
Jose Morales C
Nick Punto SS
Glen Perkins P

Rays win 11-2

The Rays win 11-2.

Manager Joe Maddon said Scott Kazmir looked his best this spring, especially his slider.

Jason Isringhausen pitched back-to-back for the first time this spring. Maddon said Izzy looked better today than Saturday.

This was the last time the Rays will play in Ed Smith Stadium.

The Reds head to Arizona next February, and Sarasota can't land another team.

And anyone that will move here is going to want a new stadium.

Goodbye, Ed Smith.

You weren't such a bad place.

Rock the Kazmir

Scott Kazmir's day is complete after Willy Aybar hit for the hot-hitting pitcher in the top of the seventh.

Not a bad day for the Rays lefty.

He went six innings - a spring-high for any Rays pitcher - allowed four hits, walked two, hit two batters and struck out five. The two runs came on Jay Bruce's home run.

Kaz was also 2-for-3 with a two-run double, an RBI single and a run scored.

The Rays lead 10-2.

Kaz at the bat, part two

Ben Zobrist has four RBIs in 43 at-bats this spring. Scott Kazmir has three in his last two at-bats today.

The Rays pitcher drove in another run with a soft single to center field in the fifth.

The Rays chased Bronson Arroyo, who allowed 14 hits and 10 runs (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings.

It's all Rays, 10-2.

Kaz at the bat

When Scott Kazmir hits an opposite field, two-run double over the left fielder's head, you know things are going well.

Things went well for the Rays in the top of the sixth, as they sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight times off Bronson Arroyo, who had allowed one hit through three innings. Seven of those eight runs were unearned.

Kaz said this morning he brought his left-handed bat. Guess he was right. Iut looked awfully like a B.J. Upton model.

Rays 8, Reds 2 after four.

Reds up 2-0

Just noticed that former Ray Jonny Gomes leads the Reds with four home runs and 12 RBIs. We always liked Jonny. Hope he does well this year.

Speaking of home runs, Jay Bruce just sent one over the right-center field fence with a runner one. Kaz doesn't allow many home runs to lefty. That was the Reds fourth hit of the game but the first to leave the yard.

It's 2-0 after three.

Play ball!

After a 56-minute rain delay, they are playing at Ed Smith.

The Reds loaded the bases off Scott Kazmir in the first inning on a leadoff single and a pair of walks, but Kaz got a strikeout and a fly ball to right to end the inning.

The sun is shinning. Sort of.

No score after one.

Who's on first ...

We're in a rain delay and they are playing Abbot and Costello's "Who's on First" routine over the PA. for those of you who can't hear it, here it is.

Oh, they just announced it will be a 2 p.m. start.

Abbott: Well Costello, I'm going to New York with you. You know Bucky Harris, the Yankee's manager, gave me a job as coach for as long as you're on the team.

Costello: Look Abbott, if you're the coach, you must know all the players.

Abbott: I certainly do.

Costello: Well you know I've never met the guys. So you'll have to tell me their names, and then I'll know who's playing on the team.

Abbott: Oh, I'll tell you their names, but you know it seems to me they give these ball players now-a-days very peculiar names.

Costello: You mean funny names?

Abbott: Strange names, pet names...like Dizzy Dean...

Costello: His brother Daffy.

Abbott: Daffy Dean...

Costello: And their French cousin.

Abbott: French?

Costello: Goofè.

Abbott: Goofè Dean. Well, let's see, we have on the bags, Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third...

Costello: That's what I want to find out.

Abbott: I say Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know's on third.

Costello: Are you the manager?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: You gonna be the coach too?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: And you don't know the fellows' names?

Abbott: Well I should.

Costello: Well then who's on first?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: I mean the fellow's name.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy on first.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The first baseman.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy playing...

Abbott: Who is on first!

Costello: I'm asking YOU who's on first.

Abbott: That's the man's name.

Costello: That's who's name?

Abbott: Yes.

Costello: Well go ahead and tell me.

Abbott: That's it.

Costello: That's who?

Abbott: Yes.

PAUSE

Costello: Look, you gotta first baseman?

Abbott: Certainly.

Costello: Who's playing first?

Abbott: That's right.

Costello: When you pay off the first baseman every month, who gets the money?

Abbott: Every dollar of it.

Costello: All I'm trying to find out is the fellow's name on first base.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy that gets...

Abbott: That's it.

Costello: Who gets the money...

Abbott: He does, every dollar. Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it.

Costello: Whose wife?

Abbott: Yes.

PAUSE

Abbott: What's wrong with that?

Costello: Look, all I wanna know is when you sign up the first baseman, how does he sign his name?

Abbott: Who.

Costello: The guy.

Abbott: Who.

Costello: How does he sign...

Abbott: That's how he signs it.

Costello: Who?

Abbott: Yes.

PAUSE

Costello: All I'm trying to find out is what's the guy's name on first base.

Abbott: No. What is on second base.

Costello: I'm not asking you who's on second.

Abbott: Who's on first.

Costello: One base at a time!

Abbott: Well, don't change the players around.

Costello: I'm not changing nobody!

Abbott: Take it easy, buddy.

Costello: I'm only asking you, who's the guy on first base?

Abbott: That's right.

Costello: Ok.

Abbott: All right.

PAUSE

Costello: What's the guy's name on first base?

Abbott: No. What is on second.

Costello: I'm not asking you who's on second.

Abbott: Who's on first.

Costello: I don't know.

Abbott: He's on third, we're not talking about him.

Costello: Now how did I get on third base?

Abbott: Why you mentioned his name.

Costello: If I mentioned the third baseman's name, who did I say is playing third?

Abbott: No. Who's playing first.

Costello: What's on first?

Abbott: What's on second.

Costello: I don't know.

Abbott: He's on third.

Costello: There I go, back on third again!

PAUSE

Costello: Would you just stay on third base and don't go off it.

Abbott: All right, what do you want to know?

Costello: Now who's playing third base?

Abbott: Why do you insist on putting Who on third base?

Costello: What am I putting on third.

Abbott: No. What is on second.

Costello: You don't want who on second?

Abbott: Who is on first.

Costello: I don't know.

Abbott & Costello Together:Third base!

PAUSE

Costello: Look, you gotta outfield?

Abbott: Sure.

Costello: The left fielder's name?

Abbott: Why.

Costello: I just thought I'd ask you.

Abbott: Well, I just thought I'd tell ya.

Costello: Then tell me who's playing left field.

Abbott: Who's playing first.

Costello: I'm not... stay out of the infield! I want to know what's the guy's name in left field?

Abbott: No, What is on second.

Costello: I'm not asking you who's on second.

Abbott: Who's on first!

Costello: I don't know.

Abbott & Costello Together: Third base!

PAUSE

Costello: The left fielder's name?

Abbott: Why.

Costello: Because!

Abbott: Oh, he's centerfield.

PAUSE

Costello: Look, You gotta pitcher on this team?

Abbott: Sure.

Costello: The pitcher's name?

Abbott: Tomorrow.

Costello: You don't want to tell me today?

Abbott: I'm telling you now.

Costello: Then go ahead.

Abbott: Tomorrow!

Costello: What time?

Abbott: What time what?

Costello: What time tomorrow are you gonna tell me who's pitching?

Abbott: Now listen. Who is not pitching.

Costello: I'll break your arm, you say who's on first! I want to know what's the pitcher's name?

Abbott: What's on second.

Costello: I don't know.

Abbott & Costello Together: Third base!

PAUSE

Costello: Gotta a catcher?

Abbott: Certainly.

Costello: The catcher's name?

Abbott: Today.

Costello: Today, and tomorrow's pitching.

Abbott: Now you've got it.

Costello: All we got is a couple of days on the team.

PAUSE

Costello: You know I'm a catcher too.

Abbott: So they tell me.

Costello: I get behind the plate to do some fancy catching, Tomorrow's pitching on my team and a heavy hitter gets up. Now the heavy hitter bunts the ball. When he bunts the ball, me, being a good catcher, I'm gonna throw the guy out at first base. So I pick up the ball and throw it to who?

Abbott: Now that's the first thing you've said right.

Costello: I don't even know what I'm talking about!

PAUSE

Abbott: That's all you have to do.

Costello: Is to throw the ball to first base.

Abbott: Yes!

Costello: Now who's got it?

Abbott: Naturally.

PAUSE

Costello: Look, if I throw the ball to first base, somebody's gotta get it. Now who has it?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Who?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Naturally?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: So I pick up the ball and I throw it to Naturally.

Abbott: No you don't, you throw the ball to Who.

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: That's different.

Costello: That's what I said.

Abbott: You're not saying it...

Costello: I throw the ball to Naturally.

Abbott: You throw it to Who.

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: That's it.

Costello: That's what I said!

Abbott: You ask me.

Costello: I throw the ball to who?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Now you ask me.

Abbott: You throw the ball to Who?

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: That's it.

Costello: Same as you! Same as YOU! I throw the ball to who. Whoever it is drops the ball and the guy runs to second. Who picks up the ball and throws it to What. What throws it to I Don't Know. I Don't Know throws it back to Tomorrow, Triple play. Another guy gets up and hits a long fly ball to Because. Why? I don't know! He's on third and I don't give a darn!

Abbott: What?

Costello: I said I don't give a darn!

Abbott: Oh, that's our shortstop.

Rays at Reds ... maybe

The last rain out at Ed Smith Stadium was March 16, 2007 against Toronto.

We mention this because it's not raining here at Ed Smith, but it might. They've delayed the start of this afternoon's game until 1:15 p.m. because another cell is headed this way.

Wait. It's here.

The tarp is on the field and it's raining.

Not as hard as it was earlier, but rain is rain.

Here are the lineups:

Rays
Adam Kennedy 2B
Gabe Kapler LF
Matt Joyce CF
Shawn Riggans C
Gabe Gross RF
Morgan Ensberg 3B
Chris Richard 1B
Ray Olmedo SS
Scott Kazmir P

Reds
Willy Taveras CF
Jerry Hairston Jr. SS
Joey Votto 1B
Brandon Phillips 2B
Jay Bruce RF
Adam Rosales 3B
Chris Dickerson LF
Ramon Hernandez C
Bronson Arroyo P

Reds at Rays

Rays and Rays in the first of a weekend home-and-home.

Today we're at Charlotte Sports Park.

Jason Hammel will attempt to state his case for the fifth spot in the rotation.

The Rays infield will play together for the first time this spring now that Akinori Iwamura is back from the WBC.

An interesting note from this morning: Pat Burrell took grounders at first base and could be used there during the season.

The Rays lineup could the same one they'll use in Boston on Opening Day since the Red Sox announced they will start righty Josh Beckett. So the switch-hitting Ben Zobrist, who is in center field today, could be in center field on April 6.

Here are the lineups
Reds
Willy Taveras CF
Jeff Keppinger SS
Joey Votto 1B
Brandon Phillips 2B
Jay Bruce RF
Edwin Encarnacion DH
Chris Dickerson LF
Ramon Hernandez C
Paul Janish 3B
Edinson Volquez P

Rays
(Note: the batting order may not be the same on Opening Day)
Akinori Iwamura 2B
Carl Crawford LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
Pat Burrell DH
Dioner Navarro C
Ben Zobrist CF
Gabe Gross RF
Jason Bartlett SS
Jason Hammel P

Rays at Tigers

Joker Marchant Stadium, one of the best stops in the Grapefruit League, winter home of the Detroit Tigers.

The Rays are here for a 6:05 p.m. start. This is their only trip to Lakeland this season. Too bad. I can make the ride to this jewel of a stadium at least once a week.

Matt Joyce is playing center field for the Rays. Rays manager Joe Maddon said Joyce still has a shot to make the Opening Day roster.

Adam Kennedy is playing left field in an effort to turn him into a Super U player that Maddon so loves.

Said hi to former Rays pitcher Edwin Jackson. He will be no lower than the Tigers third starter this season.

Here are the lineups ...

Rays
Adam Kennedy LF
Dioner Navarro C
Willy Aybar 2B
Carlos Pena 1B
Matt Joyce CF
Ben Zobrist SS
Gabe Gross RF
Morgan Ensberg 3B
Jon Weber DH
Andy Sonnanstine P

Tigers
Curtis Granderson CF
Placido Polanco 2B
Magglio Ordonez RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Carlos Guillen LF
Gary Sheffield DH
Gerald Laird C
Brandon Inge 3B
Ramon Santiago SS
Rick Porcello P

Pirates at Rays

The fifth and final meeting this spring between the Pirates and the Rays gets underway at 7:05 p.m. at Charlotte Sports Park.

The Rays hold the edge 2-1-1.

The Rays are in the process of cutting players. Speculation is David Price will be sent down to Triple A so he can prepare for his season. We'll keep you posted.

Here are the lineups:

Pirates
Andrew McCutchen CF
Jack Wilson SS
Ramon Vazquez 3B
Adam LaRoche 1B
Craig Monroe LF
Brandon Moss RF
Steve Pearce DH
Robinzon Diaz C
Luis Cruz 2B
Jeff Karstens P

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Pat Burrell DH
Willy Aybar 1B
Ben Zobrist CF
Gabe Gross RF
Shawn Riggans C
Adam Kennedy 2B
Jeff Niemann P

Rays use DH in NL park

The Rays caught a break today when the Pirates said they could use a DH despite playing at McKechnie Field, a National League park.

This allows Matt Joyce, who has missed most of spring training with a calf injury to get four much-needed at-bats.

Of course, if those ugly, gray clouds blowing in from the south-east open up, no one will get any at-bats today.

Here are the lineups:

Rays
Gabe Kapler CF
Dioner Navarro C
Willy Aybar 2B
Carlos Pena 1B
Pat Burrell LF
Matt Joyce DH
Justin Ruggiano RF
Reid Brignac SS
Adam Kennedy 3B
Jason Hammel P

Pirates
Nyjer Morgan LF
Andrew McCutchen CF
Ramon Vazquez 2B
Adam LaRoche 1B
Eric Hinske 3B
Brandon Moss RF
Jack Wilson SS
Jason Jaramillo C
Zach Duke P

Percy perfect no more

Proving that he's not perfect, Troy Percival finally allowed a base runner this spring. And that runner was Melky Cabrera, who took his base after getting plunked in the foot by Percival in the top of the sixth inning.

Percy had retired 10 in a row this spring after he got Brett Garnder to ground to second to start the inning.

Melky was the next batter.

Percy did retire the final two Yankees, so he still has his spring training-long no-hitter going, which is nice.

The Rays lead 3-0 on an RBI single by Pat Burrell in the third and a pair of bases-loaded walks in the fourth.

David Price went four innings. He allowed three hits and struck out four.

Perez update

Just talked to Rays VP of baseball, Andrew Friedman.

He said outfielder Fernando Perez had pins placed in the underside of his left wrist Saturday, the one he dislocated March 10 while diving to catch a sinking line drive.

Perez had his wrist scoped so doctors could determine if there was more damage than what was revealed during his MRI. apparently, there was.

“Had we not caught this, it’s something that could have ended up being a bigger problem," Friedman said. "The doctor is confident that the wrist is going to heal well now that we’ve done this, and that it won’t be a lingering problem for him.”

Friedman said the pins will push Perez's recovery back from two to three months, as originally thought, to four to five.

Mr. October in the house

The Yankee regulars didn't make the trip, but Reggie Jackson did.

Must be a big game.

The hall of fame slugger is sitting in the Yankees dugout watching some guy wearing No. 91 keep the Rays varsity in check.

It's 0-0 after two innings.

Bombers vs Champs

I've been covering spring training baseball since 1993 and I don't ever remember seeing a raccoon running through a stadium, let alone a stadium that is filled.

But Charlotte Sports Park here in Port Charlotte is built near a wildlife preserve, so there are all kinds of critters living just beyond the parking lot.

A raccoon made it into the park after batting practice, and animial control need more than a few miniutes to trap the furry guest, which darted through the seats between the two dugouts.

That's the fourth raccoon to find its way inside the park this season. Three have entered while the gates were open. A fourth entered just before the gates opened and caused fans to wait outside until he or she was trapped.

Anyway ...

The game.

The Yankees make their only trip to Charlotte Sports Park this spring. At least they are the Yankees in spirit. Not too many of the varsity caught the bus south for this tilt.

Here are the lineups:

Yankees
Bret Gardner CF
Melky Cabrera LF
Xavier Nady RF
Nick Swisher 1B
Robinson Cano DH
Cody Ransom 2B
Angel Berroa 3B
Ramiro Pena SS
Kevin Cash C
Alfredo Aceves P

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Willy Aybar 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
Pat Burrell DH
Dioner Navarro C
Ben Zobrist CF
Gabe Gross RF
Adam Kennedy 2B
David Price P

Rained out in Fort Lauderdale

Players live for the day a spring training game is rained out. Some work in the batting cage, a trip around the weight room, maybe, and the rest of the day off.

The Rays had such a day Saturday.

Only it wasn't the type of rain out they longed for.

The team bused three hours to Fort Lauderdale and watched as heavy rain turned the field into a series of puddles and flooded the dugout.

Their game with the Orioles was washed out.

Back on the bus for the three-hour trip home.

The lesson: be careful what you wish for.

Tough day for Niemann

Not a good day for Rays pitching.

Matt Garza said he was fighting himself a little bit.

Jeff Niemann couldn't locate his fastball.

The Blue Jays scored 13 runs off the two - nine off Niemann - for a 15-4 win in front of 5,742, the largest crowd to see a game at Dunedin Stadium since it was refurbished in 2002.

Niemann, who came on with two out in the fifth, only got two outs. He allowed seven hits and walked three.

Manager Joe Maddon said before the game he is getting closer to naming his fifth starter and praised Jason Hammel for the way Hammel righted himself after two shaky innings Wednesday to finish with two solid innings in his four-inning outing.

That's what Maddon wants to see in his fifth starter: the ability to work himself out of problems and make adjustments in game.

Niemann couldn't do that against the Jays.

"I picked the worst time to have my worst game." Niemann said., who entered the game with a 0.82 ERA and left with an ERA of 7.71.

Jays score 5 in fifth to take lead

Matt Garza pitched into the fifth inning, but couldn't get the last out.

Jeff Niemann came on and allowed a pair of two-run doubles as the Jays erased a 4-1 deficit and lead 6-4.

Millar just missed a grand slam by a couple of feet as his line drive to left field hit near the top of the chain-link fence that rises above the wall.

Jason Lane followed with a grand rule double that bounced over the wall in left-center.

Niemann could have been out of the inning had Dioner Navarro caught a foul pop by Lane in front of the Rays dugout. It appeared as if Navarro thought he was being called off, as well he should since the wind was blowing the ball back toward the field.

Garza wasn't his sharpest. He allowed six hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four.

CC goes deep

Carl Crawford hit his first homer of the spring, a two-run shot to right field, in the first inning off Toronto lefty Brad Mills.

Crawford pulled a single through the right side in his second at-bat, giving him two hits off a left-hander. Not bad for a guy who batted .240 vs. lefties last season.

It's 3-1 Rays after three.

Rays at Jays

I have, over the years, grown to like this ballpark in Dunedin, which is now called Dunedin Stadium.

Where do they get these names?

They spruced up the place in 2002. It's cozy. The pretzels are usually great and they serve decent pizza. Not as good as the pizza at McKechnie Field in Bradenton. Nothing is as good as that 'za, but pretty darn close.

The best part about this ballpark was the guy who sold baseball cards and other baseball trinkets under the third base stands.

You could buy just about anybody's rookie card that as worth buying, and he always had some neat stuff on the old ball players.

I'm not much into rookie cards. In fact, I'm not into them at all.

But he had some cool Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth cards. Not real cards, but replicas he managed to put together in three-piece sets.

He also had this miniature jerseys of Ken Griffey Jr., and Babe Ruth and Derrick Jeter. Those I really like.

I spend a small fortune each spring buying odds and ends sold at the other ballparks.

I bought an old St. Pete Cardinals hat at Al Lang Field in 1999. Seemed one of the Rays workers stumbled upon a box of them in a corner of the old stadium.

Bought a book on Bob Feller in Winter Haven for 10 bucks and later found it was autographed by the man himself.

Anyway ...

The baseball card guy is not at Dunedin Stadium this spring. Probably retired on all the stuff I bought over the years.

Here are the lineups ...

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Gape Kapler CF
Carlos Pena DH
Dioner Navarro C
Chris Richard 1B
Morgan Ensberg 3B
Ray Sadler RF
Adam Kennedy 2B
Matt Garza P

Blue Jays
Russ Adams LF
Jose Bautista SS
Alex Rios RF
Vernon Wells DH
Kevin Millar 1B
Jason Lane CF
Rod Barajas C
Brad Emaus 2B
Kevin Ahrens 3B
Brad Mills P

Cards hang on

The Rays had something going in the eight when they scored three times and had runners at first and second and two out. That's when Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa called for Joe Motte, the kid competing with Bradenton-product Jason Motte for the job as Cardinal closer.

The animated right-hander blew away Ray Olmedo to end the threat and stopped the Rays in the ninth as the Cardinals hung on for a 9-7 victory in front of 6,969 at Charlotte Sports Park.

It was the fifth sell-out of the season, though many in the house proudly wore their Cardinal red.

Cards up 7-4 in 7th

The Cardinals lead 7-4 as they bat in the top of the seventh.

Scott Kazmir pitched four innings. He allowed eight hits, five runs (four earned). He walked one, hit another batter ands struck out two.

Kaz said he was fighting the stomach bug that is making the rounds of the Rays clubhouse.

Pat Burrell hit a two-run bomb for the Rays.

Ludwick takes Kaz deep

The Cardinals reached Scott Kazmir for three runs in the top of the first inning, though the defense didn't exactly help.

A throwing error by Reid Brignac allowed leadoff hitter Brendan Ryan to reach third.

Kaz walked Rick Ankiel.

Ryan Ludwick, who trained here when he was with the Rangers, launched one to the boardwalk in left field to give the Cards a 3-0 lead.

Cardinals at Rays

The Cardinals made the long trip across the state for their first-ever appearance at Charlotte Sports Park.

We're wondering when the last time the Cards played in Port Charlotte. No one seems to know. Since they trained in St. Pete before giving way to the Rays and heading to Jupiter in 1998, you would figure they made the ride south to play the Rangers, but darned if we can't find anyone who can remember or any record of the Cards playing at old Charlotte County Stadium.

If I find the answer to this important question I will blog it immediately.

Anyway, here are the lineups:

Cardinals
Ryan Brendan 2B
Rick Ankiel CF
Ryan Ludwick RF
David Freese DH
Yadier Molina C
Allen Craig 1B
Joe Mather LF
Brian Barden 3B
Tyler Greene SS
Joel Pineiro P

Rays
Justin Ruggiano LF
Adam Kennedy 2B
Evan Longoria 3B
Pat Burrell DH
Gabe Gross RF
Ben Zobrist CF
Chris Richard 1B
Shawn Riggans C
Reid Brignac SS
Scott Kazmir P

Brignac's blasts Rays to lead

Reid Brignac's three-run, pinch-hit homer capped a seven-run fifth for the Rays, who are now out in front 7-3.

Dioner Navarro had a two-run single.

Navie didn't start. He repalced Michel Hernandez in the fourth inning. This way, Navie gets to catch the relievers, something he wouldn't do at this point of the spring had he started.

Troy Percival had another 1-2-3 outing. that's nine-up, nine-down this spring for the Rays closer.

And rain clouds are approaching the stadium from what I beleive is the south.

Reds run to 3-0 lead

Edwin Encarnacion, whose name sounds like poetry when pronounced by Jon Miller on those ESPN Sunday night games, homered off Jason Hammel in the top of the second.

A sac fly by Ryan Hanigan upped the Reds lead to 3-0.

The Reds are running like crazy on Michel Hernandez, stealing three bases in the first two innings.

Dusty is playing this one like Game 1 of the World Series.

No Longo

Evan Longoria was scratched from the lineup and sent home with a stomach virus that's been going around the Rays clubhouse.

Morgan Ensberg is at third in place of Longoria.

No word yet on whether Longo will leave the Rays and join Team USA for the semifinal round of the WBC. Chipper Jones is hurt and Team USA needs another third baseman. Longo said he would go if asked.

Jason Hammel, who figures to be the Rays fifth starter, walked a batter and allowed a hit in the top of the first that led to a Reds run.

The Reds lead 1-0 as we head to the bottom of the first.

Reds vs. Rays

Getting a late start today. I was shooting video on Charlotte Sports Park for the Bradenton Herald web site.

Now, it hasn't been edited, but the Oscar talk has already started.

The Reds and Jonny Gomes are in Port Charlotte today.

It's cloudy and breezy.

Here are the lineups:

Reds
Willy Tavers CF
Chris Dickerson LF
Joey Votto 1B
Brandon Phillips 2B
Jay Bruce RF
Edwin Encarnacion 3B
Jacque Jones DH
Jeff Keppinger SS
Ryan Hanigan C
Edinson Volquez P

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Willy Aybar 2B
Carlos Pena 1B
Pat Burrell DH
Gabe Gross RF
Gabe Kapler CF
Morgan Ensberg 3B
Michel Hernandez C
Jason Hammel P

Rays at Pirates

We're under the lights at historic McKechnie Field, one of the best spring training stadiums in Florida.

The Rays optioned Wade Davis to Triple A Durham this afternoon, which is no surprise. He is not their immediate future and they need innings for the pitchers who will make or are still competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Davis will get all the work he needs in minor league camp.

Here are the lineups:

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Gabe Kapler RF
Evan Longoria 3B
Pat Burrell DH
Willy Aybar 1B
Ben Zobrist LF
Dioner Navarro C
Justin Ruggiano CF
Ray Olmedo 2B
Andy Sonnanstine P

Pirates
Nyjer Morgan LF
Freddy Sanchez 2B
Nate McLouth CF
Ryan Doumit C
Adam LaRoche 1B
Jose Tabata LF
Craig Monroe DH
Andy LaRoche 3B
Jack Wilson SS
Paul Maholm P

Rays lose 7-7

Reliver Joe Nelson continues to give up the long ball, and it was tough to a ball any longer than the two home runs he allowed in the ninth inning Sunday.

With two outs and the Rays up 7-3, Pedro Alvarez launched a three-run bomb that hit halfway up the batter’s eye in center field, some 414 feet from home plate.

Garrett Jones followed with a long home run that landed on the awning that hangs from the second story of the Rays offices that sit in the behind the right field boardwalk and tied the score at 7-7.

That's the way it ended after 11 innings.

Brignac blast starts Rays rally

A solo homer by Reid Brignac in the seventh inning and a single to left field by Elliot Johnson with one out in the eight gives the Rays a 4-3 lead.

Johnson steals second and continues to third on a wild pitch. He comes home on an infield single to third by pinch-hitter Willy Aybar to give the Rays a 5-3 lead.

Two more runs score on a triple, oops, a double by Tim Beckham. the top pick in last year's draft blooped a ball down the right field line and was well on his way to third when he fell face-first after rounding second.

Beckham made it back to second as laughter swept through the Rays dugout.

It's 7-3 heading into the ninth.

Wheeler gives up lead

Andy LaRoche homored off Dan Wheeler with one out in the seventh to tie the score at 2-2.

Brian Bixler, the next hitter, triple to center field.

Wheeler hit Luis Cruz to put runners on first and third with one out.

Cruz helped break up a double play with a slide into second after Jason Jaramillo grounded to second. Bixler scored to move the Pirates ahead 3-2.

Izzy works an inning

Jason Isrignhausen made his Rays debut, entering the game in the seventh inning.

Pirate leadoff hitter Andrew McCutchen promptly welcomed Izzy to Grapefruit League action with a triple over the head of Gabe Kapler in center field. McCutchen scored on a sac fly when Jose Tabata lined sharply to left field.

Izzy got Adam LaRoche to bounce out to first - 3-1 if you're scoring at home - and got Craig Monroe swinging to end the inning.

That's all for Izzy, who is trying to make it back to the major leagues after his 2008 season with the Cardinals was cut short by arm injuries.

Way to go, Mo

Troy Percival made his second appearance of the spring, and retired the Pirates in order in the fifth.

One of those outs was a foul pop along the third base line that Morgan Ensberg caught.

That drew a loud response from the fans at Charlotte Sports Park, because Ensberg dropped a pop up on the infield grass after calling off Reid Brignac an inning earlier.

Ensberg, being the good sport that he, waved his hat, which only made the applause grow louder. So, Ensberg pumped his fists.

The crowd loved it.

The Rays fans in the house today are loving this: It's still 2-0 after five.

Rays 2-0 after 3

The Rays strike first.

Singles from Shawn Riggans, Adam Kennedy and Justin Ruggiano off Tom Gorzelanny in the bottom of the third loaded the bases for Carl Crawford.

C.C. forced Ruggiano at second while Riggans scored the first run of the game.

Crawford stole second with Gape Kapler at the plate, but the move to scoring position didn't pay off. Jose Tabata threw CC out at the plate on Kapler's hard-hit single to left field.

Kennedy scored easily on Kapler's bingle, and that's where we stand heading into the fourth: Rays 2, Pirates 0.

Matt Garza has allowed three hits in his first three innings.

Pirates at Rays

Today is the first of a home-and-home between the Pirates and the Rays. This one is at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte.

Monday night, the two teams meet at historic McKechnie Field in Bradenton.

You may not have noticed, but the Pirates are just 1.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the Grapefruit League standings.

Yeah, well ... here are the lineups:

Pirates
Andrew McCutchen CF
Jose Tabata LF
Adam LaRoche DH
Craig Monroe RF
Steve Pearce 1B
Andy LaRoche 3B
Brian Bixler SS
Luis Cruz 2B
Jason Jaramillo C
Tom Gorzelanny P

Rays
Justin Ruggiano RF
Carl Crawford LF
Gabe Kapler CF
Carlos Pena 1B
Pat Burrell DH
Morgan Ensberg 3B
Reid Brignac SS
Shawn Riggans C
Adam Kennedy 2B
Matt Garza P

Hit Show

Back-to-back doubles by Carlos Pena and Pat Burrell in the top of the first inning give the Rays a 2-0 lead.

Carl Crawford, who had singled and stole second, scored on Pena's double down the right field line. Pena came home on Burrell's two-bagger.

The Rays might have added more runs but Even Longoria's smash was caught by a leaping Jeff Keppinger at shortstop and turned into a double play when Jason Bartlett was caught off second. Bartlett reached when he was hit by a pitch.

Not a bad first inning for the meat of the Rays order. Longo, Pena and Burrell produced two doubles, two RBIs and scored a run.

The Rays lead 2-0 after one.

Rays at Reds

Scott Kazmir carried two bats into the visitor's locker room Saturday at Ed Smith Stadium, which is one of the worst spring trainig stadiums anywhere on earth.

You can see why the Reds want to leave Sarasota, and why no one wants to follow them to this dump. It's as unappealing a stadium as you can find. A cookie cutter that is too bright which always makes it feel like it's 20 degrees hotter than it really is.

Anyway ...

Kazmir is pitching today and, unlike the other National League parks the Rays have visited up to this point, he will hit, because REds manager Dusty Baker doesn't want to use a DH.

Whatever.

Kaz is excited. He even took batting practice.

Here are the lineups:
Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl crawford LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
Pat Burrell RF
Willy Aybar 2B
Dioner Navarro C
Ben Zobrist CF
Scott Kazmir P

Reds
Willy Taveras CF
Jeff Keppinger SS
Laynce Nix RF
Daryle Ward 1B
Juan Francisco 3B
Craig Tatum C
Norris Hopper LF
Paul Janish 2B
Bronson Arroyo P

Jays down Rays, 3-1

The Rays managed eight hits against three Jays pitchers and lost 3-1 at Dunedin Stadium.

I blogged earlier that it was the largest crowd I'd ever seen at the park and I was right. The game attracted 5,691 fans, the largest crowd to see a game since the stadium was refurbished and the seating capacity lowered in 2002.

These Rays are drawing well on the road, especially in the Tampa Bay area. That will be tested Saturday when they face the Reds in Sarasota, though that's not considered the Tampa Bay area.

Rays manager Joe Maddon was pleased with the pitching Friday.

Carlos Hernandez rebounded well after walking two and giving up three straight hits to start the fourth inning. One of those hits was a two-run double by Brad Emaus.

Brian Shouse gave up another hit, but threw another scoreless inning.

Jason Hammel rebounded nicely after giving up four runs and two home runs to the Red Sox in his last outing. He threw three shutout innings against the Jays and allowed just two singles.

Jays reach Hernandez for some runs

They haven't announced the attendance yet, but this is certainly the largest crowd I've ever seen at this ballpark. The place is packed. Rays fans everywhere, which I guess is what happens when you don't train in your hometown.

Anyway ...

The Rays trail 3-1 after six.

Carlos Hernadez allowed four hits, three walks and three runs in his four innings. Those were the first earned runs he's allowed all spring and they came in the third inning.

The left-hander, competing for the final spot in the rotation, righted himself with a 1-2-3 fourth.

Rays at Jays

Learned something today. Knology Park in Dunedin is now "Dunedin Stadium."

That's important, because this is where the Rays are today to face the Blue Jays.

Doesn't it seem like the Rays are always playing the Blue Jays?

Anyway, the morning cloud have given away to a brilliant blue sky and Mr. Sun seems dialed up a few notches today. I think he is ahead of both the pitchers and the hitters.

OK, enough of that. The Rays didn't exactly bring the "A" team to Dunedin Stadium today. They will Saturday when they play the Reds in Sarasota.

Here are the lineups
Elliot Johnson CF
Justin Ruggiano LF
Ben Zobrist RF
Morgan Ensberg DH
Chris Richard 1B
Shawn Riggans C
Reid Brignac 2B
Ray Olmedo SS
Adam Kennedy 3B
Carlos Hernandez P

Jays
Joe Inglett LF
Brad Emaus 2B
Adam Lind DH
Kevin Millar 1B
Scott Rolen 3B
Jason Lane CF
Travis Snider RF
John McDonald SS
Michael Barrett C
Brett Cecil P

Phillies at Rays

The Hooters Calender girls are on hand to throw out the first pitches here at Charlotte Sports Park before today's game with the visiting Phillies. Actually, just Nikki threw out the first pitch.

Apparently, the ladies will be signing their calenders at the Port Charlotte Hooters tonight.

If that news isn't big enough there is this: Troy Percival will pitch his first inning of the spring.

Here are the lineups:
Phillies
Miguel Cairo 2B
Jason Ellison CF
Raul Ibanez LF
Ryan Howard 1B
Geoff Jenkins DH
Greg Dobbs 3B
John Mayberry RF
Jason Donald SS
Ronny Paulino C
Jamie Moyer P

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
Pat Burrell DH
Gabe Kapler CF
Dioner Navarro C
Gabe Gross RF
Adam Kennedy 2B
James Shields P

Price: Two inning, two walks, three Ks

Davis Price got through his second inning.

He walked the lead off batter in the eighth for the second straight inning, but erased him when he started a 1-6-3 double play.

He fanned the last batter to end his day.

His line: two innings, two walks, three Ks.

'The Future' takes the mound

Rookie David Price, known around the Rays clubhouse as "The Future," just finished his first inning of work.

Price entered in the seventh inning against the Jays, the left-hander walked the first batter he faced on four pitches and missed the strike zone on the first two pitches to the next hiiter.

After that it was strikeout swinging.

Fly ball to shallow center.

Strikeout swinging.

The Rays lead 10-4, thanks to a five-run fifth that featured a grand slam by Pat Burrell.

Make that 11-4. Ray Sadler just went boardwalk. Not sure if the ball cleared the boardwalk in left field and landed in the lake, but take my word, it was a blast.

Price returns to the mound to start the eighth.

Houser among Rays first cuts

The Rays sent eight players to the minor league side of camp before Tuesday’s game.

The most notable cut was pitcher James Houser, the left-hander from Sarasota who was taken in the second round of the 2003 draft. Houser was optioned to Triple A Durham.
The others were catchers Craig Albernez and Nevin Ashley, and pitchers Jason Cromer, Neal Frontz, Calvin Medlock and Chad Orvella.

Orvella will continue his rehab from the shoulder surgery that cost him the 2008 season.

Longo, Pena and Burrell bat in first

The Rays big guns came to bat in the bottom of the first inning, starting with Evan Longoria, who came to the plate with Reid Brignac on second and a run already in.

Here is how it went ...

Longoria draws a walk. Brignac advanced to third on a wild pitch during the at-bat.

Carlos Pena bounces into a 4-6-3 double play that scores Brignac from second.

Pat Burrell draws a walk.

Rays trail 3-2 after 1.

Perez injures wrist

Fernando Perez injured his left wrist in the top of the first inning and immediately headed to the trainer's room.

The center fielder's wrist got caught under him as he dived for a bloop pop-up to shallow center field by Travis Snider. Perez didn't come up with the catch, and Snider had a two-run double.

It was a tough first inning Perez.

He had dropped a ball in deep center field while trying to catch a long drive from Russ Adams. Perez tried to make an over-the-shoulder catch, but couldn't hold on.

Perez was replaced by Jon Weber.

Jays at Rays

The big guns are stacked in the middle of the Rays order today for the first time this spring.

Evan Longoria is batting third. Carlos Pena is batting fourth and Pat Burrell is batting fifth.

"We're going to take it for a drive around the block and see how it rides," Pena said.

Maddon said we'll see more of that grouping during the rest of the spring and probably at the start of the regular season.

Matrt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine and David Price are schduled to make their spring debuts today.

The Rays made some cuts before the game. The most noteable is pitcher James Houser, the Sarasota native who was a second-round pick in 2003.

Here are the lineups:

Blue Jays
Joe Inglett 2B
Russ Adams LF
Travis Snider RF
Scott Rolen 3B
Brian Dopirak 1B
Buck Coats CF
Kevin Melillo DH
Curtis Thigpen C
Angel Sanchez SS
Matt Clement P

Rays
Fernando Perez CF
Reid Brignac SS
Evan Longoria 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
Pat Burrell DH
Dioner Navarro C
Gabe Gross RF
Justin Ruggiano LF
Ray Olmedo 2B
Matt Garza P

Twins edge Rays

Delmon Young hit a two-run homer off Joe Nelson in the fifth for what proved to be the winning run in the Twins 4-3 victory.

Nelson was making his Rays debut.

Elliot Johnson hit his third home run of the spring, a solo shot in the ninth to bring the Rays to within one.

Scott Kazmir, who allowed a run on three hits in two innings, said he felt fine. He needed 24 pitches to get through the second inning, but he said that was because he was working on some things. That's what they all say.

The good news for Kazmir was he threw four sliders and thought they all had late movement, something he couldn't do with the pitch last season.

Ben Zobrist had a double and a triple off Twins starter Kevin Slowey. Pat Burrell, back after spending four days in San Francisco for his sister's wedding, doubled in three at-bats.

The Rays are back at it Tuesday against the visiting Blue Jays.

Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine and David Price are scheduled to make their spring debuts for the Rays.

Kaz allows a run in two innings

Scott Kazmir allowed a run in two innings in his spring debut.

He would have allowed more than one run had Gabe Kapler not robbed Delmon Young (Remember him?) with a nifty catch in deep center field.

Kapler was playing shallow and ran a long way to catch up to the drive. Remember, center field at Charlotte Sports Park is 414 feet.

Back to Kazmir.

Kaz allowed three hits and walked a batter. He struck out one.

Kazmir breezed through the first inning on nine pitches.

He needed 24 to get through the second.

David Winfree drove in the run with a double just inside the third base bag and just beyond the reach of a diving Ben Zobrist.

Twins at Rays

The day started on a good note.

Closer Troy Percival said he will be ready by Opening Day, and manager Joe Maddon actually agreed. Percy is scheduled to throw a bullpen today and make his spring debut Thursday against the Phillies.

Scott Kazmir makes his first start of the spring today against the visiting Twins at Charlotte Sports Park.

Here are the lineups:

Twins
Matt Tolbert SS
Alexi Casilla 2B
Joe Crede DH
Delmon Young LF
Brian Buscher 3B
Mike Redmond C
Brendan Harris 1B
David Winfree RF
Luis Matos CF
Kevin Slowey P

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Gabe Kapler CF
Pat Burrell DH
Ben Zobrist 3B
Morgan Ensberg 1B
Justin Ruggiano RF
Adam Kennedy 2B
Shawn Riggans C
Scott Kazmir P

Rays pound BoSox

Outfielder Jon Weber drove in a spring training-record six runs as the Rays beat the visiting Red Sox 15-7 at Charlotte Sports Park.

Weber hit a three-run double in the fifth and drove a two-run, opposite field home run into the left field bullpen in the eight.

Rays reliever Grant Balfour suffered a bruise on the inside of the elbow of his pitching arm. He could miss an outing or two depending how much swelling is in the arm Sunday. Balfour was injured when he was struck by a line drive from former Rays Nick Green.

James Shields allowed a run in two innings during his spring debut.

Jason Hammel, competing for the fifth spot in the rotation or a spot in the bullpen, allowed four runs in his three innings. Pitch selection was his problem.

Outfielder Ray Sadler became the first player to hit a ball into the lake beyond the boardwalk in left field.

The game attracted a record crowd of 7,147 to Charlotte Sports Park. That's the largest crowd to see the Rays play at either Charlotte Sports Park or Al Lang Field.

BoSox vs Rays

The Red Sox make their second trip to Charlotte Sports Park this afternoon.

A full house is expected, and a quick check of the traffic along State Road 776 - it's creeping - says it should be a full house.

James Shields make his spring debut against a Red Sox lineup lacking for star power.

Here are the lineups:

Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Jed Lowrie 3B
Chris carter 1B
Brad Wilkerson RF
Jeff Bailey LF
Paul McAnulty DH
Josh Bard C
Nick Green 2B
Diaz Argenis SS
Tim Wakefield P

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Gabe Kapler RF
Gabe Gross DH
Adam Kennedy 2B
Ben Zobrist CF
Shawn Riggans C
Chris Richards 1B
Ray Olmedo 3B
James Shields P

Pena leads Rays past Pirates

Carlos Pena was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a run scored in the Rays 8-5 victory against the Pirates at McKechnie Field.

Elliot Johnson hit his second home run of the spring.

Fernando Perez dropped down a bunt single.

Gabe Gross stole a base.

Evan Longoria had two hits and drove a fly ball to the center field wall in his first at-bat.

Carlos Hernandez made a case for himself to be included in the running for the fifth spot in the rotation with 3 2/3 shutout innings.

The Rays drew the largest crowd at McKechnie this spring proving they are not a hit in their own town.

The Red Sox make their second trip to Charlotte Sports Park on Saturday. James Shields will make his spring training debut for the Rays.

Call him Mr. Johnson

Call him Mr. Johnson.

Elliot Johnson homered to right to start the second inning. It was his team-leading second homer of the spring.

Johnson doesn't look like much, but he's got a little pop in his bat. He once homered in three consecutive at-bats in the minor leagues, homering in the first, second and third innings.

Carlos Pena's is 2-for-2 with three RBIs after his two-run double in the second.

An RBI single by Gabe Gross gives the Rays a 6-0 lead.

It was an interesting inning for the Rays.

Fernando Perez reached on a bunt single and stole second. Gross also stole second.

Home runs, two-run doubles, bunt singles and stolen bases.

Thunder and lightening, that's what the 2009 Rays will be.

Maybe.

That's Mr. Pena to you

Carlos Pena's first at-bat of the spring looked an awful lot like a lot of his at-bats lasts season.

Batting in the top of the first, Pena sent a blast to the opposite field that hit the top of the wall and bounced back toward the infield.

Justin Ruggiano scored the first run of the game on the play.

Pena missed the first week of games while he rehabbed from his January surgery to repair two tears in his lower abdominal muscle.

He said he's in the best shape of his life because of all the exercises he's done to his core muscles.

He looked good on that swing.

The Rays lead 2-0 with the Pirates coming to bat in the bottom of the first.

Ode to a hat

Saw this hat in the team store at McKechnie Field a few years back. Almost bought it. Didn't. Now wish I did.

They don't carry it now, of course. I suppose I can find it on-line.

I remember when teams wore these pillbox hats in 1976. The Mets, Phillies, Reds and Pirates. There might have been more teams, but those I remember. It was to honor the 100th anniversary of the National League, so only National League teams wore them.

I thought they were kind of goofy then, but I was in the eighth grade, so what did I know?

The 1979 Pirates wore the gold and black pillboxes to the World Series title - their last.

I've always liked the Pirates, and have met a few of the guys from the 1971 and 1979 championship teams over the years at Pirate City. Nicew guys, every one of them.

I have a hat from the 1971 season, replica, of course.

Now I want one from 1979.

Wish I bought it that day at McKechnie.

Dang.

Rays at Pirates

The Rays make their first of three visits to McKechnie Field this season. And I'll send out a big "THANK YOU" to the Rays traveling Secretary Jeff Ziegler for giving me three games within an 11-mile drive of my Palmetto home.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Actually, McKechnie Field is worth the drive from anywhere, and there are a couple of hundred residents of western Pennsylvania who will back me up on that.

Carlos Pena makes his spring debut. He'll be at first base and will get two at-bats.

Carlos Hernandez, the one-time Houston prospect, starts today for the Rays. Joe Maddon said a few minutes ago that Hernandez has a shot at the No. 5 spot in the rotation or a spot in the bullpen, so I guess I need to add his name every time I write about the No. 5 spot or the bullpen.

Check out the lineups. Notice Shawn Riggans at DH? That's because Pat Burrell went back to San Francisco for his sister's wedding this weekend. Also, Maddon wants to give Riggans some more at-bats.

Here are the lineups:

Rays
Fernando Perez CF
Justin Ruggiano LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
Gabe Gross RF
Dioner Navarro C
Shawn Riggans DH
Elliot Johnson 2B
Reid Brignac SS
Carlos Hernandez P

Pirates
Andrew McCutchen LF
Freddy Sanchez 2B
Nate McLouth CF
Ryan Doumit C
Adam LaRoche 1B
Craig Monroe RF
Brandon Moss DH
Neil Walker 3B
Jack Wilson SS
Jimmy Barthmaier P

Team Puerto Rico vs. Rays

The Puerto Rican National Team is in town for a WBC tune-up against the Rays tonight at Charlotte Sports Park.

Because of the Rays off-day Thursday, Joe Maddon has some of the big guns in there tonight ... Jason Bartlett, Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria and Dioner Navarro. Is Ben Zobrist a big gun? He did start in right field in Game 1 of the World Series, so ... You make the call.

Here are the lineups:

Puerto Rico National Team
Bernie Williams LF
Ivan Rodriguez DH
Carlos Beltran CF
Carlos Delgado 1B
Alex Rios RF
Geovany Soto C
Mike Aviles SS
Ramon Vazquez 3B
Alex Cora 2B
Jonathan Sanchez P

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Gabe Kapler RF
Dioner Navarro C
Ben Zobrist DH
Morgan Ensberg 1B
Adam Kennedy 2B
Mitch Talbot P

Rays hang 10 in third

The Rays learned something during the third inning. The scoreboard at Charlotte Sports Park can only goes as high as nine runs per inning.

The Rays turned it over to 0 with a 10-spot.

Reid Brignac started it off with a solo home run to the right field bullpen for his first hit of the spring, snapping an 0-for-11 start.

Ray Sadler and Ben Zobrist both drove in a pair of runs with doubles.

Pat Burrell, Gabe Kapler, Dioner Navarro and Adam Kennedy each walked with the bases loaded.

The Rays lead 10-1.

Astros at Rays

Andrew Giddens, the 13-year-old from east Bradenton who beat Hodgkin's lymphoma, fired the ceremonial first pitch to home plate before the Rays game with the visiting Astros today.

They are about ready to start here on a chilly afternoon at Charlotte Sports Park.

Here are the lineups:
Astros
Michael Bourn CF
Edwin Maysonet SS
Darin Erstad RF
Jason Michaels LF
David Newhan DH
Chris Johnson 3B
Jason Smith 2B
Mark Saccomanno 1B
J.R. Towels C
Brandon Backe P

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Ben Zobrist 1B
Pat Burrell DH
Gabe Kapler RF
Dioner Navarro C
Adam Kennedy 3B
Ray Sadler CF
Reid Brignac 2B
Jeff Niemann P

Rays at Cards

The Rays are in Jupiter today, the first of two trips to the East Coast this spring.

They are playing the Cardinals, and former Ray Trever Miller is scheduled to pitch an inning. Won't be seeing Chris Perez, the Bradenton product competing for the closer's job with the Cards. He threw an inning Sunday.

Wade Davis, who was outstanding against the Yankees last week, makes his second start of the spring.

Here are the lineups:

Rays
Adam Kennedy 2B
Justin Ruggiano CF
Evan Longoria 3B
Ben Zobrist SS
Gabe Gross RF
Chris Richard 1B
Morgan Ensberg DH
Shawn Riggans C
Jon Weber LF
Wade Davis P

Cardinals
Skip Schumaker 2B
Joe Thurston LF
Albert Pujols 1B
Rick Ankiel CF
Joe Mather 3B
Jon Jay RF
Brian Barton DH
Jason LaRue C
Tyler Greene SS
Adam Wainwright P

Two three baggers for CC

There are few things more exciting in baseball than watching Carl Crawford speed around the bases for a triple. The Rays left fielder did that in the third inning that scored Jason Bartlett.

It was Bartlett's second triple of the game.

Jason Hammel went four innings for the Rays, the longest outing of any pitcher this spring.

Evan Longoria has two doubles.

The Rays lead 3-0 after five innings.

Rays and Jays

Good news! The win has shifted here at Charlotte Sports Park. It's now blowing from left to right for today's game with the visiting Blue Jays. That means the fans inside the stadium can read the banner flying from the flag pole beyond left field that proclaims the Rays "2008 American League Champions."

It's a strong breeze, so the sign is easy to read.

It wasn't that way for the first two games when the wind blew from right to left, meaning the lettering on the flag was backwards to those inside the stadium.

A quick check of the field and no, the distances to the outfield walls haven't gotten any deeper.

The rain is gone, the clouds remained and the wind is blowing out to right.

There will be baseball, and here are the lineups:

Jays
Wayne Lydon CF
Russ Adams 2B
Adam Lind DH
Scott Rolen 3B
Jason Lane LF
Brian Jeroloman C
Adam Loewen RF
David Cooper 1B
John McDonald SS
Jesse Litsch P

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Pay Burrell RF
Ben Zobrist 2B
Dioner Navarro C
Gabe Kapler DH
Morgan Ensberg 1B
Fernando Perez CF
Jason Hammel P

Bombs away

The wind is blowing out to left field today. Either that or Mitch Talbot has nothing.

The Rays right-hander allowed three home runs to left field during the Phillies five-run first.

Ryan Howard went opposite field for his first round-tripper of the season.

John Mayberry followed with a bomb to left.

One out later, it was former Ray second baseman Miguel Cairo's turn. He tucked a home run just inside the foul line.

The Rays got a run back in the top of the second when Ray Sadler crushed one into the Phillies bullpen which sits behind the Rays bullpen in left field.

Talbot settled down in the second.

It's Phillies 5, Rays 1 after two.

A World Series rematch

Beautiful day for baseball here at Bright House Field in Clearwater for the first meeting between the Rays and Phillies since Game 5 of the World Series.

I still can't get over the fact the Rays played in the World Series.

Anyway ...

Pat Burrell requested to make the trip from Port Charlotte to Clearwater to face the team he helped lead to the World Series last October.

The Phillies lineup features Miguel Cairo at second base. You might remember Cairo was an original Ray.

Here are the lineups:
Rays
Gabe Kapler RF
Justin Ruggiano CF
Willy Aybar 2B
Pat Burrell DH
Chris Richard 1B
Morgan Ensberg 3B
Ray Sadler LF
Shawn Riggans C
Ray Olmedo SS
Mitch Talbot P

Phillies:
Jimmy Rollins SS
Shane Victorino CF
Raul Ibanez LF
Ryan Howard 1B
John Mayberry RF
Greg Dobbs DH
Miguel Cairo 2B
Jason Donald 3B
Ronny Paulino C
Kyle Kendrick P

Rays draw crowds on the road

At 9 a.m. more than 150 people stood in line outside Bright House Field in Clearwater to buy standing-room only tickets for this afternoon's game between the Rays and the Phillies.

Some waited as long as an hour.

Today marks the Rays second trip to the Tampa Bay area this spring. They played in Tampa on Thursday, drawing a sell-out crowd for the Yankees home opener.

OK, the Yankees always sell-out in Tampa, but there were a lot of Rays fans in that crowd. Even the Yankee fans stood and cheered the Rays when they were introduced before the game.

The Phillies are expecting their biggest home crowd of the spring, but I guess it should be noted that they opened against the Blue Jays and today is Saturday.

Still, maybe there is something to this separation between Tampa Bay and the Rays this spring.

Rays win! Rays win!

The Rays won their first game of the spring, pounding the visiting Red Sox 12-4 at Charlotte Sports Park.

The Rays, who scored one run in their first two games of the spring (both losses), pounded out 13 hits. Included were two run homers from Evan Longoria and Chris Richard and doubles by Elliot Johnson, Jason Bartlett and Fernando Perez.


Jeff Niemann looked sharp in his first appearance of the spring, allowing a hit with two strikeouts in his two innings.

Jason Cromer struck out five of the seven batters he faced.

The Rays return to action Saturday in Clearwater against the World Series champion Phillies.

Mitch Talbot is scheduled to start for the Rays.

Rocco and the raccoon

Well, the parking was much smoother before today's game with the Red Sox here at Charlotte Sports Park.

The only snag was a raccoon that got into the stadium and kept animal control officials busy for a while before trapping the critter and releasing it somewhere outside the stadium.

Rocco Baldelli made the trip to Port Charlotte and received a nice hand from the crowd during the pregame introductions.

Here are the lineups:

Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Jed Lowrie SS
Kevin Youkilis 1B
Rocco Baldelli DH
Jason Bay LF
Brad Wilkerson RF
Dusty Brown C
Nick Green 2B
Angel Chavez 3B
Michael Bowden P

Rays
Fernando Perez CF
Jason Bartlett SS
Evan Longoria 3B
Pat Burrell DH
Willy Aybar 1B
Dioner Navarro C
Ben Zobrist LF
Gabe Gross RF
Elliot Johnson 2B
Jeff Niemann P

Yankees down Rays

Wade Davis looked awfully good during his two innings Thursday against the Yankees, striking out three straight at one point.

"I thought Wade was outstanding," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "A wonderful first performance."

The Yankees, though, sent the Rays to their second loss in as many games with a 5-1 victory at sold-out Steinbrenner Field.

Jorge Posada homered in the third inning and drove in another run with a double off the center field fence in the fifth. The Yankees put it away with a three-run homer by Shelley Duncan in the seventh that came off Calvin Medlock.

The Rays managed only five hits, all singles. They had four hits in Wednesday's loss to the Reds.

They've scored only one run in their first two spring games.

Yankees up 2-1 in 7th

The Rays ended an offensive drought that stretched across the first 15 innings of the spring when Jon Weber drove home the first run in two games with a seventh inning single that scored Elliot Johnson.

The Yankees lead 2-1 as they come to bat in the seventh.

Jorge Posada drove in both runs. He homered on the first pitch of the third inning, a fastball down the middle by Chad Orvella, then drove an RBI double to center field in the fifth inning.

Rays starter Wade Davis threw two scoreless innings and looked good in both.

Here's an interesting note to this game:

The Rays are actually drawing as many cheers as the Yankees.

Alex Rodrigues received more boos than cheers during his two at-bats, while Davis received a big hand after striking out Mark Teixeira to end the first inning.

Rays at Yankees

A beautiful day here at George M. Steinbrenner Field, formerly Legends Field, the spring quarters of the New York Yankees.

Across the street the flags fly at half staff at Raymond James Stadium in honor of the release of Derrick Brooks and the end of an era. Just kidding.

The Rays are here to help the Yankees play their home opener.

Looks like the Yankees are playing the varsity today. Not so the Rays.

Here are the lineups:

Rays
Adam Kennedy 2B
Carl Crawford LF
Willy Aybar DH
Morgan Ensberg 3B
Ben Zobrist SS
Gabe Kapler CF
Chris Richard 1B
Shawn Riggans C
Justin Ruggiano RF
Wade Davis P

Yankees
Johnny Damon LF
Derek Jeter SS
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Xavier Nady RF
Jorge Posada DH
Jose Molina C
Melky Cabrera CF
Phil Hughes P

An answer for the parking delays

In an effort to ease the parking delays getting into Charlotte Sports Park, the Rays announced the following ...

Parking lots will open at 10:00 a.m. and stadium gates will open at 11:00 a.m. for all 1:05 p.m. games, 30 minutes earlier than originally planned.

There will be an increase in the number of parking attendants stationed inside both the main Sports Park and Fairgrounds parking lots to increase efficiency in collecting parking fees and directing cars to parking locations.

Clearer signage will be posted to help patrons with special needs and those with passes for reserved lots identify designated parking areas

Fans are also encouraged to arrive early, carpool, and come with exact change when possible.

Rays drop opener in new park

Well, at least the beer was cold.

The Rays opened Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte on Wednesday with a 7-0 loss to the Reds in the first spring training game played at that site since 2002.

Traffic on State Road 776 leading to the ball park was backed up for miles, causing many fans to miss the first four innings.

Most of 6,028 (not a sell out) were inside the park to see Jerry Hairston's grand slam off Randy Choate in the fourth inning for all the offense the Reds would need.

Adam Rosales hit a two-run homer off Mitch Talbot in the ninth for the final runs of the afternoon.

Rays starter Carlos Hernandez and Jason Hammel each threw a pair of scoreless innings. Hammel, competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, allowed three hits and struck out two.

For those who keep track of such things, Carl Crawford slapped an opposite-field single to left field in the first inning for the first hit in the new ball park.

The Rays return to action Thursday against the Yankees in Tampa.

Baby you can drive my car

It's the top of the fifth and cars are still lined up on State Road 776, the only road to and from this ball park.

It has taken some fans almost two hours to drive (Drive?)the final two miles from U.S. 41 to the stadium.

Aside from Jonny Gomes catching a bat that slipped out of the hands of Willy Taveras and flew into the Reds dugout, those sitting in traffic haven't missed much.

Really, the big news of the day is the moves made up in Tampa by the Bucs. They cut Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn, Cato June, Ike Hilliard and Joey Galloway.

No score after four.

Rays open new park

Let's play ball!

The Rays are about to play their first game at Charlotte Sports Park, which was known as Charlotte County Stadium when the Rangers trained here from 1987 to 2002.

The grounds crew is watering the infield and those throwing out the first pitches are receiving their instructions.

The B-52s are singing about a love shack, not live, though.

Rays owner Stu Sternberg is talking with former Ray Jonny Gomes, a non-roster invitee to the Reds camp.

Here are the lineups:

Reds
Willy Taveras CF
Jerry Hairston SS
Joey Votto 1B
Brandon Phillips 2B
Jay Bruce rF
Edwin Encarnacion 3B
Chris Dickerson LF
Ramon Hernandez C
Jacque Jones DH
Edison Volquez P

Rays
Jason Bartlett SS
Carl Crawford LF
Evan Longoria 3B
Pat Burrell DH
Willy Aybar 1B
Dioner Navarro C
Ben Zobrist 2B
Gabe Gross RF
Fernando Perez CF
Carlos Hernandez P