By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Friday, April 1, 2011
The dish
Rays vs. Orioles
When/where: 7:10 tonight; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
TV/radio: Sun Sports, Bay News 9 Español; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Starting pitchers:
Rays: RH James Shields (13-15, 5.18 in 2010)
Orioles: RH Chris Tillman (2-5, 5.87 in 2010)
Promotion: Evan Longoria Gold Glove replica trophy to first 15,000 fans.
Watch for …
Bounce back: Shields believes improved mechanics will help him rebound from last season, when he lost a career-high 15 games and allowed an AL-high 34 homers. He is 7-4 with a 3.63 ERA in 19 starts against the Orioles, including 1-2, 7.06 last season.
Stepping in: Tillman, who won the final rotation spot to make his first opening-day roster, moves up a day for scratched LHP Brian Matusz (back). He is 0-2 with a 6.53 ERA in four starts against Tampa Bay.
Key matchups
Orioles vs. Shields
Vlad Guerrero 13-for-33,
2 HR
Adam Jones 11-for-25, HR
Luke Scott 12-for-31, HR
Rays vs. Tillman
Evan Longoria 4-for-9, HR
Ben Zobrist 3-for-11, 2 HR
Kelly Shoppach2-for-3, HR
On deck
Sunday: vs. Orioles, 1:40, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (12-10, 4.07); Orioles — Zach Britton (0-0, 0.00)
Monday: Off
Tuesday: vs. Angels, 6:40, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (12-8, 4.39); Angels — Jered Weaver (13-12, 3.01)
Wednesday: vs. Angels, 1:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (4-0, 3.47); Angels — Dan Haren (12-12, 3.91)
Note: All stats are from 2010
Joe Smith, Times staff writer
Cutting it close
RHP Wade Davis, who is having his head shaved by a young pediatric cancer patient after Sunday's game for "Cut for a Cure," said they're close to the goal of raising $10,000. The event benefits the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and Vincent Lecavalier Foundation. Fans can donate until May 6 at pcfcutforacure.org. Davis, who never has shaved his head, will get it cut on top of the dugout after the game. He said he's going to keep his beard. "I trimmed it up a little bit," he said, smiling.
Fools of the day
The Rays announced the "retirement" of longtime mascot Raymond on Friday. A new mascot, Sunny, appeared during the break before the top of the third. Sunny did a break-dance on top of the Rays dugout and was booed before Raymond popped onto the field with an April Fool's sign.
For starters
Friday marked the first opening day for a few Rays. LHP Jake McGee had never been to one, even as a fan. And it was OF Sam Fuld's first after three in Triple A. "It's a little different," Fuld said. "The Des Moines opening day isn't as nice."