By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Friday, April 15, 2011
Rays vs. Twins
When/where: 4:10 today; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
TV/radio: Ch. 13; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Probable starters
Rays
RH Jeff Niemann (0-2, 8.31)
Twins
RH Scott Baker (0-2, 6.55)
Tickets: $12-$255 at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team store in Tampa, $3 surcharge within five hours of game.
Watch for …
Standing tall: Niemann's command has been off in his two starts, and the Rays want him to throw less hard to see if it helps. He is 2-0 with a 3.05 ERA in three starts against the Twins.
Baker's act: Baker has already allowed four homers in two starts, ahead of the past two seasons when he gave up 28 and 23. He is 2-2 with a 3.21 ERA in six games against the Rays.
Key matchups:
Rays vs. Baker
Johnny Damon4-for-14
Matt Joyce 1-for-11, HR
Ben Zobrist 2-for-11
Twins vs. Niemann
Jason Kubel 0-for-9
Denard Span 4-for-11
Delmon Young 3-for-8, HR
On deck
Sunday: vs Twins, 1:40, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (1-1, 4.09); Twins — Brian Duensing (0-0, 4.15)
Monday: vs. White Sox, 6:40, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (1-2, 3.92); Sox — Edwin Jackson (2-0, 2.89)
Tuesday: vs. White Sox, 6:40, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (0-1, 3.98); Sox — John Danks (0-1, 3.15)
Damon's walkoff list
Date Team Opp. Pitcher
4/14/11 TB Twins Capps
7/6/10 Det. Orioles D. Hernandez
5/1/10 Det. Angels S. Shields
5/17/09 NYY Twins J. Crain
8/26/01 Bos. Angels S. Shields
4/10/00 K.C. Twins L. Hawkins
Quote of the day
"We have more runs in them."
Kelly Shoppach, Rays catcher, when asked what was different from the team's last four wins to its first six losses
Damon's record of the day
LF/DH Johnny Damon didn't just win Thursday's game with his blast in the 10th, he made history, becoming the first player to hit walkoff homers for five teams (twice for Detroit). His secret? "I don't know," he said. "There's been plenty of times I've come up in that situation and failed. Just fortunately for me I've been able to do it a number of times." Six players share the all-time lead with 12, according to David Vincent of the Society for American Baseball Research, including Minnesota's Jim Thome. Damon is tied with 43 others.