By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Rays vs. Twins
When/where: 1:40 today; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Probable starters
RAYS: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (1-1, 4.09)
TWINS: LHP Brian Duensing (0-0, 4.15)
Tickets: $12-$255 at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team store in Tampa, $3 surcharge within five hours of game.
Promotion: David Price arm sleeve, first 10,000 kids 14 and under
Watch for …
Instant replay: Hellickson beat the Twins in his major-league debut in August, allowing two runs in seven innings. He has not allowed more than three runs in any of his six career starts.
Right stuff: Duensing moved into the Twins rotation last season and did well, going 7-3. The Rays, though, have become lefty lovers, posting a 38-21 mark vs. them since the start of 2010.
Key matchups
Rays vs. Duensing
Johnny Damon 0-for-5
Sean Rodriguez 1-for-3, HR
B.J. Upton 1-for-3
Twins vs. Hellickson
Michael Cuddyer 0-for-3
Jason Kubel 2-for-3, HR
Jim Thome 0-for-3
On deck
Monday: vs. White Sox, 6:40, FSN. 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 hit list
Where Johnny Damon stands on the all-time list:
79. Reggie Jackson 2,584
80t. Ernie Banks 2,583
80t. Johnny Damon 2,583
82. Richie Ashburn 2,574
Manny Ramirez 2,574
Source: Rays
Number of the day
15 Ninth-inning runs by Rays, most in the majors.
Comparison of the day
2011: 3 wins when trailing after 8 innings though 14 games
2010: 6 wins when trailing after 8 innings over 162 games
Quote of the day
"I've been through all of it. I understand this game. It's never going to be easy except when I'm sitting at home watching the game on TV when I'm done playing."
Johnny Damon, Rays outfielder/DH