By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Rays at Twins
When/where: 1:10 and 8:10 today, Target Field, Minneapolis
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM for first game, 970-AM and 680-AM (Spanish) for second game
Starting pitchers, Game 1
Rays: RH Jeremy Hellickson (1-2, 4.32)
Twins: RH Nick Blackburn (1-3. 4.01)
Watch for ...
Third look: Hellickson makes his third start vs. Twins, having gone 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA. He hasn't faced any other team more than once.
Burned: Blackburn has had problems with the Rays, posting a 2-3, 6.41 career mark, including a rough start at the Trop on April 15.
Key matchups
Rays vs. Blackburn
Johnny Damon 8-for-25, 2 HR
Kelly Shoppach 8-for-15, 3 HR
Twins vs. Hellickson
Jason Kubel 3-for-5, 2 HR
Jim Thome 0-for-6
Starting pitchers, Game 2
Rays: RH Jeff Niemann (0-3, 7.08)
Twins: RH Anthony Swarzak (0-0, 0.00)
Standing tall: Niemann has not been sharp since going on the DL in August with a 1-8, 8.94 mark in 11 games.
Shuffled deck: The Twins were going to start Scott Baker. Then it was Eric Hacker before he pitched Wednesday. Now it's Swarzak, who will make his first appearance since 2009, when he went 3-7, 6.25 in 12 starts.
Key matchups
Twins vs. Niemann
Denard Span 7-for-15
Jim Thome 1-for-9, HR
Contest of the day
The legend just keeps growing. Ferg's Sports Bar and Grill, located across from the Trop, is hosting a Sam Fuld look-a-like contest from 7 to 9 tonight with four tickets to Friday's game as first prize. "Tell people to wear their capes," owner Mark Ferguson said.
Big deal of the day
Not that they're too excited to have 3B Evan Longoria rehabbing at Double-A Montgomery this weekend, but the Biscuits are opening the stadium gates nearly two hours earlier than normal — at 4 p.m. today and Friday — and opening some concession stands for the sole purpose of allowing fans to watch him take batting practice.
Damon's hit list
Where Johnny Damon stands on the all-time list:
75. Steve Garvey 2,599
76. Ed Delahanty 2,593
77. Johnny Damon 2,591
77. Luis Gonzalez 2,591
79. Julio Franco 2,586
80. Reggie Jackson 2,584
Source: Stats Inc.
April powers?
Best April records after an 0-6 start:
2011 Rays 11-5* .688
1991 Mariners 10-11 .476
1997 Cards 11-14 .440
1950 Reds 4-6 .400
1905 Dodgers 6-9 .400
* Through Tuesday