By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, May 1, 2011
April team records set
25 RBIs by Ben Zobrist
6 Game-winning RBIs and 8 go-ahead RBIs, by Johnny Damon
46 1/3 innings pitched and 39 strikeouts, by James Shields
Elias fact of the day
RHP James Shields is the only pitcher in the majors this season, and one of three since the start of 2010, to throw eight or more innings while allowing one run or fewer in three consecutive starts. Seattle's Felix Hernandez and San Francisco's Matt Cain did it last year.
Today: off
Next game: vs. Blue Jays, 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, Tropicana Field, Fox Sports Florida
Tickets: $9-$210 at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team store in Tampa, $3 surcharge within five hours of game.
Probable pitchers
Rays:
Wade Davis (3-2, 2.73)
blue Jays:
Jo-Jo Reyes (0-2, 5.48)
On deck
Wednesday: vs. Jays, 6:40, FSN. Rays — Jeff Niemann (1-3, 5.60); Jays — Brandon Morrow (0-1, 3.97)
Thursday: vs. Jays, 1:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeremy Hellickson (2-2, 4.31); Jays — Ricky Romero (2-3, 3.00)
Friday: at O's, 7:05, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (3-3, 3.95); O's — TBA
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Re-gift of the day
Rays manager Joe Maddon got back the personally autographed promo bank stocked with Canadian coins he sent to Angels manager Mike Scioscia — wrapped in a towel and smashed to bits. "He kept the money," Maddon said. "And he sent back a note and said it was kind of an Italian thing him breaking the bank and sending it back in pieces like that."
Quote of the day
"The whole experience was amazing; the past three days have just been a blur."
Rookie RHP Alex Cobb, on his unexpected callup and Sunday start.
Number of the day
9 Starters, with Alex Cobb, used by the Rays since the beginning of the 2009 season, fewest in the majors.