By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, May 2, 2011
Elias fact of the day
The Rays in Sunday's opening frame became the second team this season to have five RBI singles in an inning, joining the Cardinals, who did so Thursday at Houston. It didn't happen during the 2010 season.
Rays vs. Blue Jays
When/where: 6:40 tonight; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg
TV/radio: FSN; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Starting pitchers:
RAYS
RH Wade Davis (3-2, 2.73)
Blue JAYS: LH Jo-Jo Reyes (0-2, 5.48)
Tickets: $9-$210 at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team store in Tampa, $3 surcharge within five hours of game.
Watch for …
Wading in: Davis has been on a roll, winning three straight while posting a 1.74 ERA and .224 opponents average. He is 2-1, 2.49 in three starts (all in 2010) vs. the Blue Jays.
Jo-Jo show: Reyes hasn't won in his past 23 big-league starts, going back to June 2008 with Atlanta, and hasn't looked good this season: 33 hits and 9 BBs in 23 IP for a .411 OBP. He allowed four runs over seven innings in his only start vs. the Rays on April 22.
Key matchups
Rays vs. Reyes
Johnny Damon 1-for-3
Sam Fuld 3-for-4
Kelly Shoppach 1-for-3
Blue Jays vs. Davis
Jose Bautista 1-for-9
Yunel Escobar 4-for-6
Adam Lind 1-for-8
On deck
Wednesday: vs. Blue Jays, 6:40, FSN. Rays — Jeff Niemann (1-3, 5.60); Jays — Brandon Morrow (0-1, 3.97)
Thursday: vs. Blue 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 — Zach Britton (5-1, 2.63)
Saturday: at O's, 1:10, Ch. 13. Rays — James Shields (2-1, 2.14); O's — Jeremy Guthrie (1-3, 2.53)
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Quote of the day
"It's been overall a pretty positive vibe, a pretty positive feeling to watch these guys really just go out and make it happen night in and night out."
Rays 3B Evan Longoria, on his pending return
Stat of the day
Rays scoring by innings
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 X Total
Opp. 13 6 14 1118 8 12 12 8 3 105
Rays 2113 10 1211 17 8 8 17 3 120
Number of the day
38 Percent of swings in which C Kelly Shoppach has missed (of 121 total), highest in the majors by a non-pitcher, minimum 10 games played.