By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Rays at Mariners
When/where: 4:10 today; Safeco Field, Seattle
TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)
Probable starters:
RAYS
RH Wade Davis (4-5, 4.52)
MARINERS
LH Erik Bedard (3-4, 3.48)
Watch for …
Wading in: Davis has been in a rut, going 1-3 with a 7.17 ERA his past five starts and looking bad in doing so, allowing 38 hits (including 9 HRs) and 15 walks in 261/3 IP. He is 0-1, 3.86 vs. the Mariners and is pitching for the first time in Seattle.
Erik the Great, again: Bedard has recovered his past form after missing last season, and part of the previous two, with shoulder issues. Bedard is 11-3, 3.03 in 20 games against the Rays, though last in April 2008.
Key matchups
Rays vs. Bedard
Johnny Damon 3-for-20
Felipe Lopez 3-for-6
B.J. Upton 4-for-23, HR
Mariners vs. Davis
Franklin Gutierrez 1-for-5, HR
Justin Smoak 2-for-2, HR
Ichiro Suzuki 3-for-6
On deck
Monday: at Angels, 10:05, Sun Sports. Rays — David Price (6-5, 3.52); Angels — Tyler Chatwood (3-2, 3.64)
Tuesday: at Angels, 10:05, Sun Sports. Rays — Alex Cobb (0-0, 5.91); Angels — TBA
Wednesday: at Angels, 10:05, Sun Sports. Rays — James Shields (5-4, 2.77); Angels — Jered Weaver (7-4, 2.14)
Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Inspirational moment of the day
The Rays find inspiration in odd places, and Saturday it was this Buddha-esque photo of bullpen coach Bobby Ramos, taken earlier in the day, attached to the daily lineup card. "There's definitely a potential religious overtone to the whole thing. It's a feng shui kind of a thing," manager Joe Maddon said. "Possibly make it into kind of a candleholder, with like a little round plate in front of him. And you can worship at the altar of Digalo, or the Sugar Bear."
Number of the day
495 Career doubles by Johnny Damon, below, tying Frank Thomas for 57th place all-time.
Honest quote of the day
"It feels fine, and I'm being honest with you when I say that. So I hope to be in there (today).''
3B Evan Longoria, on the tightness in his left side that forced him from the game