Arch madness, day one

With the famous arch looming beyond the outfield, the scene is impressive in St. Louis as the first-place Rays prepare to face off with the Cardinals.

SS Jason Bartlett is back with the team and in the lineup after missing Thursday's game to attend to his wife, who went into premature labor but is now resting comfortably in St. Petersburg.

Manager Joe Maddon reiterated that Cliff Floyd will be used only as a pinch-hitter for these three games without the DH, since it is too soon after his right knee surgery to risk putting him in the field.

Expect Ben Zobrist to get perhaps daily duty as a super utility man.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, put struggling closer Jason Isringhausen on the DL and called up Bradenton native and Tampa resident Chris Perez.

The lineups:

Rays
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Longoria, 3b
Hinske, rf
Navarro, c
Bartlett, ss
Sonnanstine, p

Cards
Schumaker, rf
Duncan, lf
Pujols, 1b
Ankiel, cf
Glaus, 3b
Molina, c
Kennedy, 2b
Looper, p
Izturis, ss

Navarro, Bartlett out of lineup

The Rays will be without two regulars in today's series finale with the Yankees.

C Dioner Navarro has been given the day off, and SS Jason Bartlett was a late scratch because he has to tend to a family matter, the Rays said.

The Rays will try to win their sixth series in their last seven tries today when they host the Yankees, having already taken two of the first three games from the AL East foes.

They'll ride the left arm of ace Scott Kazmir, fresh off Wednesday's announcement of his three-year contract extension. Kazmir threw six scoreless innings in his last start - his second since coming off the DL - but will still try to work out some kinks.

The lineups pose a few changes, with manager Joe Maddon giving Navarro a day off, his first in over a week. Navarro had been carrying a hot bat (.387), but Maddon didn't want to run him into the ground, electing to give Shawn Riggans a start today before the Rays begin an interleague series with the Cardinals this weekend.

DH Cliff Floyd was also moved up a spot in the order ahead of Evan Longoria, a switch Maddon said was due to the Yankees not having a lefty available in the bullpen.

The Yankees won't have Hideki Matsui or Bobby Abreu in the lineup tonight, their two main changes.

RAYS
Iwamura, 2b

Crawford, lf

Upton, cf

Pena, 1b

Floyd, dh

Longoria, 3b

Hinske, rf

Riggans, c

Bartlett, ss

Kazmir, P

YANKEES

Damon, lf

Cabrera, cf

jeter, ss

Giambi, dh

Duncan, rf

Ensberg, 1b

Cano, 2b

Gonzalez, 3b

Molina, c

Kennedy, P

- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Kazmir agrees to extension

The Rays and ace LHP Scott Kazmir have agreed on contract extension though 2011, with a team option for 2012. The deal guarantees the lefthander $28.5-million and has a maximum value of approximately $39.5 million.

"As we continue to win games and play in October we envision Scott anchoring the staff for us,'' executive VP Andrew Friedman said. "We envision it being a series of contracts that keeps Scott in this uniform for a long time.''

Kazmir would be eligible for free agency after the 2010 season, so under this deal he gives up one year of free agency and a second if the Rays exercise their option.

Kazmir is guaranteed $6-million in 2009, $8-million in 2010 and  $12-million in 2011 for what would be his first year of free agency. The Rays hold a $13.5-million option for 2012, or will pay Kazmir a $2.5-million buyout.

The Rays and Kazmir have talked on and off about a long-term deal and made progress as he rehabbed from a spring training elbow strain that sidelined him until May 4. Kazmir said the injury was not as much of a factor in him signing long-term as the moves the Rays have made to improve.

"That was huge,'' Kazmir said. "This past offseason we really addressed a lot of issues that needed to be addressed. ... We just have a great product here and I'm just happy to be a part of it.''

The announcement was made at Tropicana Field around 20 minutes before the the first-place Rays hosted the Yankees.

In his first year of arbitration eligibility, Kazmir had agreed to a one-year deal for $3.785-million. He missed the first five weeks of the season recovering from a spring training left elbow strain.

Kazmir, 24, has a 36-30 career record and 3.63 ERA in 100 major league games, and is the Rays all-time leader in wins, strikeouts, starts and innings.

The Rays have now locked up several of their core players long term, with RHP James Shields (7 years, $44 million) and 3B Evan Longoria 9 years, $44.5 million) each signing deals this year. 1B Carlos Pena is in the first year of a 3-year, $24.1 million deal.

Another bite of the apple?

Update, 6:19 The Rays just said they will have some type of annoucement at 6:45 p.m., but didn't say anything else.

RHP James Shields will be on the mound when the Rays seek a third straight win over the Yankees and try to hang on to first place in the AL East.

The Yankees, 19-21 and 4 1/2 games behind the Rays, held a 30-minute closed door meeting before batting practice. The Rays did too, but it was a previously scheduled session feature legendary boxing trainer Angelo Dundee, who was the guest of manager Joe Maddon. Boxer Hector Camacho, who is making a comeback, was also on the field and in the clubhouse.

The only real decision in the Rays lineup was playing Gabe Gross over Eric Hinske in rightfield. Maddon had two reasons - Hinske has struggled against Yankees starter Mike Mussina, and Gross gives the Rays better defense.

Also, C Dioner Navarro will get Thursday's afternoon game off, with Shawn Riggans scheduled to start. And SS Jason Bartlet and 2B Akinori Iwamura are each likely to get a day off on the upcoming road trip.

And the Rays agreed to let the Pirates keep RHP Evan Meek, in return for cash considerations. Meek had been a Rule 5 pick who was designated for assignment and after he cleared waivers the Pirates had to first offer him back to the Rays, who could have had him back for $25,000.

OF Nathan Haynes cleared waivers and the Rays are waiting to hear if he will accept an assignment to   Triple-A Durham.

Earlier Wednesday, the Rays announced they had reinstated RHP Al Reyes from the DL and designated for assignment RHP Scott Dohmann.

And, in a related matter, the Rays moved the announcement of the proposed stadium financing plan from noon to 3 p.m. and changed the location from Tropicana Field to St. Petersburg City Hall.

The lineups:

Rays
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Longoria, 3b
Floyd, dh
Navarro, c
Gross, rf
Bartlett, ss
Shields, p

Yankees
Damon, lf
Abreu, rf
Jeter, ss
Giambi, 1b
Matsui, dh
Cano, 2b
Cabrera, cf
Ensberg, 3b
Molina, c
Mussina, p

Rays bring back Reyes, designate Dohmann

The Rays started the day with a roster move Wednesday, as RHP Al Reyes was activated from the disabled list and RHP Scott Dohmann was designated for assignment to make room.

Dohmann was 2-0 but had a 6.14 ERA after four straight rough outings. In his first eight appearances he had a 2.38 ERA. Reyes has been out since April 16, first with what was described as a shoulder impingement, then with biceps tendinitis. He has pitched in seven games with a 1-2 record and 9.00 ERA.

The Rays have 10 days to trade, release or pass Dohmann through waivers in an effort to keep him at Triple-A Durham. If he clears waivers he would have the right to refuse the assignment and become a free agent.

He said he would to see what happened. "I know they'd love to keep me and I'd love to stay,'' Dohmann said. "But I have to go through waivers and we all know how that process works.''

Dohmann said he felt he pitched well enough to stay.

"No doubt,'' he said. "I'm totally comfortable here both chemistry wise and performance wise. Take away my last three games which were rough, but in the grand scheme of things the way I pitched for them I'm very pleased with it, from last year into this year.''

Hank: Yanks need to be more like Rays

Seeing the Rays with the best record in the American League and in first place in the AL East is one sign of their progress.

And Wednesday's back-page story in the New York Post is certainly another - with Hank Steinbrenner saying his struggling Yankees have "got to start playing the way the Rays are playing'' and that he wishes the Rays weren't in the Yankees' division.

"I'm happy for them, but I wish they were in the National League,'' he said.

Essentially, Steinbrenner - sounding more like his father at each turn - accused his high-priced players with not playing hard, and threatened severe changes if they don't.

"(The Yankees) need to start treating it like when they were younger players and going after that big contract, like they're in (Triple-A) and trying to make the majors'' Steinbrenner said. "That's the kind of attitude and fire the players have to have."

Certainly seeing his $209-million team 4 1/2 games behind the Rays, and their $43.8-million payroll, agitated the situation.

"The bottom line is that the team is not playing the way it is capable of playing," Steinbrenner said. "These players are being paid a lot of money and they had better decide for themselves to earn that money."

And if not? "There's no question we need to turn it around and we have the talent to turn it around. We've got the team in place, and now they just have to go out and do it,'' Steinbrenner said.

"This is going to get turned around. If it's not turned around this year, then it will be turned around next year, by force if we have too."

Steinbrenner also had some questions about the attendance at Tropicana Field.
"They only had 13,000 there (Monday) night. That place should be packed,' he said. "They're an exciting young team."

Rays beat Yanks, take over 1st place

Manager Joe Maddon said Jonny Gomes has the "green light" on the basepaths. And the hustling outfielder took advantage Tuesday night.

Gomes, pinch-running for Cliff Floyd with no outs in the 11th against the Yankees, stole second base, and then scored on a single up the middle by Gabe Gross, lifting the Rays to a dramatic, 2-1 win at the Trop, which puts them in sole possession of first place in the AL East.

The Rays (23-16) have now won 11 straight home games, and moved .5 game ahead of the Red Sox (24-18), who lost to Baltimore Tuesday night.

RHP Edwin Jackson delivered another spectacular start, throwing seven shutout innings against the Yankees - pushing his scoreless streak to 15 frames. He handed a 1-0 lead (thanks to an Eric Hinske RBI single) to the Rays typically trusty bullpen, but veteran closer Troy Percival gave up a solo homer to Hideki Matsui in the top of the ninth.

The win came in front of 16,558 heavily Rays-partisan fans.

The Rays take their five-game winning streak into play tonight again against the Yankees.
INF Ben Zobrist was activated and will go right back into the super-utility role the Rays envisioned for him in the spring before he fractured his left thumb. That means he could be used at any of the four infield positions as well as in the outfield. Manager Joe Maddon even went so far as to say that he would consider starting Zobrist in rightfield against a lefthander - with Jonny Gomes as the DH.

Rocco Baldelli went through an extensive workout and said he was still seeking medical help to get past the muscle fatigue problems that have sidelined him, but that he still hopes to return to the field.
"I'm hitting BP, I'm throwing and stuff, it just depends on if I'm going to be able to do it every day,'' Baldelli said. "But as of now I feel real good.''

A decision on activating RHP Al Reyes had not been made as of 6 p.m., so it sounds like it will be after the game at the earliest. RHP Scott Dohmann seems most likely to go.

As for tonight's lineups:

Rays
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Upton, cf
Pena, 1b
Longoria, 3b
Floyd, dh
Hinske, rf
Navarro, c
Bartlett, ss
Jackson, rhp

Yankees
Damon, dh
Jeter, ss
Abreu, rf
Matsui, lf
Giambi, 1b
Cabrera, cf
Cano, 2b
Gonzalez, 3b
Molina, c
Wang, rhp

Zobrist activated; Cannizaro designated

INF Ben Zobrist, pins removed from his fractured left thumb, will be activated for Tuesday's game against the Yankees.

It's been a test of patience for Zobrist, who was groomed for the super utility role this spring before suffering the injury sliding into second March 9. Zobrist has missed the entire season, but after four rehab games in Vero Beach, he felt he was ready.

Zobrist could get some action soon, as manager Joe Maddon said he plans to give SS Jason Bartlett and 2B Akinori Iwamura a day off at some point in the coming days.

To make room, Andy Cannizaro was designated for assignment.

With Cannizaro gone, that puts the 40-man roster at 38. The Rays will need a spot Saturday, when RHP Juan Salas must be reinstated from the restricted list.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

With a cast on his left hand last March, Ben Zobrist takes some practice throws during batting practice. [James Borchuck, Times files]

Rays to miss ARod

The Rays host a four-game series with the Yankees, but they won't have to worry about facing Alex Rodriguez.

Rodriguez's strained right quadriceps are improving, but after an MRI didn't reveal enough improvement Monday, manager Joe Girardi said he expects the All-Star third baseman out through this week. Rodriguez, who was working out in Tampa, could see some action at extended spring, but Girardi said ARod probably won't be cleared for any time of game action for at least a couple days.

"It's still not where it needs to be," Girardi said.

As for the Rays, there are positive news on the health front. Both RHP Al Reyes and INF Ben Zobrist could be activated Tuesday, with Zobrist getting the pins out of his fractured left thumb this morning. That would mean a few more roster moves could be coming, with Andy Cannizaro (who has options) likely sent down to Durham; though the bullpen switch could be interesting.

Matt Garza will start tonight, coming off arguably his best outing as a Ray in Toronto. The Yankees will start LHP Andy Pettitte, who has typically favored well against the Rays.

RAYS
Iwamura, 2b

Crawford, lf

Upton, cf

Pena, 1b

Longoria, 3b

Gomes, dh

Navarro, c

Hinske, rf

Bartlett, ss

YANKEES

Damon, lf

Jeter, ss

Abreu, rf

Matsui, dh

Giambi, 1b

Cabrera, cf

Cano, 2b

Molina, C

Gonzalez, 3b

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Glover activated; Birkins sent down

RHP Gary Glover, coming off the DL with shoulder tendonitis, will be activated Monday and be available for the start of a four-game series with the Yankees.

To make room for Glover, the Rays sent down LHP Kurt Birkins.

Glover was 0-1 with a 1.69 ERA in nine games before going on a rehab stint. He had some rest, and a cortizone shot, threw for the first time last Wednesday and felt no problems.

Birkins appeared in six games for the Rays, giving up just five hits in 10 innings (.90 ERA).

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com