Headed north
The Rays are going through their pre-game work at Progress Energy Park in St. Petersburg this morning and won't get to Clearwater for Thursday's game with the Phillies until close to noon. They are bringing most of their big names, based on the lineup posted this morning in the clubhouse:
Iwamura, 2b
Crawford, lf
Pena,1b
Upton, cf
(John) Rodriguez, dh
Gomes, rf
Longoria, 3b
Riggans, c
Bartlett, ss
James Shields will start, but the pitching highlight of the day will be the Rays debut of closer Troy Percival. Others on the card to pitch, Wade Davis, Andy Sonnanstine, Grant Balfour, Jae Kuk Ryu, Chris Mason, Calvin Medlock, J.P. Howell, Jake McGee.
Another thing to look for is Ben Zobrist playing a couple late innings in the outfield, part of the ongoing process to make him a super utility man.
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Follow Tampa Bay Rays baseball from spring training to the World Series with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the St. Petersburg Times sports staff. From Evan Longoria to B.J. Upton and James Shields, we're your source for Tampa Bay Rays scores and schedules.
