Rays go for sweep
The Rays will try to complete a sweep tonight against the major-league best Cubs, and if they do so, could set several club marks:
With a win, Tampa Bay would set a club record with wins before the All Star break (43), earn a sweep for the first time against a team with MLB's best record, a club-best five home sweeps in a season.
To do so, they'll need a good night from RHP James Shields, who is amped and ready to go after sitting out his six game suspension from the Red Sox brawl.
Other than signing top pick Tim Beckham, other pre-game news was kind of light. Carlos Pena continues to feel better in his rehab of a broken finger in his left hand; he played catch today and took some more one-handed swings. No real updates other than he'll get re-evaluated Sunday.
The Cubs remain a little banged up. Their ace, Carlos Zambrano, is expected to miss his next start at least with his shoulder discomfort, but there won't likely be any update on his test results until tommorrow. Lou Piniella said Jim Edmonds could be available to pinch-hit if necessary.
Cubs
Fukudome, CF
Theriot, SS
Lee, 1B
Ramirez, 3B
Soto, DH
Hoffpauir, LF
DeRosa, RF
Blanco, C
Fontenot, 2B
Gallagher, P
Rays:
Iwamura, 2B
Crawford, LF
Upton, CF
Hinske, RF
Longoria, 3B
Floyd, DH
Aybar, 1B
Navarro, C
Bartlett, SS
Shields, P
-- JOE SMITH
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.
Our Rays are just awsome!! I am loving this season,following my favorite team.Great to see us find a way to win consistantly and even when were behind.This is a team worth watching and beleiving in. The skys the limit! Go Rays We love you all.
Posted by: Brad M. | June 19, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Wow - an amazing end to a great series... WAY TO GO RAYS
Posted by: Craig | June 19, 2008 at 10:51 PM