Riggans surgery, rotation changed, game tonight

Backup C Shawn Riggans is having surgery on his right knee in St. Petersburg today and will be sidelined at least two weeks. Riggans has an infection in the bursa sac; just called up Michel Hernandez is likely to be the primary backup.

The Rays have also changed their pitching rotation, flip-flopping James Shields and Matt Garza in the order. That way, Garza will pitch Friday in New York and Shields will be moved back to Saturday. The idea is to give Shields an extra day's rest, to split up Graza and Edwin Jackson in the rotation and to have Shields available to pitch in the Sept. 23 doubleheader at Baltimore.

The result is that Shields won't pitch against Boston next week at the Trop, and Garza won't face his former Twins teammates.

Also 3B Evan Longoria is talking about taking a full batting practice Friday and said it was "possible" he could be in the lineup that night. He said his previously fractured right wrist felt "great" after taking 30 swings at balls thrown by trainer Ron Porterfield.

Tonight's lineups, as the Rays, after Tuesday's emotional win, seek to win a series in Fenway Park for the first time since 1999:

RAYS
Iwamura, 2B
Johnson, LF
Pena, 1B
Floyd, DH
Aybar, 3B
Hinske, RF
Navarro, C
Gross, CF
Bartlett, SS
Sonnanstine, P

RED SOX
Ellsbury, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Youkilis, 1B
Bay, LF
Lowell, 3B
Kotsay, RF
Lowrie, SS
Varitek, C
Beckett, SP

Comments

[Joe Maddon]

Actually Wally, it's 1:13 am. I am just pondering the probabilities of the personalities of Percival and Hammel possibly populating my bullpen for the pennant race.

[Wally]

Wow - 1:00 am and people are still posting about the Rays. Isn't a pennant race wonderful?

[Tim]

Rays fan ... my whole point being .. and I will ride it to death .. Percival has only cost us ONE game all season . Is there another closer in MLB that can boast that fact ??? The only "blown save" of his that we actually lost was the Toronto game over the weekend ... People mention Balfour as closer .. he put two men on base in the 9th tonight ..
Wheeler as closer ?? He gave up the HR to Bay last night .. There is no "perfect closer" ...

[jhickey]

This just in--we traded Percival for Timlin, straight up..

[dr.phil]

Rays Fan--you need the good doctor to prescribe you some chill pills when you railed at my statement "give Maddon credit for pulling Percy"...When was the last time you saw such an event??? think long and hard and you won't find it as Maddon has ridden his loyal horse to the finish, good or bad, the entire year. Lets all hope that Percy sees the future in the mirror, smile at a heck of a career and ride off in the sunset.

[Joe Maddon]

I apologize to everyone for a) not bunting with men is scoring position and no outs....and b) allowing Percival to pitch in a game, period....and c) for making it so damn exciting. But DAMN we just took 2 of 3 in the most exciting fashion that you will EVER see!! If a team can win a series, in Fenway, in mid-September, in a pennant race, in the 9th and 14th innings, while going 2 for 98 with RISP, and have thier closer allow 84 hits in 1+ innings, while committing 2 errors in one game, etc. etc. etc., who can say that the team in question can't win the Pennant? Or the League? Or the WORLD SERIES?!?!?!!!!!

Hold onto your butts, because this is going to be a long, strange ride. But, WE ARE GOING TO WIN THE WHOLE G**DAMN THING!!!!

MORE COWBELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rays are unbelievable]

Honestly, you couldn't write this story for a movie. A weak offense loses 3 of its best 4 hitters, and gets contributions from everyone to hang on to the division (at least for now). You have to love team chemistry - go Rays!!

[Percival]

Percy is hurt? Put him on the 18 game disabled list

[Rays Rule]

I got 6 tix for next week...and my deposit for next year is in the mail.
Percy was hurting and he sure came thru last night..so ease up. We love them all.

[chux2]

Well,
That was 5 hours well spent. Pena is the most graceful Ray player. He is so smooth around first base. And, he has a beautiful swing. He does strike out often, but it's gone when he connects.

[Rays Fan]

Tim, you have been drinking the koolaid for too long. Yes, Percy got the job done in the 1st half of the season, but his ERA is over 6 ever since his first stint on the DL. He has not recovered and we have to recognize that. Closer by committee will get the job done for the rest of the season - use Howell/Miller against lefties, Wheeler/Balfour against righties and we will get the job done.

[Wally]

Nobody can deny the contribution Percy has made to this team - but either he is not healthy or is out of gas. Hopefully, Maddon sees it now as well

[Brian J]

Get well Riggans. I am going to bed with magic numbers dancing in my head.

[Rays Fan]

Are you kidding? We are congratulating Maddon for pulling out Percy after loading the bases with 2 walks with a 3 run lead? Maddon is obviously a fantastic manager with team moral but he is horrible with late game decisions. He should have pulled Percy after the 2nd guy got on base, and he should have pitched Howell to the 2 lefty's last night before putting in Percy.

[Tim]

Let me throw the fact about Percival .. for all you haters out there .. He has only cost us ONE game this season .. ONE game out of 32 appearances .. and that was just this past weekend .. Is he is a funk right now .. yes he is .. but to make the statement he has "cost us games" has no proof to back it up .. he didn't cost us THIS game .. WE WON !!!

[dr. phil]

sometimes the tea leaves are misleading and I've at least got to give Maddon some credit for realizing his "loyal friend" has seen better days, actually overruled him and pulled him out of the front line--good for him and hope this is it..

[Beer?]

Another beer? Are you kidding? The second Percival came into the game, I hit pause on the DVR and took 3 shots. I can't take any more of Percy...

[Scott]

wow.....just wow.

[Brian J]

I think Hammel just grew up a little bit. I hope that in Joe's prayer he promised to bunt with two on and no outs in a tie game in extra innings. 2 of 3 in Boston.

[Percival]

We literally both ran out of pitching...and Hammel came through

[Tim]

Can't say we don't make it exciting ..

[Amanda]

Alright, after that I'm not going to sleep any time soon. Who's up for a beer?!

[Percival]

sometimes the hardest out is the 42nd

[Warren]

woooooooooooooooo

[Doug]

Everybody exhale!

[???]

Honestly, Maddon's loyalty to Percival has REALLY gone to far. If he lets Percy blow one more game, one of the veterans needs to talk some sense into him. If we all can see it, why can't Maddon?

[Warren]

Heart attack!

[dr. phil]

I have analized this and determined that Maddon is worse than Percival as Maddon is the instrument that allows Percival to be employed in the game. therefore, this situation could have and should have been prevented, regardless the outcome. I have also studied this pitcher Hammel and the tea leaves are not very nice..

[Warren]

Altogether now : "DOUBLE PLAY"

[Slappy]

What does Percival have to do to prove to Maddon that he CANNOT be "the guy?" This is just absurd.

[Warren]

From bad to not much better ....

[Tim]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Warren]

I'm still in shock that he didn't give Trever a shot at closing this thing out. But I probably shouldn't be.

[Brian J]

It's midnight and I have a feeling it will take a while to get to sleep tonight.

[Bobby]

Nobody can deny the contribution Percy has made to this team - but either he is not healthy or is out of gas. Hopefully, Maddon sees it now as well

[Joe Maddon]

Why the hell would I even entertain the thought of putting him in there??

[Percival]

I also wanted to make it dramatic

[Warren]

unbelievable - he's questioning Joe! This should be the last time we see him this year as the Closer. Time to give Wheeler a shot.

[Warren]

thanks, Percy.

[Amanda]

I love ya, Joe, I do. But enough with Percy. Please. Enough.

[Joe Maddon]

Dear God,

Please come down and guide Percy. Haven't you ever seen "Angels in the Outfield"? Can I please have an angel on the mound? Because dear God, WE NEED IT SO BAD!!!!!!

[Warren]

wait - Hamel's coming in next ....

[Troy Percival]

I promise to make this game as interesting as possible. I just gave up a double, and I promise to give up 2 more, then strike out the side. I hate boring finishes.

[Bobby]

Here we go again.........

[Warren]

Noooooooooooooooooo

[Brian J]

Go get'em Percy!

[Carlos Pena]

There you go. I just wanted to make it dramatic. Your welcome. :)

[Warren]

And - here comes Percy ..... I was so hoping we'd get Trevor out to see if he could get an out or 2.

[Tim]

God bless you Carlos Pena .. and all the little Pena's of the world ...

[Go Rays!]

Hold onto your butts Night #2