Rays Report - Marc Lancaster

Rays go for sweep

KANSAS CITY—Well, I hit a wrong button here this morning and today’s lineup apparently didn’t post.

We’re underway at Kauffman Stadium—no score in the bottom of the first—as the Rays are trying to sweep the Royals for the second time this year. Matt Garza, who has lost his last two…

Hernandez, Aybar draw starts

KANSAS CITY—Hello again from Kauffman Stadium, where the Rays and Royals will play the middle game of their three-game series tonight at 8:10 Eastern time.

As expected, catcher Dioner Navarro is out of the lineup. Manager Joe Maddon said yesterday he’ll play Navarro every other day for a few…

Longoria, Navarro will play

KANSAS CITY - Greetings from Kauffman Stadium, where the weather is outrageously pleasant for this time of year.

Third baseman Evan Longoria and catcher Dioner Navarro are both in the lineup for the Rays’ second-half opener tonight against the Royals. Longoria hit in the batting cages and said he’s fine…

Longoria “50-50 to 60-40;” Navarro practices

KANSAS CITY—The Rays resume play tomorrow night against the Royals following the All-Star break, so let’s get caught up on a few things.

The team worked out for about 90 minutes tonight in shorts at beautifully manicured Kauffman Stadium. The five players who made the All-Star team were excused. Third…

Pena replaces Pedroia on All-Star team

The Tampa Bay Rays’ entire infield will be at the All-Star Game after all.

Manager Joe Maddon today named Carlos Pena to the American League team as a replacement for Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who pulled out of the game to deal with family health issues.

Major…

Navarro hit by foul tip, leaves game

Rays catcher Dioner Navarro left the game with two out in the top of the seventh after being struck in the mask by a foul tip off the bat of Jack Cust.

Navarro went down behind the plate and was tended to by the Rays’ trainers, with the team…

Rays set second-half rotation

The Rays have set up their starting rotation for the start of the second half next Friday, when James Shields will get the ball at Kansas City.

Tampa Bay’s Opening Day starter, who will be on the mound tomorrow in the first half finale, will be followed by Scott…

Rays don’t plan in-season payroll cut

With his team hovering on the periphery of the playoff hunt as the All-Star break looms, Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said on a conference call today that he doesn’t expect to trim salary in the second half despite attendance and revenues that have lagged behind the team’s expectations so…

Lights out at the Trop

As thunderstorms roll over Tropicana Field, a bank of lights above the playing surface has gone out, halting the action between the Rays and Blue Jays.

The lights went out just after the final notes of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch, and the Blue…

Rays look to build momentum vs. Jays

Coming off a walk-off win last night, the Rays look to keep it moving tonight against the slumping Blue Jays, who have dropped eight of their last 10 games. A loss tonight would drop Toronto (43-42) to .500 for the first time all season.

The Rays will try to…