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A Lot Is Riding On Series At New York

Tribune photo by JAY CONNER

Rays 3B Evan Longoria tosses his batting glove after striking out against the Royals at Tropicana FIeld.

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By Bart O'Connell

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 8, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays' two-game series at Yankee Stadium that begins tonight easily could be classified as the most important games the Rays have ever played at the hallowed ballpark.

For tonight's starter, LHP Scott Kazmir, every game at Yankee Stadium has been meaningful. What should set these games apart, though, has more do to with the Yankees, which are, "kind of ... you know, you know ... in desperate mode," he said.

Currently 81/2 games ahead of the Yankees in the American League East, the Rays are in an unfamiliar situation - a threat to stand in the way of New York's 13-year streak of reaching the postseason.

"It's going to be different. I think the fans are going to be a little more on us, compared to the past," Kazmir said. "It might be kind of mixed a little bit, because we've been beating the Red Sox and they like that, but coming into their park, I don't think they're going to be too happy to see us and we're ahead of them. There's going to be a lot of tension in there."

Kazmir does not see this series alone as an opportunity to knock the Yankees out of postseason contention, a possibility some have suggested.

"No, no, no. Nothing like that. We still have a whole half of the season to go, so it couldn't just be on one game, one inning," he said. "But if we put the pressure on them these next couple games, and end up finishing strong in the first half, I think it'll put us in a good situation."

EVAN LEADS EARLY: According to a Major League Baseball news release Monday afternoon at 3, 3B Evan Longoria took an early lead in the American League's All-Star Game Final Vote, which began Sunday afternoon on MLB.com and will determine the final member of the team.

"It's awesome to know the fans care and notice," Longoria said. "It takes a lot to get voted in, you know, the team's got to be successful, too. So like I said, it's exciting."

The race was close, with Longoria followed by Chicago OF Jermaine Dye, New York 1B Jason Giambi, Baltimore 2B Brian Roberts and Kansas City OF Jose Guillen. Milwaukee OF Corey Hart had a slim lead in the National League voting.

More than 11 million ballots were cast in the first 24 hours of voting, a 115 percent increase from the same time frame last year. All votes cast until Thursday at 5 p.m. will be accepted.

INJURY UPDATES: Manager Joe Maddon outlined the throwing program RHP Al Reyes, on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, will begin Tuesday at Single-A Vero Beach.

Reyes will pitch Tuesday and Thursday before making back-to-back appearances on the weekend, Maddon said. If all goes well he should to rejoin the team July 17, the final day of the All-Star break and a scheduled workout day for the team.

As for RHP Troy Percival (DL, left hamstring strain), Maddon said he seems to be doing well and, "He's doing laps around the training room." Like Reyes, he could be activated as early as the first game after the break, July 18 against Toronto at Tropicana Field.

Percival and SS Jason Bartlett, also on the disabled list, will be traveling with the team this week.

NOTEWORTHY: Monday's loss means the Rays haven't swept a four-game series since July 28-31, 2005, against the Royals. ... 2B Akinori Iwamura extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a fourth-inning double off the center-field wall. ... Kazmir, who also has a scheduled start in Cleveland two days before the All-Star Game, said he hasn't thought about what role, if any, he would be able to play in the game. Kazmir normally throws a side session two days after his starts.

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