Kazmir Set To Face Early Influence

Rays LHP Scott Kazmir will face fellow Houston-area native RHP Josh Beckett for the first time this year in tonight's Game 2.

For Kazmir, Beckett's influence goes back more than a decade.

"I've watched him since high school," Kazmir said. "You pick up little things like just how competitive he is and how he goes about his business. I talk to him whenever I can and kind of pick his brain and see what I can put into my game."

Beckett pitched at Spring High School. Kazmir pitched a few years later at nearby Cypress Falls, where he threw four consecutive no-hitters as a junior and broke Beckett's single-season state strikeout record. Both were first-round picks - Beckett No. 2 by the Marlins in 1999 and Kazmir No. 15 by the Mets in 2002.

Beckett downplayed any conversations he and Kazmir have had through the years.

"I think most people, particularly pitchers from Texas, generally end up talking about fishing or hunting or something like that," he said.

Kazmir will pitch against Boston for the first time since he was ripped for nine runs (four home runs) in three innings in a 13-5 loss on Sept. 15 at the Trop. He has had three starts since then, the most recent a division series victory against the White Sox in which he settled down after a 37-pitch first inning.

JACKSON GIVES TEAM OPTIONS

Adding Edwin Jackson to the ALCS roster, as the Rays did Friday morning, could free up David Price for situational relief work against a Boston lineup featuring four left-handed hitters. That wasn't an option for Manager Joe Maddon in the first round, as the rookie was his only long reliever on a 10-man pitching staff.

"The utilization of David becomes a little bit freer because Jack will be there to get the prolonged innings," Maddon said.

The Rays have no concerns about slotting Jackson into a relief role. He has 29 career big-league appearances out of the bullpen and is known for his resilient arm. He does tend to start slow and get stronger as the game moves along, though, so he probably will be used only in multiple-inning situations.

He hasn't pitched since Sept. 28, the final day of the regular season, but Jackson is confident he will be able to get back into the groove if called upon.

"I kept throwing bullpen sessions and everything is good," he said. "Kept my mechanics going on, kept my arm strong - I'm ready to go."

MISSING MAN

There was one notable absence among the Rays lined up along the first-base line for pregame introductions: Troy Percival. He didn't have to be there, as he is not on the active roster, but other inactive players such as Eric Hinske and Jonny Gomes were present.

Team officials said Percival might have returned home to California.

Marc Lancaster, Tony Fabrizio

9=8 EQUALS SALES

Rays merchandise sales have jumped from "the bottom of baseball to at least the top half, and our postseason merchandise has been flying off the shelf," team president Matt Silverman said before the game.

"You don't see many green Devil Rays jerseys or shirts around anymore," he said. "The conversion to blue is almost 100 percent."

Certainly at Tropicana Field, a Devil Rays jersey is a rare find.

CALM BEFORE THE DIN

For the second time during the postseason, 17-year-old saxophonist B.K. Jackson gave a stirring rendition of the national anthem.

Jackson plays in the jazz band at Blake High and for the Ruth Eckerd Hall conservatory band in Pinellas County. He started playing the sax in sixth grade when his music program at Progress Village Middle Magnet School didn't offer drums.

He didn't know what a saxophone was.

"My mom said it was that instrument you hear a lot on smooth jazz radio station 94.1." Jackson recalled. "I said, 'OK, cool.'"

IN MEMORIAM

The game was preceded by a moment of silence for longtime St. Petersburg resident and St. Louis Cardinals employee George Kissell, who died Tuesday at 88. Kissell joined the Cardinals in 1940 and served the club in numerous capacities over 69 years.