Jul 4, 2008 - 9:15 AM
0 shoutsKansas City (39-47) at Tampa Bay (52-32) 5:10 pm. EDT
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Rookie Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays look to avoid a letdown on Friday in the opener of a four-game series with the Kansas City Royals.
Longoria notched three hits, including a two-run double in a six-run seventh inning, to help the Rays complete a three-game sweep of Boston with a 7-6 victory on Thursday.
A potential candidate for American League Rookie of the Year, the 22-year-old third baseman is hitting .367 (22-for-60) with five homers and 18 RBI in his last 15 games. Longoria and the Rays have won four straight and eight of their last nine contests.
After sweeping the world champions, it would be easy for the Rays to overlook the struggling Royals. Kansas City has lost four of six, but is coming off a 10-7 victory over Baltimore on Thursday. Jose Guillen drove in three runs and the Royals used a six-run seventh inning to earn the series split.
Tampa Bay sends its most inconsistent starter to the hill in this one, as Edwin Jackson (4-6, 4.33 ERA) gets the ball. The righthander is 1-3 with a 5.75 ERA in his last six starts.
Kansas City counters with Brian Bannister (7-7, 4.88), who was reached for seven runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 9-6 loss to St. Louis on Sunday. Bannister has struggled on the road, going 2-4 with a 7.78 ERA in seven starts.
From the Bleachers
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KANSAS CITY: 2
TAMPA BAY: 11
Final
Jul 4 7:59 PM -
AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY ROBINSON TEJEDA ALLOWED CARL CRAWFORD TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, C PENA ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 2
TAMPA BAY 11 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: E LONGORIA (.282, 3-FOR-4)
Jul 4 7:49 PM -
AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CARL CRAWFORD SCORED JONNY GOMES AND REID
BRIGNAC.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, C CRAWFORD ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 2
TAMPA BAY 10 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B UPTON (.279, 1-FOR-2, BB, SF, RBI)
Jul 4 7:47 PM -
AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY AKINORI IWAMURA SCORED DIONER NAVARRO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R BRIGNAC ON SECOND, J GOMES ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 2
TAMPA BAY 8 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C CRAWFORD (.280, 2-FOR-4)
Jul 4 7:46 PM -
AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
WILD PITCH BY EDWIN JACKSON ALLOWED MARK TEAHEN TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R GLOAD ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 2
TAMPA BAY 7 TOP, 8TH
DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J BUCK (.244, 0-FOR-2)
Jul 4 7:23 PM -
AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MARK GRUDZIELANEK (3) TO LEFT CENTER WITH
1 OUT IN THE 7TH OFF EDWIN JACKSON.
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 1, TAMPA BAY 7
DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: A GORDON (.260, 0-FOR-2)
Jul 4 7:01 PM -
AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY CARLOS PENA (12) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 5TH OFF BRIAN BANNISTER SCORED CARL CRAWFORD AND B.J. UPTON.
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 0, TAMPA BAY 7
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: E LONGORIA (.277, 1-FOR-2)
Jul 4 6:30 PM -
AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY CARLOS PENA SCORED B.J. UPTON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 0
TAMPA BAY 4 BOTTOM, 3RD
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: E LONGORIA (.278, 1-FOR-1)
Jul 4 6:01 PM -
AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY CLIFF FLOYD SCORED CARLOS PENA.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, E LONGORIA ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 0
TAMPA BAY 3 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: D NAVARRO (.312, 4 HR, 33 RBI)
Jul 4 5:30 PM -
AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CARLOS PENA SCORED CARL CRAWFORD.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, C PENA ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 0
TAMPA BAY 2 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: E LONGORIA (.275, 15 HR, 50 RBI)
Jul 4 5:26 PM -
AL
AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY B.J. UPTON SCORED AKINORI IWAMURA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C CRAWFORD ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 0
TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C PENA (.223, 11 HR, 38 RBI)
Jul 4 5:22 PM
