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Rays, Phils try again to start series

Jun 23, 2012 - 1:44 PM (Sports Network) - The last time the Rays visited Philadelphia, weather problems ensued and the Phillies captured their second World Series title.

Rain derailed the opener of this three-game series Friday, causing a day/night doubleheader to be played Sunday.

In 2008, these teams endured a massive weather delay in Game 5 of the Fall Classic, and the Phillies won the game that was played over two separate days and secured the championship.

Cliff Lee, who is still winless on the season, was supposed to start Friday for the Phillies, but he'll likely be pushed back to Sunday. Officials waited out 2 hours, 48 minutes of the stormy weather on Friday before calling for the postponement.

Instead of Lee, Kyle Kendrick will toe the rubber this afternoon. The right- hander has lost his last three starts, and in that time has given up 16 earned runs over 16 innings.

Tampa Bay will counter with James Shields tonight and he is 1-0 in his last two starts since losing three of four trips to the mound.

Shields was reached for three unearned runs over 7 2/3 innings of a 4-3 loss versus Miami on Saturday and did not figure into the decision. He is 7-4 with a 3.72 ERA in 14 starts this season and 5-2 in seven road assignments. The right-hander won his only regular-season start against the Phillies back on June 16, 2006 in a 10-4 victory in south Philly. Shields tossed six innings of three-run ball in that one.

Shields defeated the Phillies in Game 2 of the 2008 World Series with 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

Tampa Bay will resume a nine-game road trip in south Philly and lost two of three tests in Washington to open the trek.

In Thursday's 5-2 loss at Nationals Park, Desmond Jennings and Sean Rodriguez both drove in runs, while Jose Lobaton and Drew Sutton had two hits apiece. Matt Moore drew the start and did not factor in the outcome after he allowed a pair of runs on three hits and four walks in five innings.

The Phillies, who are five-time defending division champions, were targeting their first three-game sweep of the season, but couldn't hold a 1-0 lead and lost 4-1 to the Rockies on Thursday.

The Rays made a bevy of roster moves before Friday's scheduled series opener. They placed outfielder Matt Joyce on the 15-day disabled list with a left external oblique strain and reinstated infielder Jeff Keppinger from the 15- day DL. The Rays also claimed infielder Brooks Conrad off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers, recalled pitcher Brandon Gomes from Triple-A Durham, optioned outfielder Rich Thompson to Durham and designated infielder Drew Sutton for assignment.

Reliever Joel Peralta also dropped his appeal and will begin serving his eight-game suspension for possessing a foreign substance on his glove during a game earlier in the week.

The Phillies lost two of three meetings with Tampa Bay back in 2009, one year after beating the Rays in the World Series.