Rays extra

© St. Petersburg Times
published May 3, 2002

TONIGHT: RAYS VS. RED SOX

WHEN/WHERE: 7:15 p.m.; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg.

PITCHERS: Red Sox -- RHP John Burkett (2-0, 1.64); Rays -- RHP Delvin James (0-2, 6.23).

TV/RADIO: Ch. 32; WFLA-AM 970.

WORTH NOTING: College students can get a $14 outfield seat and five Devil Rays Dollars (redeemable for food or beverage) for $10. ... Gates open at 5:15. ... In-stadium All-Star balloting starts tonight.

TICKETS: Available at the Tropicana Field box office, through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at devilrays.com or ticketmaster.com and at the Rays Dugout Store at WestShore Plaza. Beach tickets ($5 for adults, $2 for children and seniors) go on sale two hours before game time.

RAYS INFORMATION: Call toll free, 1-888-FAN-RAYS.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Red Sox come to town having won 11 of 14 and carrying the best record in the majors, 17-7. Not only have they been the best-hitting team in the majors through five weeks, they rank first in the AL in ERA and have allowed a .214 average. Pedro Martinez, who won't pitch in this series, has been close to his old dominating self (4-0, 3.67). As important, John Burkett, Derek Lowe, Frank Castillo and Darren Oliver have proved to be solid supporting staff, going a combined 10-4 with a 2.83 ERA. The one question on the pitching staff has been closer Ugueth Urbina, who has eight saves but a 5.79 ERA and has allowed a .333 average. The lineup is deep, with speedy Johnny Damon new at the top, Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez healthy and happy in the middle and Jason Varitek toward the bottom.

TAMPA BAY CONNECTIONS: Burkett was released by the Rays in spring training 2000. ... Sox reliever Rolando Arrojo was the Rays' first All-Star, signed after defecting from Cuba. ... Former Rays reliever Jeff Wallace is on Boston's disabled list. ... Rays catcher John Flaherty broke in with the Red Sox. ... Rays coach Billy Hatcher played for the Sox in the early '90s.

SEASON SERIES: The Rays were no-hit Saturday and lost both weekend games by a combined 14-2. Overall the Sox lead 35-23, 16-12 at the Trop.

WHO'S HOT: Garciaparra is on a 15-game hitting streak.

WHO'S NOT: Trot Nixon went 4-for-19 on the last homestand.

OUTTA LEFTFIELD

It was more than a subtle nudge, but not quite a full-fledged shove. Just before Steve Cox tagged up from third in the fourth, he pushed Twins third baseman Corey Koskie. "He tries to get in your way so you can't see the guy catching it," Cox said. "I saw it on video and when he tried to do it to me, I tried to get him out of the way so I could see."

RAYS BY THE NUMBERS

HOME/ROAD: 7-5/2-12

DAY/NIGHT: 4-6/5-11

GRASS/TURF: 2-8/7-9

VS. EAST: 3-10

VS. CENTRAL: 6-7

VS. WEST: 0-0

VS. NL: 0-0

VS. RH/LH STARTERS: 8-14/1-3

ONE-RUN/TWO-RUN GAMES: 4-5/2-2

EXTRA INNINGS: 2-2

LAST AT-BAT WINS: 4

COME-FROM-BEHIND WINS: 6

COME-FROM-AHEAD LOSSES: 10

MAKING ERROR: 3-11

HITTING HOMER: 3-7

HITTING HOMERS: 1-1

SCORING FIRST: 5-5

SCORING 4 OR MORE: 6-5

SCORING FEWER THAN 4: 4-11

OUTHITTING OPPONENTS: 6-3

BEING OUTHIT: 1-13

GETTING 10 OR MORE HITS: 6-5

GIVING UP 10 OR MORE HITS: 4-13

ATTENDANCE REPORT

HOME DATES: 12

HOME TOTAL: 168,558

HOME AVERAGE: 14,047

2001 AVERAGE: 16,029

LARGEST: 38,142 vs. Tigers, April 2

SMALLEST: 10,602 vs. Blue Jays, April 12

TEAM LEADERS

TYING/GO-AHEAD RBIs: Grieve 6; Cox, Johnson, Gomez, 5; Abernathy, Winn 4.

INFIELD HITS: Tyner 8; Winn 4; Vaughn 3; Hall 1.

BUNT HITS: Tyner 4; Hall, Winn 1.

OUTFIELD ASSISTS: Winn 3; Grieve 2; Smith, Tyner 1.

CATCHER'S EFFICIENCY: Hall, 6-14, .429; Flaherty, 0-6, .000