Rays extra

TONIGHT: RAYS AT ORIOLES

WHEN/WHERE: 7:05; Camden Yards, Baltimore.

PITCHERS: Rays -- Tanyon Sturtze (0-4, 5.15); Orioles -- Sidney Ponson (3-4, 4.64).

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

WORTH NOTING: Sturtze is 1-0 with one save and a 4.13 ERA lifetime against the Orioles. He last pitched against Baltimore five days ago and allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings. ... Ponson is 0-2 with a 6.38 ERA in three starts against the Rays this season.

RAYS 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 the game.

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

RIPPED FROM THE TABLOIDS

From Joel Sherman's column in Thursday's New York Post: "The Yankees lost to the Devil Rays last night and it felt like that time Chaminade took out No. 1 Virginia with Ralph Sampson."

RAYS BY THE NUMBERS

(through Wednesday)

HOME/ROAD: 9-13/3-13

DAY/NIGHT: 5-7/7-19

GRASS/TURF: 3-9/9-17

VS. EAST: 6-19

VS. CENTRAL: 6-7

VS. WEST: 0-0

VS. NL: 0-0

VS. RH/LH STARTERS: 11-22/1-4

AHEAD AFTER 6/7/8: 7-6/8-5/9-4

BEHIND AFTER 6/7/8: 3-17/2-20/1-20

TIED AFTER 6/7/8: 2-3/2-1/2-2

ONE-RUN/TWO-RUN GAMES: 4-7/3-6

EXTRA INNINGS: 2-2

LAST AT-BAT WINS: 5

COME-FROM-BEHIND WINS: 8

COME-FROM-AHEAD LOSSES: 14

MAKING ERROR: 5-16

HITTING HOMER: 5-12

HITTING HOMERS: 2-2

SCORING FIRST: 6-7

SCORING 4 OR MORE: 9-7

SCORING FEWER THAN 4: 4-18

OUTHITTING OPPONENTS: 7-2

BEING OUTHIT: 1-20

GETTING 10 OR MORE HITS: 9-6

GIVING UP 10 OR MORE HITS: 6-17

ATTENDANCE REPORT

HOME DATES: 22

HOME TOTAL: 304,614

HOME AVERAGE: 13,846

2001 AVERAGE: 16,029

LARGEST: 38,142 vs. Tigers, April 2

SMALLEST: 10,264 vs. Orioles, May 13

TEAM LEADERS

(through Wednesday)

TYING/GO-AHEAD RBIs: Grieve 7; Cox, Winn 6; Gomez, Johnson, Tyner 5; Abernathy 4

INFIELD HITS: Tyner 9; Winn 8; Gomez, Vaughn 3; Flaherty, Hall 2

BUNT HITS: Tyner 4; Winn 2; Hall 1

CATCHERS EFFICIENCY: Flaherty (0-9, .000), Hall (8-21, .381)

SCOUTING REPORT: The Orioles had lost four in a row entering Thursday's series finale against the Indians, two of those against the Rays, who snapped a 15-game losing streak with Randy Winn's walkoff homer Saturday at Tropicana Field. A Baltimore bullpen that had been a point of pride for manager Mike Hargrove has proven frustrating of late. After losing twice in the first 35 games, relievers were responsible for three of the four losses. Jorge Julio blew two save opportunities and Rick Bauer one. The bullpen now has a 6-5 record and a 4.02 ERA with nine saves, seven by the 23-year-old Julio. Sean Douglass is expected to start Saturday's game after being skipped in the rotation twice. He hasn't pitched since May 6. Designated hitter David Segui played Wednesday after missing three games with a wrist injury. The Orioles remain tops in the majors with a .987 fielding percentage.

TAMPA BAY CONNECTIONS: Pitcher Jason Johnson, on the disabled list with a broken finger, was the Rays' seventh pick in the expansion draft but was traded for outfielder Danny Clyburn in March 1999. Rays reliever Esteban Yan made his major-league debut in 1996 with Baltimore. Rays first-base coach Lee May played six seasons for the Orioles, including the 1979 World Series.

SEASON SERIES: The all-time series is tied at 32 and the seasons series at 4 after the Rays won two of three last weekend.

WHO'S HOT: Centerfielder Chris Singleton, hitting .226 overall through Wednesday, was 11-for-26 with 1 double, 2 triples, 1 homer and 4 RBIs in his past six games entering Thursday.

WHO'S NOT: Designated hitter Marty Cordova was batting .107 in eight games through Wednesday.