Today: Rays vs. Diamondbacks

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published June 22, 2006

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WHEN/WHERE: 12:15; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg.

RADIO: 1250-AM, 820-AM (Spanish).

PROBABLE PITCHERS: Diamondbacks - RHP Edgar Gonzalez (0-0, 0.00); Rays - LHP Scott Kazmir (8-4, 3.39).

PROMOTION: The first 15,000 fans receive Rays ThunderStix.

RAYS TICKETS: Available at Tropicana Field Box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, devilrays.com and at the Devil Rays Dugout store in WestShore Plaza in Tampa.

RAYS INFORMATION: (727) 825-3250.

WATCH FOR ...

SHORT-TIMER: Rays starter Scott Kazmir has not pitched more than five innings in his past two starts and three of his past four. In fact, the left-hander hasn't had a quality outing (six innings, three runs) since May 21 against the Marlins.

HOME BODY: Kazmir really likes pitching at Tropicana Field, where he is 3-1 with a 2.62 ERA and is allowing a .218 opponents' batting average. On the road: 5-3, 3.88 and a .289 average.

MYSTERY MAN: Diamondbacks starter Edgar Gonzalez, called up from Triple-A Tucson for this start, was among the leaders in the Pacific Coast League with 78 strikeouts and 882/3 innings.