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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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Lineups, an ‘odor of gamemanship’ and the daily Farnsworth update. Hint: It’s good

Posted Sep 21, 2011 by Roger Mooney

Updated Sep 21, 2011 at 12:45 PM

ROGER MOONEY
NEW YORK It is James Shields against right-hander Hector Noesi this afternoon in the first game of this day/night doubleheader.

Noesi, who is making the start in place of Phil Hughes, will throw 50 to 60 pitches before giving way to the bullpen.

The official word of the changed in starters didn’t reach the Rays until this morning. Joe Maddon said it had an “odor of gamesmanship” on part of the Yankees, but said he didn’t have a problem with it.

The Rays found out Tuesday that Hughes may not start and figured they would be facing Noesi.

Ben Zobrist is on his way to New York after spending the past two days at home for the birth of his daughter. He is not in the starting lineup, but Maddon said he could play this afternoon.

Maddon also held Sean Rodriguez out of the lineup to keep his balky lower back ready for the nightcap, which comes with a date against CC Sabathia.

The leaves the Rays with this bottom of the order: catcher Jose Lobaton (.074 average), second baseman Elliot Johnson (.190) and shortstop Reid Brignac (.190). Not exactly murder’s row.

Maddon is hoping 1-through-6 can provide Shields with enough offense.

Closer Kyle Farnsworth threw 45 pitches in the bullpen this morning, his first time on a mound since Sept. 10, when his right elbow became too tender to pitch. He said he threw all his pitches and everything felt fine.

If the elbow responds favorably tomorrow, Farnsworth said he should be able to pitch on the homestand.

Here are the lineups:

RAYS
Jennings LF
Upton CF
Longoria 3B
Joyce RF
Damon DH
Kotchman 1B
Lobaton C
Johnson 2B
Brignac SS
—
Shields (15-11, 2.78)

YANKEES
Gardner CF
Jeter SS
Cano DH
Rodriguez 3B
Swisher RF
Posada 1B
Jones LF
Nunez 3B
Romine C
—
Noesi (2-1, 4.01)