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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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Rays @ Kansas City

Posted Sep 30, 2010 by Roger Mooney

Updated Sep 30, 2010 at 07:21 PM

ROGER MOONEY
ST. PETERSBURG— Evan Longo is not in the lineup tonight as the Rays hope to move closer to the AL East division title.

Manager Joe Maddon said his third baseman is closer to returning and expects him to play at some point during this four-game series. But the goal is to have Longo ready for Game 1 of the ALDS, so Maddon said he wouldn’t be too upset if Longo does not return to the lineup until the postseason.

Ben Zobrist is playing third tonight, because Maddon wants to see him there in case Longo’s strained quad gives him trouble in the postseason. Maddon also said Sean Rodriguez has looked the best at third base in Longo’s absence.

Rafael Soriano signed with super agent Scott Boras today, meaning his chances of signing with the Rays next season is probably less than zero.

Joaquin Benoit, who left the team Tuesday for the birth of his child, is expected to return before tonight’s game.

The magic number to clinch the AL East is three, meaning any combination of Rays wins and Yankees losses that adds up to three and the Rays are division champs.

Here are the lineups:

RAYS
Jaso C
Zobrist 3B
Crawford LF
Johnson DH
Pena 1B
Joyce RF
Utpon CF
Brignac 2B
Bartlett SS
—
Garza RHP (15-9, 3.92)

ROYALS
Gregor Blanco RF
Mike Aviles 2B
Billy Butler 1B
Kila Ka’aihue DH
Wilson Betemit 3B
Alex Gordon LF
Yuniesky Betancourt SS
Bryan Pena C
Jarrod Dyson CF
—
Zack Greinke RHP (9-14, 4.23)