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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 @ O’s: Avoid the trap

Posted Sep 12, 2011 by Roger Mooney

Updated Sep 12, 2011 at 03:31 PM

Camden Yards is empty now, but this place will be teeming with fans tonight when the Rays continue their pursuit of the AL Wild Card against the Orioles

ROGER MOONEY
BALTIMORE Heralded pitching prospect Matt Moore joins the Rays in time for tonight’s game against the Orioles here at Camden Yards.

The left-hander, who has been nothing short of impressive this season while splitting time between Double A and Triple A, 12-3, 1.92 ERA, 210 strikeouts, 46 walks in 155 innings, will work out of the bullpen for now and will probably get a spot start when the Rays open their next homestand against Toronto.

Meanwhile, with the slumping Red Sox getting a much-needed day off, the Rays have a chance to shave a half-game off their lead in the Wild Card, closing the gap to three with a win against the Orioles.

Is three games really a gap?

In the NFL, this would be called a “trap” series, sandwiched as it is between two series against the Red Sox.

Will the Rays get caught looking past the Orioles?

They say no.

Johnny Damon: “I think we have to go into Baltimore and not relax at all. I think that’s the biggest thing we have to guard against.”

James Shields: “We can’t take them lightly, no doubt.”

Joe Maddon: “There’s no resting. It’s push, push, push.”

We shall see.

It’s Jeff Niemann (9-7, 4.07) vs. Zach Britton (9-9, 4.33).

Niemann has allowed 12 runs in 9 2/3 innings over his past two starts, but those starts were against the Rangers. The Orioles are not the Rangers.

How are the Rays getting ready for tonight’s game? Damon, Sean Rodriguez, Elliot Johnson, Sam Fuld, Wade Davis and Justin Ruggiano are playing two-hand touch in the outfield as the ground’s crew preps the field for BP.

Lineups to come …