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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Posted Aug 30, 2011 by Roger Mooney
Updated Aug 30, 2011 at 06:07 PM

ROGER MOONEY
ARLINGTON It’s that time of the year when Rays fans have to get their “Sweet Caroline” on and root for the Red Sox, who begin a three-game series tonight against the visiting Yankees.
The Rays begin the day 7 ½ game back of the Yankees in the Wild Card standings and could use some help from one of their AL East rivals as they try to catch the other AL East rival.
They open a three-game series tonight with the Rangers at Rangers Ballpark.
This is where the Rays salvaged the ALDS series last October with a pair of road victories against the Rangers before heading home and losing for the second time during the series to Cliff Lee.
Jeremy Hellickson makes his first career start against the Rangers in what will be 100-plus degree temperature.
The Rays will limit their time on the field during pregame so as not to wilt in the heat before first pitch.
The Rays are 3-1 on this seven-game road trip.
Here are the lineups:
RAYS
Jennings LF
Damon DH
Longoria 3B
Zobrist 2B
Kotchman 1B
Upton CF
Joyce RF
Shoppach C
Rodriguez SS
—
Hellickson (11-9, 3.01)
RANGERS
Kinsler 2B
Andrus SS
Hamilton LF
Young 3B
Napoli DH
Murphy RF
Torrealba C
Moreland 1B
Chavez CF
—
Scott Feldman RHP (0-0, 3.94)
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