Rays try to maintain at least a share of first

Posted Aug 31, 2010 by Tribune Sports

Updated Aug 31, 2010 at 04:55 PM

By TONY FABRIZIO

ST. PETERSBURG The Rays and Yankees have been tied for first place in the American League East for the last eight days. According to Elias Sports Bureau, that’s the longest stretch two teams have been tied for first this late in the season in major league history.

The teams will meet head-on Sept. 13-15 here at Tropicana Field, but tonight, the Rays will host the Blue Jays in the middle game of a three-game series, and the Yankees will play the Athletics at home.

Here are tonight’s Blue Jays-Rays lineups:

BLUE JAYS

Fred Lewis, DH
DeWayne Wise, RF
Jose Bautista, eB
Vernon Wells, CF
Adam Lind, 1B
John Buck, C
Aaron Hill, 2B
Travis Snider, LF
John McDonald, SS
—
Ricky Romero, LHP (10-8, 3.54)

RAYS

B.J. Upton, CF
Jason Bartlet, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Carlos Pena, 1B
Sean Rodriguez, 2B
Kelly Shoppach, C
Ben Zobrist, RF
Dan Johnson, DH
—
Jeff Niemann, RHP (10-4, 3.67)