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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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Win tonight puts Rays in playoffs

Posted Sep 27, 2010 by Tribune Sports

Updated Sep 27, 2010 at 01:24 PM

By TONY FABRIZIO

ST. PETERSBURG The Rays’ epic battle with the Yankees for the AL East crown won’t be settled for at least a few more days, but there’s business that can be taken care of immediately.

After missing a chance to do so Sunday, Tampa Bay can clinch at least the wild-card berth with a victory tonight against the Orioles at Tropicana Field or with a Boston loss at Chicago.

The Rays begin the final week of the season with a half-game lead over the Yankees, who beat the Red Sox 4-3 in 10 innings late Sunday, and a 6 1/2-game advantage over Boston. One more win by Tampa Bay or loss by Boston would assure that the Yankees and Red Sox can’t both make the playoffs.

“This is what you play for, starting with the first day of spring training,” utility man Sean Rodriguez said. “The chance to be in a tight race all the way to the final week of the season and then get to play in the postseason.”

Tampa Bay sends rookie righthander Wade Davis against rookie lefty Brian Matusz is tonight’s opening game of the final regular-season home series of the year. 

Davis (12-9, 4.13 ERA) is 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA against the O’s, although he didn’t get a decision in an 8-7 loss at Camden Yards on Sept. 5. He is 7-0 with a 3.19 ERA in his last 11 starts. 

Matusz held the Red Sox to one run over five innings in his last start.

The Rays have taken 10 of 15 from last-place Baltimore, but the Orioles, even after getting swept at Toronto over the weekend, are 29-21 overall and 3-3 against Tampa Bay since Buck Showalter took over as manager.

“I’ve done well against them in the past,” Davis said.  “(But) they’re obviously playing really well right now. So they’re definitely a team to come with some good stuff against. They’re a team where you have to execute some pitches. They can hit some mistakes.”

The Orioles have a lineup that has given the Rays trouble at times, especially when healthy. Ex-Ray Ty Wigginton, Luke Scott , Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters all have been trouble at times. Baltimore took two out of three in the teams’ last series and scored 16 runs in the two wins.

“Yeah, Wigginton can do some damage,” Davis said. “Felix Pie has a lot of pop. Adam Jones and, obviously, Luke Scott. And Markakis. All those guys. They have a really good lineup in there. I definitely wouldn’t say the reason they’re losing games this year is the offense.”