THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 vs. TORONTO BLUE JAYS LH Blake Snell (6-8, 3.54 in 2016) vs. RH Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37 in 2016) First Pitch: 7:10 p.m. | Location: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla. | TV: Fox Sports Sun | Radio: WDAE 620 AM, WGES 680 (Sp.) Game No.: 4 (2-1) | Home Game No.: 4 (2-1) | All-Time Game No.: 3,080 (1,422-1,657) | All-Time Home Game No.: 1,544 (782-761) FIRST PITCH—St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway will deliver Jumbo Díaz, C Derek Norris, OF Peter Bourjos, INF Rickie Weeks Jr., the ceremonial first pitch tonight. INF Daniel Robertson (major league debut), OF Mallex Smith and RH Austin Pruitt (major league debut)…six players made the Rays Opening KK’S TRIP TO THE HARDWARE STORE—Prior to tomorrow’s game, CF Day roster who were not on the 40-man roster at the beginning of spring Kevin Kiermaier will accept his 2016 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year training: Hunter, Díaz, Norris, Bourjos, Sucre and Weeks Jr. Award as the majors’ top center fielder…the next day (Saturday), he will receive his second consecutive Rawlings American League Gold Glove WHO’S MISSING—The Rays opened the season with a club-record 7 Award in a pregame ceremony—while the first 15,000 fans will receive a players on the disabled list (prev. 6, 2015 and 2000): RH Brad Boxberger Kevin Kiermaier Gold Glove Bobblehead presented by DEX Imaging. (10-day, right flexor strain), INF Matt Duffy (10-day, recovery from Achilles surgery), RH Nathan Eovaldi (60-day, Tommy John surgery), RH Kevin RASMUS REHAB—OF Colby Rasmus will make his first rehab appear- Gadea (60-day, right forearm tendinitis), C Wilson Ramos (60-day, recov- ance tonight, playing left field for Class-A Charlotte in their season opener ery from torn ACL), OF Colby Rasmus (10-day, recovery from hip surgery) at Charlotte Sports Park…he is recovering from October 2016 hip surgery. and RH Shawn Tolleson (60-day, right flexor strain). MAILE CLAIMED—The Blue Jays have claimed C Luke Maile, who was LONGO-GEVITY—Sunday marked 3B Evan Longoria’s ninth consecutive designated for assignment on Sunday…he will report to Triple-A Buffalo. Opening Day start, all at third base…this is now the longest active streak of any third baseman in the game, as TEX Adrian Beltre and NYM David RAY MATTER—With last night’s 4-1 win over the Yankees, the Rays won Wright both had their streaks or 15 and 12 openers, respectively, snapped their season-opening series for the first time since 2012, when they swept this year due to injury…Evan’s nine total Opening Day starts also surpassed the Yankees in 3 home games…the Rays bullpen pitched to a 1.08 ERA OF Carl Crawford (eight from 2003-10) for the most in franchise history. (8.1-IP, 1-ER) in the opening series…with a win tonight, the Rays can equal their best record in club history through 4 games (3-1 in 2012, 2010, 2008, SCHEDULING QUIRKS—On Tuesday the Rays began a stretch of 22 2002)…last night, RH Alex Cobb registered his first win at home since Aug games in 23 days…starting tomorrow (Friday), their next 10 games have 21, 2014 vs. DET, going 957 days in between. eight different start times…starting Sunday, they have a stretch in which 6 of 8 games are day games…the Rays first 14 games are against AL East RAYS vs. JAYS—Tonight the Rays begin a 4-game series vs. Toronto, the rivals New York, Toronto and Boston…in the month of April, the Rays will first of 19 scheduled meetings in 2017 (10 at home, 9 in Canada)…10 of play 26 games—all against opponents who finished 2016 above .500… their next 30 games are vs. Toronto…Rays have won 8 of the last 9 sea- through May 21, only 4 of the Rays first 46 games are against teams that son series, including 2016 (11-8) when they were the only team in the AL finished 2016 below .500, a home-and-home series with the Marlins from East with a winning record vs. the Blue Jays…Rays are 176-157 (.529) May 1-4…they have only one off-day in the month of May. all-time, their most wins against any opponent…their winning pct. is 2nd best against an AL opponent behind their 18-9 record vs. Houston (AL only). ON THIS DATE—One year ago today in a 5-3 victory at the Rogers Centre, OF Steven Souza Jr. went 4-for-4 with 2 HR and a double, and his 11 total HOMEBODY—Tonight’s starter, LH Blake Snell, has yielded 2 runs or bases fell one shy of the club record…two years ago today (April 6, 2015), fewer in 7 consecutive home starts, dating back to last July 7 vs. LAA…it’s Kevin Cash made his managerial debut here at Tropicana Field in a 6-2 the longest such streak in franchise history, ahead of Chris Archer’s active loss to the Orioles…37 years, 120 days old at the time, he was the majors’ streak of 6 straight…Snell is 4-2 with a 2.23 ERA (36.1-IP, 9-ER) during this youngest manager since ARI A.J. Hinch debuted in 2009 at age 34. stretch of 7 home starts, and 5-4 with a 3.04 ERA (50.1-IP, 17-ER) in 10 career starts at Tropicana Field. SAFE HAVEN—The Rays have partnered with CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse) to post 300 signs in women’s restrooms at Tropicana Field, 401 AND COUNTING—Last night’s start by RH Alex Cobb was the 401st which include crisis hotline numbers and information urging victims to speak consecutive Rays game started by a pitcher under the age of 30, the lon- out…these signs will eventually be added to men’s restrooms as well. gest current streak in the majors…35-year-old LH Erik Bedard (July 3, 2014 at DET) was the last 30-plus pitcher to start a game for the Rays… FOR FURRY FRIENDS—For the sixth consecutive season, every home entering tonight, since June 26, 2006, the Rays have started a pitcher under run hit by 3B Evan Longoria will benefit Pet Pal Animal Shelter, a no-kill, the age of 30 in 1,636 of their last 1,710 games (96 pct.) including a streak nonprofit shelter in St. Petersburg…for each of his home runs this season, of 764 consecutive games over 2007-11…Cobb, who turns 30 on Oct 7, is Longoria will join the Rays Baseball Foundation, Ducky’s Sports Lounge, the senior member of the starting rotation, while tonight’s hurler LH Blake the DeBartolo Family Foundation, Kids Artistic Revue Competition and Snell (24) is the youngest. Stepps Towing Service to each donate $100 to the shelter…since 2012, Longoria’s 128 HR have generated $61,300 for the shelter. COREY COZY AT LEADOFF—DH Corey Dickerson led off last night’s game with a 418-foot opposite-field homer…it was the fourth time in club A GLOBAL GAME—A record total of 259 players on 2017 Opening Day 25- history a designated hitter knocked a leadoff home run, joining Matt Joyce man rosters and inactive lists were born outside the 50 United States…the (Sep 24, 2013 at NYY), Johnny Damon (June 12, 2011 at BAL) and Rocco 259 players born outside the U.S. (29.8 pct.) come from the pool of 868 play- Baldelli (April 18, 2007 vs. BAL). ers (749 active 25-man roster players and 119 disabled, suspended or re- stricted Major League players) on April 2 rosters and represent a record-high DUAL THREAT—Last night C Derek Norris drove in the go-ahead runs 19 countries and territories outside the U.S. …the 259 foreign-born players with a 2-out, 2-run single in the 2nd inning then stole second base…it was and the percentage of 29.8 are both the highest figures in history, eclipsing the first stolen base by any Rays catcher since Ryan Hanigan on Sep 14, the 246 players on 2007 Opening Day rosters and 29.2 pct. of players on 2014 at TOR…Norris became the second catcher in Rays history to record 2005 Opening Day rosters…the Rays have two of the four players born in 2 RBI and a SB in a game, joining Josh Paul on Aug 5, 2006 vs. BOS… Nicaragua in RH Erasmo Ramirez and RH Kevin Gadea (60-day DL)…LAA the Elias Sports Bureau notes that Norris batted just .159 (11-for-69) last RH J.C. Ramirez and KC INF Cheslor Cuthbert are the others. season with 2 outs and runners on base, including .111 (3-for-27) after the All-Star break. TOMORROW’S BARGAIN—The Rays offer ticket promotions for all home games Monday through Friday for the 2017 regular season, presented by LOMO’S REVENGE—1B Logan Morrison has 5 hits in 9 AB to begin the Tampa General Hospital…tomorrow is the first $7.11 Friday, presented by season…in 2016, he didn’t record his fifth hit until April 26 vs. BAL in his 7-Eleven…for all Friday home games, fans may purchase Upper Level tick- 51st at-bat…he singled off the B-ring catwalk in the 2nd inning last night, ets for only $7.11…to take advantage of this special price, fans should visit the first fair ball to strike a catwalk this season after a Tropicana Field record a participating local 7-Eleven store and pick up the Rays Friday night dis- 14 times in 2016.