This evening the Red Sox will travel to Port Charlotte to face the Rays before a sold out crowd.
Lineup:
via Marc Topkin
Ben Zobrist, 1B
Johnny Damon, DH
Evan Longoria, 3B
Manny Ramirez, LF
Matt Joyce, RF
B.J. Upton, CF
Sean Rodriguez 2B
Kelly Shoppach C
Elliot Johnson SS
Andy Sonnanstine will get the start, continuing the Rays' trend of keeping their starters hidden from AL East opponents. These two teams met once before this preseason: Sonny started that game as well and had his best start of spring, pitching four scoreless innings while only allowing two baserunners. That game ended with a walkoff home run from catching prospect Robinson Chirinos, who was sent to minor league camp last week.
Sonnanstine will be followed by Joel Peralta, Kyle Farnsworth, Juan Cruz and Rob Delaney. The Rays do not have any southpaws scheduled.
The Red Sox will be starting knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield with a split-squad lineup. Boston's outfield will feature Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford and J.D. Drew, despite the split. Earlier, the other half of the Sox had an 8-3 victory at the Tigers in Fort Meyers.