The Tampa Bay Rays open up the second half of the 2012 MLB season with a home date Friday night against one of the teams chasing them in the AL East standings, the Boston Red Sox. TV game coverage begins at 7 p.m. on Sun Sports. Fans can also follow all the action on radio on WDAE-AM 620 and WGES-AM 680.
The Rays are scheduled to start right-hander Jeremy Hellickson on the mound. He will be opposed by left-handed starter Franklin Morales of the Red Sox. Hellickson is4-5 on the year with a 3.41 ERA. Morales comes into Friday's game with a 1-2 mark and a 3.50 ERA.
The Rays and Red Sox have met nine times already this season, with Boston winning five of seven at Fenway Park and the Rays splitting a two-game series at Tampa Bay in mid-May.
Tampa Bay begins the second half of the season with a 45-41 record, seven and a half games back of the front-running New York Yankees, but only a half-game behind surprising Baltimore. The Red Sox were an even 43-43 through the first half.
Follow the Rays all season long, including game previews and team insights, at SB Nation Tampa Bay.