--INF/OF Ben Zobrist made the second start of his career -- amateur, college and pro -- in right field on Wednesday, as the Rays tried to find a way to challenge Phillies LHP Cole Hamels. Zobrist went 1-for-3 and made four catches.
--RHP Troy Percival, the Rays' closer for most of the season, was left off the roster for the third consecutive playoff series. He had been sidelined with a bad back, but he wasn't held out of the World Series due to his health. Manager Joe Maddon said Percival was dealing with a family issue. --2B Akinori Iwamura continued his hot postseason, collecting three of the Rays' five hits.
--OF Rocco Baldelli is expected to be in the lineup Thursday against Phillies RHP Brett Myers. The Rays will seek to take advantage of Myers' "reverse splits," which show that right-handers hit him better than lefties.
--OF Gabe Gross remained on the postseason roster despite his poor offensive showing (1-for-16), though the Rays did give serious thought to adding INF/OF Eric Hinske in his place. Hinske played in the World Series for Boston last year.
--Backup C Shawn Riggans had hoped to be reinstated to the roster for the World Series, but the Rays decided he wasn't recovered enough from September right knee surgery. Tampa Bay opted to stick with Michel Hernandez, who has yet to play in their first 12 postseason games.
BY THE NUMBERS: 11 -- Consecutive Rays retired to finish Game 1 of the World Series.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I knew he was good, but not that good." -- 3B Evan Longoria, on Phillies LHP Cole Hamels.
