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		Front-running Rays to visit Oakland By Daniel Dullum August 10, 2008
	Tampa Bay Ray's Eric Hinske, left, congratulates Shawn Riggans on his three-run home run in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners during a MLB baseball game in Seattle on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
	The good news for the slumping Oakland Athletics is that they’re heading home after a disastrous road trip. The bad news is that the suddenly hot Tampa Bay Rays are coming to town. The Rays, who improved to a franchise-record 71 wins on the season Sunday, come to Oakland for a three-game set, beginning Tuesday at McAfee Coliseum. Tampa Bay just finished taking three of four over the weekend at Seattle and owns a 4 ½ game lead over Boston in the AL East race; the Rays’ largest lead since July 6. The timing couldn’t have been better for the return of Rocco Baldelli to the Rays lineup. Baldelli missed most of last season with a nagging hamstring pull, and was diagnosed with a mitochondrial disorder – a condition that slows muscle recovery and causes extreme fatigue. Baldelli slowly worked himself back into shape are returned to Tampa Bay in a nick of time, since Rays outfielder Carl Crawford went on the disabled list after injuring a tendon in the middle finger of his right hand. The Athletics have lost 12 of their last 13 games, including a 1-9 road trip. Oakland is expected to start Gio Gonzalez, Justin Duchscherer and Sean Gallagher on the mound for the weekday series, while the Rays counter with Scott Kazmir, Andy Sonnanstine and James Shields. Game times are 7:05 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 12:35 p.m. on Thursday.