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ST. PETERSBURG —
IF Will Rhymes, called up from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, made his first career start at third base for the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday as manager Joe Maddon set in motion the parade of players who will fill in while 3B Evan Longoria is out with a partially torn left hamstring.
IF Elliot Johnson started at third base Tuesday. Maddon said he will also use IF Jeff Keppinger. SS Sean Rodriguez and C Chris Gimenez also could find themselves playing there, but those would be game-in-progress moves.
Maddon said he is not auditioning someone for a full-time role.
"It's possible to pick somebody, but I really would anticipate it's going to be a revolving door," Maddon said. "It's just going to be based on our information and on that particular night who appears to be the best matchup."
Maddon was asked about CF B.J. Upton, who has played 63 games at third base; and 2B/RF Ben Zobrist, who has played four. Maddon said neither will be involved in the rotation.
Rhymes, who arrived from Durham during the middle of Tuesday's win, played second base with the Tigers in 2010 and 2011. He became a utility infielder during spring training.
"That was part of the appeal of coming here," Rhymes said. "They were going to let me move around and play some different positions. It's pretty cool to get that opportunity, that they trust me enough to put me out there."
Maddon said Rhymes handled the transition to third base during spring training, and Rhymes said he took ground balls there every day while with Durham. The one thing he didn't work on at Durham was the shifts.
"You lose Longoria and that's horrible for the team, and I'm not trying to fill his shoes at all, but if I can do anything to help them win a game or two here or there, that's all I'm trying to do," Rhymes said.
Farnsworth update
RHP Kyle Farnsworth (right elbow soreness), who was moved to the 60-day disabled list Tuesday, began a throwing program that same afternoon with 25 throws into a tube sock and said his elbow was pain free.
Farnsworth said being moved to the 60-day DL was not a setback since he was told when he went on the DL on Opening Day that he wouldn't be back until mid-June.
"I wasn't going try and rush anything, anyhow," he said. "I'm still going to let my arm tell me what I'm able to do. It would be nice to have a certain date to be ready. I don't want to say I want to be ready by this date, cut and dry. I don't want to do that, just be ready when my arm says I'm ready."
With RHP Fernando Rodney perfect in eight save opportunities, Farnsworth's role as closer may be taken when he returns. He said that won't be a problem.
"No, not at all. We're all in it to win the World Series, so whatever Joe has me do, I've said that since Day One, wherever he has me pitch that's when I'm going to go and I'll go out and do the best I can," Farnsworth said.
Zim to have dialysis
Senior adviser Don Zimmer, 81, underwent a procedure Wednesday to have a shunt inserted so he can undergo dialysis.
Zimmer has not been with the team since the first weekend of the season. He did not attend the 100th anniversary ceremony at Fenway Park and has been in and out of the hospital several times in the past month.
Noteworthy
Wednesday's attendance at Tropicana Field was 9,837. The first three days of the Seattle series has drawn 29,267. Today's finale has a 1:10 p.m. start. ... RF Matt Joyce tripled and homered while batting third Tuesday for the first time this season. He did not hit a triple or homer in his 22 games batting third last season. His three triples this season lead the AL and match his career-high. ... Tuesday's win was the 10th in team history in which the Rays had three hits or less. ... The "Players and Pooches" calendar goes on sale Friday for $15. Proceeds benefit the Pet Pal Animal Shelter in St. Pete.
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