ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria will get a chance to get out of his hitting funk at the top of the lineup.
Longoria normally hits third or fourth, but is in the leadoff spot for Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Indians.
The slugger entered Saturday mired in a 4-for-33 slide. Longoria said manager Joe Maddon told him to ‘get back having fun playing the game and this is a way to do it.’
Longoria, who missed 26 games earlier this season with a strained left oblique, was hitting .209 with two homers and nine RBIs in 24 games through Friday.
