Rays' Longoria to miss 2 games

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria missed Wednesday's game against the New York Yankees because of a death in his family.

Manager Joe Maddon said the 2008 AL rookie of the year will also miss Thursday night's home game against the Chicago White Sox. Longoria is expected to rejoin the Rays on Friday.

Longoria has hit safely in each of the eight games he's played and is batting .441 with five homers and 12 RBI's. The eight-game hitting streak is the longest of his career.

Maddon said the team had been aware for several days that Longoria would need to take time off but that the 23-year-old had "just been trying figure out the right day to go home."

Willy Aybar will fill in at third base during the absence.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)