Longoria back for Rays as injury lingers

HOUSTON -- Evan Longoria returned to the Rays' lineup Tuesday. He had not played since Friday, when he was sidelined with plantar fasciitis of his right foot.

"I'm in the lineup," Longoria said with a smile as he walked past the lineup card taped to the clubhouse wall that had him hitting fourth in the batting order as the Rays' designated hitter.

"He's been working the last couple days," manager Joe Maddon said. "He came out early today; ran around, took some ground balls, hit, did all those different baseball things and came back in and felt strongly that he's able to play.

"Of course he's not going to be able to run at full strength, full speed, and we may have to do something later in the game as necessary."

Whether Longoria can remain in the lineup on a consistent basis is still a day-to-day proposition.

"This is all a 'feel' thing, and we'll see how he comes through it tonight," Maddon said.