Colome more confident heading into second start

NEW YORK -- Alex Colome joined the Rays on Friday in advance of making a start against the Yankees on Saturday.

Colome, ranked 12th on the Rays' Top 20 Prospects list, was recalled from Triple-A Durham after Friday night's game, with reliever Josh Lueke sent to Durham.

Colome, 24, was with Tampa Bay for one start earlier this season, and he did well. After getting recalled to pitch against the Marlins on May 30, Colome responded by holding Miami to no earned runs in 5 2/3 innings to earn his first Major League win.

"The last time, I wasn't nervous, I was excited," Colome said. "But tomorrow I'll be better, more confidence. It's great to be here again. … Now I feel more comfortable, more confidence for pitching tomorrow. Feel more well, more relaxed."

Colome will be filling the spot vacated by Alex Cobb, who suffered a concussion Saturday when he got hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of Kansas City's Eric Hosmer. Cobb is out for an indefinite amount of time at this point, so Colome could be in for an extended stay if he does well.

Colome had mixed emotions about taking Cobb's spot in the rotation.

"Maybe I have a chance to have more starts," Colome said. "I feel good for me, but I feel bad for him, you know. He's a good teammate."

Colome's start means the Rays will start a rookie in four of the seven games on this road trip.

The Rays have not had four games started by rookies on a road trip since June 2011, when Cobb and Jeremy Hellickson each started twice on an 11-game trip to Baltimore, Seattle, Los Angeles and Detroit.

Colome will join right-handers Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi as the rookies to start on this trip.

The last time the Rays started three rookies on a road trip was a trip to Baltimore, Boston and New York in September 2009 (Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis and David Price).