"3B Evan Longoria said he couldn't have felt worse, literally.

"I felt like death for about two days there," Longoria said Wednesday. "I feel 100 percent better today. I'm glad to wake up and feel like I did because it wasn't fun."

While most of the other Rays had just a nasty stomach flu, Longoria had it much worse, with a fever in excess of 102, a throat so sore "it was like a pile of red ants had sat in there all night," and enough other issues that he lost 7 pounds.

Longoria was out of the lineup for a third straight game Wednesday on "doctor's orders," primarily a concern over an increased risk of a muscle pull or other injury since he was dehydrated, feverish and weak. He did pinch-hit in the 10th, reaching on an infield single, and stayed in to play defense.

He said after the game he felt fine and expects to be back in the lineup Friday in Baltimore (where temperatures are expected to be in the 90s).

Longoria received IV fluids and antibiotics after seeing a local doctor, who also did a series of tests, including throat cultures.

Making it worse for Longoria is that he grew up near Angels Stadium and has a .413 career average there, and this is the Rays' only visit this season.

"It's very disappointing," he said, "but I've got to look at what's best for the team in the long run.""