Tampa Bay @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 21, 2010 ) Tampa Bay 12, Chi. White Sox 0
One loss didn't stop the Tampa Bay Rays' momentum.
The Rays saw their seven-game winning streak snapped Tuesday night by a strong pitching performance from Chicago's John Danks.
Any idea that defeat would put the Rays back on their heels was quickly erased Wednesday night when Tampa Bay rolled to a 12-0 victory. Mark Buehrle, who pitched a perfect game against the Rays last season, was no match for them this time. Tampa Bay jumped on the left-hander early and had him in the showers by the fifth inning.
Sean Rodriguez drove in four runs and had three hits, including a three-run homer. Jason Bartlett and Evan Longoria had three hits apiece.
The two teams are going in completely opposite directions. The Rays, who swept a three-game series in Baltimore and a four-game series in Boston before hitting Chicago, have won eight of nine, all coming on their current road trip. Meanwhile, the White Sox have lost five of six and have played uninspired baseball.
It will be up to right-hander Jake Peavy to stop the Rays, but also put an end to the Sox‘s negative momentum, which has been one of baseball’s biggest stories in the season’s first month. Considered a favorite to win the American League Central, the Sox have stumbled so far and only the Orioles have a worse record in the AL.
Peavy will have to be at his best to control an offense that has scored 27 runs in its last three wins.
To date, all that's missing from Peavy's record is a victory. He looked to be in line for his first win of the season in his last start against Cleveland. He had a 2-1 lead and retired the first two hitters in the eighth, but gave up Asdrubal Cabrera's game-tying home run. Peavy was pulled and the Indians added a run, turning his strong outing - two runs in 7 2-3 innings - into a no-decision.
Given the fact Peavy is 95-68 in his career, it's only a matter of time until he gets in the win column. Whether he can do that against one of baseball's hottest teams remains to be seen. Peavy won his only career start against Tampa Bay, but that was in 2007, long before the Rays became what they are today.
A start after finally recording his first win at Fenway Park, James Shields tries for another victory. He won for the first time this season Saturday against the Red Sox, allowing four runs in 6 2/3 innings. Shields will also be trying for his first win at U.S. Cellular Field, where he has no record in two starts.