Tampa Bay @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Apr 28, 2010 ) Oakland 3, Tampa Bay 10
The Tampa Bay Rays opened a nine-game road trip by doing what they do best -- winning.
The Rays secured a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners with Thursday’s 8-0 victory. In the process, they improved to a league-best 12-1 away from home and became only the fourth team since 1961 to win 12 of their first 13 on the road.
The Oakland Athletics draw the challenge of being the next team to attempt to slow down baseball’s best team as they host Tampa Bay for a three-game series beginning Friday.
The Rays outscored the Mariners 21-5 in the sweep, running their winning streak to four games after a pair of setbacks to the Kansas City Royals.
Two years ago the Rays found themselves playing in the World Series. After missing the postseason in 2009, they would appear to be early favorites for a return trip the October finale.
Carl Crawford was the latest batter of the dangerous lineup to inflict his damage, finishing a triple short of the cycle and driving in a pair of runs against the Mariners.
And while the offense has been unrelenting, the Ray’s pitching staff is easily tops in the American League. The team’s staff ranks first in the AL in ERA (2.94), batting average-against (.222), WHIP (1.16) and quality starts (19).
Of the bunch, David Price may be among the most impressive. He gets the nod in the opener looking for win No. 4.
Price, who burst onto the scene two years ago only to regress a bit in 2009, appears to have finally put it all together. The 24-year-old is second among Tampa Bay starters in ERA at 2.34.
Price is coming off a no-decision in his previous outing, allowing two runs and four hits in six innings. He has not faced Oakland in his career.
Drawing the start for the A’s will be 24-year-old Gio Gonzalez, who is 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA through five starts and leads the team in strikeouts with 27. The left-hander will be eying his third straight victory following a pair of impressive performances.
Gonzalez faced the Rays twice a season ago in relief appearances and was light up for five runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Oakland closer Andrew Bailey remains unblemished on the season after locking down his fifth save in as many chances on Wednesday. Bailey has yet to surrender a run in 11 appearances, allowing only seven hits.