Tampa Bay @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 11, 2010 ) Tampa Bay 7, LA Angels 2
Evan Longoria isn’t a one-man wrecking crew, although it would appear that way at times.
The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman continued his season-long tear by supplying the offense in Tuesday’s 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels, finishing with a home run and four RBIs as the club snapped a season-high three-game losing skid.
The three-game series between Tamp Bay and Los Angeles remains up for grabs as the teams take the field for the rubber match on Wednesday.
Longoria figures to have his hand in on the action, much like he has in most of the Rays’ contests thus far.
The 24-year-old leads his team in batting average (.328), homers (eight), RBIs (29) and runs scored (30). He has also reached bases safely in all but four of the team’s 33 games.
And as good as Longoria has been with the bat, the Rays’ pitching might just be even better as it ranks tops in the American League.
Jeff Niemann tossed 7 1/3 strong innings on Tuesday and David Price will look to build off that effort when he takes the hill in the finale.
Price has come into his own this season after falling short of expectations in 2009. He has been dominant in going 4-1 with a team-best 1.91 ERA and 33 strikeouts.
Price has been particularly sharp his last three outings, allowing just two earned runs on 11 hits over 22 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old will try to join teammate Matt Garza as the only five-game winner in the AL.
Opposing Price will be Angels ace Jared Weaver, who too could garner his fifth win with a victory on Wednesday.
Weaver has been nothing short of solid through seven starts, going 4-1 with a 2.66 ERA and 47 strikeouts -- third-best in the league.
The young right-hander has been especially good in his last two outings at Angel Stadium, allowing three total runs in 13 innings.
Weaver made one start against the Rays last season, surrendering two runs on five hits over six innings to earn the win.
Tampa Bay had dropped three straight on the road prior to Tuesday. They still sit at a majors-best 14-4 away from home.
Torri Hunter has carried the Angels offensively of late, recording four hits and five RBIs over his last three games. He missed Sunday’s game because of a bruised knee, but appears to have put it behind him.