Toronto @ Tampa Bay preview
Tropicana Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 8, 2010 ) Toronto 0, Tampa Bay 9
After an ugly finish ruined Shaun Marcum's previous start, the Toronto Blue Jays ace is hoping for a better result this time around.
Marcum leads the suddenly struggling Blue Jays into the second of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Toronto has dropped three straight games against the Rays, including a 9-0 drubbing in Tuesday’s series opener.
Marcum (5-2) was poised to hand Tampa a rare road defeat a week ago, but his start lasted a little too long. After holding the Rays to a single run over eight innings, Marcum imploded in the ninth, allowing a pair of runs before he was pulled with one out.
Carl Crawford followed with a grand slam off reliever Jason Frasor and the Rays went on to earn a 7-3 victory.
It was a rare blip in what has been an otherwise sensational comeback season for Marcum, who missed all of last season due to injury. The 28-year-old right-hander has won four of his last five starts and had allowed just four runs in 25 innings prior to his last start.
The Rays didn't need a late rally Tuesday night, leading from start to finish to extend their home dominance over the division-rival Jays. Carlos Pena homered twice and had five RBIs for Tampa, which has won 11 of its last 13 home games against Toronto.
The win could serve as a major confidence-booster for the Rays, who have been sensational away from St. Petersburg (22-8) but ordinary in their home stadium (16-12).
Tampa will play 11 of its next 17 games at home, a stretch that could prove vital as the Rays look to extend their two-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East.
They're in good hands tonight as they send sensational left-hander David Price (8-2) to the mound. Price earned the victory in last week's comeback, allowing two runs - both unearned - in eight innings. He became the American League's first eight-game winner while lowering his ERA to 2.29, best among AL starters.
Price also remained unbeaten against the Jays for his career, running his record to 4-0.
He'll face a Toronto lineup that has punished opposing pitchers this season but looked completely lost against Jeff Niemann on Tuesday. The Jays, who lead the majors with 97 home runs, managed just two singles as Niemann twirled his first complete game of the season.
Toronto has amassed just five hits in its past two games, lowering the team batting average to a woeful .243. Only the Chicago White Sox (.242) are worse among AL teams.