Tampa Bay @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 10, 2010 ) Toronto 3, Tampa Bay 2

The Tampa Bay Rays watched helplessly as the Tropicana Field catwalk cost them a chance at a critical victory over Minnesota.

They'll have no such worries Friday night as they open a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at the cavernous Rogers Centre. The division rivals have met nine times already this season, with the Rays holding a 6-3 edge.

While Toronto spent Thursday resting up after taking two out of three from New York at Yankee Stadium, the Rays fought back from a six-run deficit, only to watch their victory hopes bounce away on a strange ricochet.

Tied 6-6 in the ninth inning, the Twins took the lead when Jason Kubel skied a popup that hit a catwalk perched 190 feet above the infield and fell next to the pitcher's mound. Balls that hit the catwalks at Tropicana Field are considered live, and this one brought home Jason Repko with the go-ahead run.

Michael Cuddyer followed with a single to left field that scored Delmon Young, and the Rays couldn't muster another rally in the bottom of the inning.

With the Rogers Centre roof situated nearly 300 feet above the field, neither team should be worried about crushing a fly ball into the dome.

The Rays are more concerned about returning to form after dropping the final two games of the series against the visiting Twins – a mini-streak that dropped them a half-game back of the Yankees atop the American League East. Tampa had won nine of its previous 10 games going into the Twins series, and opened with a 6-4 victory on Tuesday.

They'll look to get back into the win column behind veteran right-hander Matt Garza (11-4), who will make his second start since tossing baseball's fifth no-hitter of the season. Garza took a no-decision in his last outing, allowing four runs and five hits over seven innings in a 5-4 loss to the Yankees.

Garza's career numbers against Toronto are strong – he's 6-5 lifetime with a 2.35 ERA over 80-plus innings of work. This season has been a different story, as Garza has lost both starts against the Jays while giving up eight runs over 11 1/3 innings.

The Blue Jays counter with second-year left-hander Brett Cecil (8-5), who has put together several strong outings in a row but hasn't earned the victories to show for them. The 24-year-old posted a sparkling 2.23 ERA over five July starts, but went just 1-0 with four no-decisions.

He had some control issues in his last appearance, surrendering five walks to go along with five hits in a six-inning stint against Cleveland. He worked out of trouble and allowed just one run, but wasn't around for the decision as Toronto eventually lost 2-1.

Cecil is 3-1 all-time against Tampa Bay with a 4.07 ERA in 24 1/3 innings. He limited the Rays offense to a run on three hits over 6 2/3 innings in their last meeting, and was rewarded with a 3-2 victory.