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Rays attempt to add to Angels' woes

Jun 9, 2015 - 2:19 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Tampa Bay Rays look to deal the Los Angeles Angels a sixth loss in a row on Tuesday night when the clubs rematch for the opener of a three-game series.

The Rays have won seven of their last nine games, a span that includes taking two of three from the hosting Angels from June 1-3. They sit 1 1/2 games back of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, has lost five in a row on the heels of a five-game winning streak to drop a game under .500 at 28-29.

Tampa Bay took three of four from the Seattle Mariners to close out last week, winning Sunday's finale 3-1 behind another brilliant outing by Chris Archer.

Archer struck out 11 batters over seven innings, charged with one unearned run. He has fanned 38 batters over his last three outings and is the first pitcher in the modern era to strike out nine or more batters without giving up a walk in three straight games.

"I guess he's putting himself in his own class now. Very impressive," Cash said of Archer. "He just gives us opportunities to win over and over again."

Mikie Mahtook homered in the win, while Logan Forsythe and David DeJesus each had an RBI.

Despite the continued surge by Albert Pujols, the Angels lost 6-2 to the Yankees on Sunday in getting swept in the three-game series.

Pujols and Mike Trout hit back-to-back homers in the first inning, with Pujols going deep for the seventh time in 10 games and for the 15th time this season. He passed Jimmie Foxx for 17th on the all-time home run list and is one homer shy of matching Mickey Mantle (536) for 16th.

However, C.J. Wilson (3-5) was touched for six runs on seven hits over seven frames and the offense again failed to get the clutch hits.

"We need to step up our game and play more consistent baseball," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said after his club went 3-for-23 with runners in scoring position over the three-game set with the Yankees.

The Angels were able to get some offense going against Nate Karns when they last faced him and the Rays hope their starter has better luck this time around when he takes the mound tonight.

Karns faced Los Angeles for the first time in his career last Wednesday and though Tampa Bay picked up a 6-5 win, the right-hander was tagged for four runs on five hits and three walks over five innings of a no-decision. He struck out only three while giving up home runs to Trout and Johnny Giavotella.

It marked the first time that Karns allowed more than two runs in an outing since April 22, a span of six starts in between, and he is 3-2 on the year with a 3.63 earned run average.

Matt Shoemaker makes his return to the mound tonight for the Angels after the struggling right-hander had his last turn skipped.

Los Angeles was able to keep the rest of its starters on regular rest due to a pair of recent off days as Shoemaker has won just once over his past five decisions. He is 3-4 with a 5.08 ERA through 10 starts this season after going 16-4 with a 3.04 ERA last year.

The 28-year-old has been decent over his past two outings, though. He hurled seven scoreless frames of four-hit ball in a no-decision against San Diego on May 26, then did not factor into a 4-2 win over Detroit last time out on May 31. Shoemaker was charged with two runs -- one earned -- on four hits over 5 1/3 innings, but also walked four batters.

Shoemaker has won both of his previous starts against the Rays, allowing three earned runs over 11 innings.