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Nationals-Rays Preview

Jun 14, 2009 - 2:51 AM By ANDY LEFKOWITZ STATS Editor

Washington (16-43) at Tampa Bay (32-31), 1:38 p.m. EDT

A series between the top-scoring team and worst pitching staff in the major leagues has gone as expected.

Looking for their fifth consecutive win overall, the Tampa Bay Rays go for a sweep of the Washington Nationals on Sunday at the Tropicana Dome.

Powered by a seven-run sixth inning, Tampa Bay cruised to an 8-3 victory Saturday. Ben Zobrist hit a three-run homer and Gabe Gross added a two-run shot off Jason Bergmann before Evan Longoria had a two-run double off former Ray Jesus Colome.

Washington (16-44), which has been swept five times in 2009, has a 5.34 staff ERA.

"I didn't have a great sinker," said Bergmann, who faced five batters and failed to get an out.

Carlos Pena hit his 20th homer and third in fourth games for the Rays (33-31), who posted a 4-3 win in the series opener and have scored 32 runs during their winning streak. They've plated 362 runs this year, and are 17-1 when scoring at least eight times.

"You've got to keep pushing, pushing, pushing," said manager Joe Maddon, whose team looks to move a season-high three games over .500.

The Rays' James Shields (5-5, 3.36 ERA) will try to avoid losing consecutive starts for the second time this season.

Facing the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, the right-hander yielded four runs and 10 hits over 6 1-3 innings of the 4-3 setback. Two Tampa Bay errors led to two unearned runs in the first inning.

"It's one of those things where you've just got to pick the team up by keeping them in the game," Shields told the Rays' official Web site. "We did a pretty decent job of coming back there late. Just one run short."

Shields lost back-to-back starts on May 8 and 14 at Boston and home versus Cleveland, respectively. He's 4-2 with a 2.74 ERA in seven home starts.

Washington's Ross Detwiler (0-3, 5.06), meanwhile, looks to end a personal losing streak as he tries again for his first career win.

The left-hander was recalled from Double-A Harrisburg on May 18, and pitched very well in his first two major league starts, giving up four runs in 11 innings. Since then, however, he's been tagged with the defeat in three straight starts, allowing 12 runs in 15 1-3 innings.

He tossed a career-high 103 pitches through six innings Tuesday in a 3-2 loss to Cincinnati. Detwiler issued only three walks, but two runners eventually came around to score.

"The entire year it's been the same thing. Every time I walk people, they end up scoring," he told the Nationals' official Web site.

Detwiler has walked nine over 26 2-3 innings, but only three have scored. A recipient of nine runs of support, the rookie has gotten only three during his losing streak.

Rookie shortstop Reid Brignac had a career-high three hits for Tampa Bay on Saturday, and is batting .471 (8 for 17) during a five-game hitting streak. That's raised his average 81 points to .286.

But reliever Jason Isringhausen left with pain in his surgically repaired right elbow after making a pitch in the ninth inning. He underwent tests, and the Rays placed him on the 15-day disabled list Saturday night.