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Rays-Rockies Preview

Jun 17, 2009 - 5:52 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Tampa Bay (34-31) at Colorado (31-32), 8:40 p.m. EDT

The Colorado Rockies no longer have the longest active winning streak in the majors. That now belongs to the Tampa Bay Rays.

On Wednesday night, the surging Rays look for a seventh consecutive victory in the continuation of a three-game set with the Rockies at Coors Field.

Tampa Bay (35-31) set a franchise-record with 11 extra-base hits, including five homers, in a 12-4 victory on Tuesday.

With six straight victories, the Rays are currently the hottest team in the majors having snapped the Rockies' franchise record-tying 11-game run.

"They beat us up pretty good," shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "Now, we just start over (Wednesday)."

As Colorado (31-33) looks to get back on track, Tampa Bay hopes to continue a stretch where it's won 12 of 16 since dropping a season-high five in a row.

Carlos Pena hit his AL-leading 21st homer and Evan Longoria added his 15th for Tampa Bay. Gabe Kapler and Ben Zobrist each finished a double shy of hitting for the cycle, while B.J. Upton was a triple short for the Rays, who've scored 49 runs and are batting .346 during the winning stretch.

"We came in here ready to play a tight ball game and scored a lot of runs early," Upton said.

Pena is 10 for 25 with four homers, seven RBIs and 11 runs scored in his last seven games.

After roughing up starter Jorge De La Rosa, Tampa Bay could be in for more of a challenge against Rockies' ace Aaron Cook (5-3, 4.26 ERA).

Cook tries for a third straight victory after allowing one run and seven hits while striking out a season-high seven in six innings of a 5-4 win over Milwaukee on Thursday.

Cook, who has allowed two runs in his last two starts, also became the first pitcher to complete 1,000 career innings for the Rockies, the team he's been with his entire eight-year career.

"They've showed a lot of confidence in me over the years," Cook told the Rockies' official Web site. "I love pitching here."

Cook, though, hasn't loved pitching against Tampa Bay, going 0-1 with an 8.25 ERA in two starts.

The Rays counter with rookie David Price (1-0, 2.37). He threw 105 pitches and walked six over 4 1-3 innings in his last start, but allowed only one run and two hits with six strikeouts in an 11-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday.

"It's frustrating," said Price, who's not completed six innings in any of his four starts. "It's a tough pill to swallow."

Though he's struck out 26 in 19 innings this season, the left-hander has walked 18.

"It's going to happen. I have no question," Rays manager Joe Maddon said of the 2007 No. 1 overall pick living up to some lofty expectations. "It's just a matter of when."

Brad Hawpe had two doubles Tuesday for the Rockies, who averaged almost seven runs per game during their winning streak.

Hitting .342, Hawpe is 6 for 11 with five doubles in his last three contests.