• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Rays-Mets Preview

Jun 21, 2009 - 2:10 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Tampa Bay (35-34) at New York (34-31), 1:10 p.m. EDT

The Tampa Bay Rays are the highest-scoring team in the majors, but they've hardly been knocking the ball around lately.

Tampa Bay looks to break out of its offensive slump Sunday as it faces the New York Mets in the deciding game of their series at Citi Field.

The Rays (36-34) lead the majors with 391 runs scored, but they've been limited to three in each of their last four games. Tampa Bay snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday, beating the Mets (34-32) 3-1 to improve to 2-25 this season when scoring three or fewer runs.

Although they only managed five hits Saturday, the Rays, who are hitting .216 in their last four games, had enough to support an outstanding outing by James Shields, who gave up one run and three hits over seven innings. Carlos Pena homered in the seventh to give Tampa Bay the lead and Ben Zobrist added a solo shot in the ninth - his 15th of the season.

Carl Crawford's slump continued, though, as he grounded into a double play and was caught stealing during an 0-for-4 performance. The left fielder, who is hitting .302 this season, is 3 for 29 (.103) in his last eight games and has gone hitless in eight at-bats in this series.

While the Rays are struggling offensively, the slumping Mets have lost seven of 10 and haven't won a series since taking two of three against Washington June 5-7. Their last three losses have been by a combined five runs.

Johan Santana bounced back from his worst career start Saturday, but he didn't receive much support, as the offense managed only two hits after Omir Santos' run-scoring double in the second. David Wright went 0 for 4 with a strikeout to drop to 1 for 17 with eight strikeouts in the last four games.

Making matters worse for the injury-depleted Mets is that Carlos Beltran, who is hitting .333 with 40 RBIs, plans to have an MRI Monday on his aching right knee.

Beltran missed two games in late May and had a cortisone shot because of a bone bruise below the knee. He said he's been feeling the same sensation as before and wants a doctor's opinion.

"If it's something that's going to get worse, I can't be playing," said Beltran, who hopes to play Sunday.

Tampa Bay gives the ball to Jeff Niemann (6-4, 4.21 ERA), who has benefited from plenty of run support recently.

After giving up five runs over 3 2-3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels on June 10, Niemann needed 96 pitches to get through five innings against Colorado on Tuesday. He allowed three runs and five hits in the 12-4 win.

The Rays have scored 24 runs while the right-hander has been on the mound in his last three starts.

Mike Pelfrey (5-2, 4.56) counters for New York looking to build on his first win in more than a month. The right-hander retired the first 11 batters he faced, but ended up allowing two runs and five hits over 5 2-3 innings in a 6-4 victory at Baltimore on Tuesday. The win was his first since May 7 against Philadelphia.

Pelfrey has never faced the Rays and is 3-0 with a 5.32 ERA in four interleague starts - all wins for the Mets.