• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Rays-Rangers Preview

Jul 2, 2009 - 7:39 PM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Tampa Bay (44-36) at Texas (42-35), 8:05 p.m. EDT

Scott Kazmir was a significant factor in helping the Tampa Bay Rays overcome a history of last-place finishes to win their first pennant in 2008.

After a dismal start to the follow-up campaign, Kazmir feels he's ready to contribute to another postseason push.

Coming off a promising return from the disabled list, Kazmir hopes to help the Rays rebound from their first loss in eight games by continuing his dominance of the Texas Rangers in the opener of a three-game series Friday night in Arlington.

Kazmir won 12 games and led Tampa Bay starters with a 3.49 ERA last year, helping Tampa Bay develop from a perennial loser to a legitimate contender.

However, the Rays (44-36) struggled out of the gate this season in part because Kazmir (4-4, 7.28 ERA) did the same. The 25-year-old left-hander gave up at least six runs in five of his nine starts before going on the disabled list May 22 with a right quadriceps strain.

After more than five weeks on the shelf, Kazmir returned and limited Florida to two runs and four hits in five innings of Tampa Bay's 3-2 win Saturday.

"I wanted to go out there and prove something," the Rays' all-time leader in wins (51) and strikeouts (823) told the team's official Web site. "I can definitely build off this start and hopefully get on a roll."

Rays manager Joe Maddon liked what he saw and hopes there's more of it to come.

"I was really impressed," Maddon said. "Kaz is a huge part of what we're doing. He's one of the better left-handed pitchers in the American League, and to get back (to the World Series), we need him to pitch and perform at his level."

Kazmir has had no problem performing against the Rangers (42-35). The Houston native is 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA in seven career starts against Texas, all Tampa Bay wins. He won all three of his starts against the Rangers last season, allowing 13 hits while striking out 23 in 21 innings.

The Rangers' offense, though, has been impressive in the last two games. After averaging 3.6 runs and batting .207 during a 3-8 slump from June 18-29, Texas scored nine runs apiece in back-to-back wins over the Los Angeles Angels in a series between the AL West's top teams.

Hank Blalock gave the Rangers a 9-7 win in Wednesday's finale with a two-run shot with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, his second homer of the game.

"We won that game with heart, fight and desire," manager Ron Washington told the Rangers' official Web site. "You all had us in the grave, buried and with dirt on us. But we played good baseball tonight. ... The character of the clubhouse showed up tonight."

The Rays didn't have nearly as much success at the plate Wednesday, totaling four hits in a 5-0 loss at Toronto. Tampa Bay's first shutout defeat since April 23 snapped its season-high seven-game winning streak.

"We had chances, we just didn't get it done," outfielder Pat Burrell said after the Rays went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

Tampa Bay will try to bounce back against Texas starter Tommy Hunter (0-1, 3.86). The right-hander, who turns 23 on Friday, held San Diego to two runs in 6 1-3 innings of his fifth major league start Sunday but still suffered the 2-0 defeat.

Hunter has never faced Tampa Bay, which went 6-3 against Texas in 2008 - 4-2 at Rangers Ballpark.

Blalock is 0 for 6 with three strikeouts in his career versus Kazmir, and five-time All-Star Michael Young is 2 for 13 with four strikeouts against him. Overall, the Rangers are near the bottom of the AL with a .253 batting average against lefties this year.