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Blue Jays-Rays Preview

Jul 7, 2009 - 12:29 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (42-41) at Tampa Bay (44-39), 7:08 p.m. EDT

Just last week, the Tampa Bay Rays were the hottest team in the majors led by a surging offense. Their season-long winning streak ended Wednesday in Toronto, and their bats have been quiet ever since.

The Rays again look to break out of their offensive funk and win their first game this month when they open a three-game series against the Blue Jays on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay (44-39) arrived at Rogers Centre last Monday winners of 13 of 17 and proceeded to take the first two games against the Blue Jays (43-41) to run its winning streak to seven. The streak was halted with a 5-0 loss to Toronto on Wednesday, and things didn't go much better for the Rays at Texas over the weekend.

Tampa Bay managed only three hits in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Rangers and has scored seven runs while batting .153 (18 for 118) during its four-game skid. The Rays plated 40 runs and hit .305 during their winning streak.

Tampa Bay's top three run producers - Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and Ben Zobrist - are responsible for much of the team's slump, combining to go 1 for 30 against Texas.

"We were in a nice little groove and piled up some wins in a row," said Pena, who is just 2 for 21 (.095) in his last six games. "Now we've dropped a few in a row. Is there anything different? I don't think you can come up with the answer. I would say no. That's how the game goes."

The Rays hope to get things turned around at home, where they've won five straight and 10 of 11. Tampa Bay, which went 7-2 against Toronto at Tropicana Field last season, hasn't won six in a row at home since June 30-July 6, 2008.

Rays starter James Shields (6-6, 3.50 ERA), has been tough on opponents at Tropicana Field, but hasn't had much luck against the Blue Jays lately.

Shields was on the hill in the loss at Toronto on Wednesday, allowing five runs and seven hits - including three home runs - with eight strikeouts in 7 1-3 innings. The right-hander fell to 0-3 with a 4.30 ERA in his last four starts against the Blue Jays after going 4-0 with a 2.41 ERA in his first five outings.

Shields has just one victory in his last five starts, but is 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA in his last six outings at home.

The Blue Jays come to Tampa after defeating the New York Yankees 7-6 on Monday to snap a three-game losing streak. It was Toronto's first victory since beating the Rays on Wednesday.

Scott Rolen extended his career-best hitting streak to 23 games with a two-run double for the Blue Jays, who won for the second time in nine games to avoid dropping to .500 for the first time since they were 59-59 on Aug. 10.

Rolen is batting .389 (37 for 95) with three homers and 14 RBIs during his run and was 2 for 4 with a solo home run against Shields last week.

The Blue Jays counter with Marc Rzepczynski, who is set to make his major league debut in place of Brad Mills (bruised ribs).

Rzepczynski was 2-0 with a 0.79 ERA in two starts at Triple-A Las Vegas after going 7-5 with a 2.93 ERA in 14 starts at New Hampshire of the Double-A Eastern League. The left-hander will be the 12th starter for the Blue Jays this season and fifth to make his major league debut.