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Blue Jays-Rays Preview

Sep 20, 2009 - 3:58 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (66-81) at Tampa Bay (75-73), 1:38 p.m. EDT

Roy Halladay has won at least 15 games for the sixth time in eight years. Due in part to his performance against Tampa Bay, however, the Toronto ace is in danger of posting consecutive seasons with double-digit losses for the first time during his stellar career.

Halladay will try to help the Blue Jays avoid a fourth straight defeat and being swept by the Rays for the second time this season on Sunday.

With what will likely be three starts remaining, Halladay (15-9, 3.03 ERA) looks to finish strong after going 5-8 in his last 16 outings.

While the right-hander endured weeks of trade rumors in July, Halladay reached the 15-win mark for the fourth straight season. His nine losses, though, are the second most in his 12-year career after dropping 11 games in 2008.

Halladay's overall effort against Tampa Bay (76-73) this season, hasn't helped his cause. He's 12-10 with a 3.78 ERA in 30 career starts versus the Rays, but 1-3 with a 3.50 ERA in five this year. He gave up a season-high eight runs and 12 hits in six innings of a 12-7 loss to Tampa Bay on Aug. 24.

Regardless, Tampa Bay hitters are wary of the 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner.

"He's arguably the best pitcher in the game," slugger Carlos Pena said. "His stuff is nasty. It's very hard to just make contact. It does feel good to be able to come out on top because we know we're going up against the best."

Though the Rays won't have a chance to defend their AL pennant, they'll try for a fourth straight win after losing 13 of 14.

"I'm really happy with the way the boys are playing," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "There's a lot of energy and fight."

Tampa Bay is 13-4 against the Jays this season and is 7-1 versus them at home, where they swept a three-game set from July 7-9.

"When you have streaks like that against teams, you try not to ask too many questions," Tampa Bay left fielder Carl Crawford said. "You just try to keep the streak going."

Evan Longoria and Gabe Kapler each had two hits with an RBI for Tampa Bay, which scored all its runs Saturday in the first inning. Longoria is 7 for 11 with five RBIs in his last three contests and is batting .280 versus Halladay.

David Price (8-7, 4.60) takes the ball for the Rays after winning his last start despite giving up four runs and seven hits in seven innings of an 8-4 win at Baltimore on Monday.

The left-hander is 6-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 10 home starts, but has lost each of his last two appearances there.

Price is 1-0 with a 7.00 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays, but allowed one run and six hits in six innings to outpitch Halladay in a 3-2 home win over Toronto on July 9.

All-Star Aaron Hill is 2 for 4 with a homer against Price and had one of the three hits Saturday for the Blue Jays, who are averaging 3.2 runs at Tropicana Field this season.