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Blue Jays-Rays Preview

Apr 25, 2010 - 3:10 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (10-7) at Tampa Bay (12-5), 1:40 p.m. EDT

Tampa Bay's David Price was a little shaky in his last start after opening the season in stellar fashion.

A home game against the Toronto Blue Jays could help him get back on track.

Price looks to continue his strong pitching against the Blue Jays at Tropicana Field and help the Rays win their ninth straight home series over Toronto in Sunday's finale.

Tampa Bay (13-5) suffered a rare home defeat to the Blue Jays in Friday's opener, losing 6-5, but bounced back with a 9-3 comeback win Saturday.

The Rays trailed 3-2 after seven innings before rallying for seven runs in the eighth. Jason Bartlett and Ben Zobrist drove in two runs apiece in the frame, while John Jaso hit his first major league homer.

Tampa Bay has won 10 of 12 overall.

"We have one gear right now and I love it ... full out," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays (10-8), saw their six-game road winning streak end in excruciating fashion.

"That's going to happen once in a while," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "We just have to bounce back (Sunday)."

Bouncing back in Tampa won't be easy. The Rays have won 20 of their last 26 home games against the Blue Jays, and haven't lost a series to Toronto at Tropicana Field since April 6-8, 2007.

Price (2-1, 3.20 ERA) has played a part in that success, limiting the Jays to two runs over 12 2-3 innings in two home wins.

The left-hander, who is 9-3 with a 2.99 ERA in 13 career starts at Tropicana Field, is hoping a return home can help bounce back from his first defeat of the season.

After allowing four runs while striking out 14 over 14 2-3 innings to win his first two starts, Price gave up three runs and six hits with three strikeouts in five innings of Tuesday's 4-1 loss in Chicago.

"He wasn't as sharp as he had been," Maddon said. "He pitched well enough to win. We just didn't score enough to win."

Scoring hasn't been a problem lately for the Rays, who have plated at least nine runs in three of their last four games.

Zobrist is 6 for 13 with three doubles and three RBIs in his last three games, while Evan Longoria is 7 for 16 with two doubles and five runs in his last four.

Tampa Bay's potent lineup looks for another strong showing against Brandon Morrow (1-1, 7.31).

Knocked around for 12 runs in nine innings in his first two starts, Morrow didn't allow a hit until the sixth against Kansas City on Monday. He finished with one run and three hits allowed and eight strikeouts in seven innings of an 8-1 win.

The right-hander credited pitching coach Bruce Walton - who told him to lower his arm angle - for the sudden turnaround.

Morrow has a 1.86 ERA but no decisions in five appearances versus the Rays. In his only start against Tampa Bay, Morrow yielded two runs and three hits in five innings of Seattle's 5-4 loss Sept. 23 at Tropicana Field.