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Rays-Mariners Preview

May 3, 2010 - 6:34 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Tampa Bay (18-7) at Seattle (11-14), 10:10 p.m. EDT

The Tampa Bay Rays have traditionally not fared well in Seattle. The major league leaders, though, feel better about heading west this season.

Tampa Bay looks to open its nine-game trip on a positive note when it takes on the struggling Mariners on Tuesday night.

The Rays (18-7) go into this three-game set seeking their first series win in Seattle since taking three of four Aug. 8-10, 2008. Tampa Bay dropped four of six at Safeco Field last season and is 25-33 all-time in Seattle.

Tampa Bay has never had a winning road record, even during its 2008 AL championship season when finished 40-41.

"I think, just overall, in general, we know we haven't been a particularly good road team in the past," center fielder B.J. Upton told the Rays' official website. "I think that's something that we kind of emphasized in spring training - that we needed to play better on the road - and we have done that so far."

The Rays have averaged 6.9 runs while going a major league-best 9-1 on the road. They will look to improve that mark with James Shields (3-0, 3.38 ERA) on the mound.

The right-hander is looking to win four straight starts for the first time since his 2006 rookie season. Shields struck out a career high-tying 12 and gave up two runs over seven innings of a 10-3 victory over Oakland on Wednesday.

He is 2-2 with a 2.34 ERA in six starts against Seattle.

The Mariners (11-14) continue a nine-game homestand after getting swept by Texas over the weekend. Seattle's starting pitchers allowed five runs in the series, but the Mariners hit .180 and scored four times.

"If someone would have said you'd throw 26 scoreless innings in a three-game series and get swept, they'd think you were crazy," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "Kind of tells you the shape of the offense."

Seattle is near the bottom of the AL with a .236 batting average and 86 runs. The Mariners have a league-worst nine homers - none in the last six games.

They're hoping that call-ups Ryan Langerhans and Josh Wilson can provide a boost. The team released struggling veteran Eric Byrnes and sent Matt Tuiasosopo to Triple-A Tacoma following a 3-1, 11-inning loss Sunday.

"There are decisions that have to be made," Wakamatsu said.

An easy one has been keeping Jason Vargas (2-1, 3.60) in the rotation despite Cliff Lee's return from the disabled list. Since a rough first start, Vargas has gone 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA in three outings.

He did not receive a decision in his last outing, allowing two runs and four hits in a 3-2 loss to Chicago on April 25. Vargas will be making his first start against the Rays.

He'll get his first look at Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria, who is batting .457 with three homers and six RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak. Longoria is hitting .346 in seven career games at Seattle.

Shields and the Rays won't be happy to see Mariners second baseman Chone Figgins, who hit .417 against Tampa Bay last season while with the Los Angeles Angels. He is 6 for 17 versus Shields.

Seattle took five of eight from Tampa Bay in 2009.