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Rays-Athletics Preview

May 7, 2010 - 6:27 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Tampa Bay (21-7) at Oakland (15-14), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The Tampa Bay Rays had some trouble producing runs following last week's series with the Oakland Athletics, but it didn't take them long to get back on track.

Boasting the majors' most productive lineup, the Rays hope to continue their success Friday night when they face the Athletics in a matchup of first-place teams.

Tampa Bay (21-7) scored 18 runs while sweeping a two-game set against Oakland (15-14) late last month. The Rays then beat the Royals 11-1 on April 29, but scored two runs or fewer in each of their next three contests.

Three games against Seattle helped the AL East leaders end that slump. The Rays plated 21 runs, and swept the series to improve to 12-1 on the road.

Tampa Bay won 8-0 Thursday, giving it a major league-best 168 runs. The Rays have scored eight runs or more 12 times, and their pitchers have benefited from that - though they haven't needed much.

Tampa Bay has a 1.58 ERA over its last eight games, and an AL-best 2.84 ERA this season. The Rays' ERA on the road is 2.03.

"Right now, we're going to ride this as long as we can," manager Joe Maddon said. "Obviously, the starting pitching has been fabulous. ... I believe we can play to this standard for a long time."

David Price (3-1, 2.34 ERA) will open this three-game set for the Rays, and the top pick in the 2007 draft is living up to his potential.

The left-hander has given up three runs or fewer in each of his five starts. He allowed two runs in six innings of a 4-2, 11-inning loss to Kansas City on Saturday.

This will be Price's first start against Oakland.

The A's will counter with Gio Gonzalez (3-1, 3.45), who has posted a 1.32 ERA while winning his last two starts. The left-hander allowed two runs and struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-3 win over Toronto on Saturday.

Gonzalez is holding opponents to a .195 batting average in two outings at home. He earned his first major league victory in his only career start versus the Rays, surrendering one run in five innings of a 2-1 win Aug. 12, 2008.

Andrew Bailey notched his third save of the season in Gonzalez's triumph over the Blue Jays, and he's earned two more since. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year has yet to blow a save opportunity this year, and hasn't allowed a run in a career-best 20 2-3 innings dating to Sept. 6.

Bailey worked a perfect ninth inning as Oakland beat Texas 4-1 on Wednesday, closing the three-game set with two straight wins. The victory moved the A's into sole possession of first place in the AL West, but they enter this contest tied with the Rangers.

"I think that's big in the clubhouse," Bailey said. "Everyone knows we have a young team. To be able to go out there and win a series against division rivals, that's going hold strong for late in the season and give us that confidence that we need to continue."