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Rays-Angels Preview

May 11, 2010 - 7:36 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Tampa Bay (22-10) at Los Angeles (15-19), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The Tampa Bay Rays' offense has been one of the best in the majors throughout most of the club's scorching start, but their quiet bats are the main reason for their first three-game losing streak of 2010.

One of the Rays' old friends won't be looking to help them out of their slump.

Scott Kazmir faces his former teammates for the first time since Tampa Bay traded him to the Los Angeles Angels in August, and the struggling left-hander hopes he can use the occasion to turn around his dismal start.

The Rays (22-10) led the majors in runs as recently as Friday, but they were held to five hits in Saturday's 5-2 loss at Oakland before falling victim to Dallas Braden's perfect game in a 4-0 defeat Sunday.

Tampa Bay mounted a late rally Monday in Anaheim, scoring three runs in the ninth, but they lost 5-4 in 11 innings on Juan Rivera's game-ending sacrifice fly.

"We never feel like we're out of a game," manager Joe Maddon said. "I know we've been struggling at the plate a bit, but this game causes those kind of moments and you just have to battle through them."

The three losses have all come on the road after Tampa Bay won 13 of its first 14 away from home. The Rays, who still have the best record in the majors, have lost 14 of 15 at Angel Stadium since the start of 2006.

Facing Kazmir, however, will be a new experience. The southpaw broke into the majors with Tampa Bay in 2004, and he remains the franchise's all-time leader in wins (55) and strikeouts (874).

He went 12-8 with a 3.49 ERA in 2008, helping the Rays win their first AL pennant, but problems with his slider were the main reason for his career-worst 5.92 ERA in 20 starts for Tampa Bay last year.

Kazmir called it a "surprise" when the team sent him to Los Angeles in a waiver deal on Aug. 28 in exchange for infielder Sean Rodriguez and two minor leaguers.

"It's a disappointment because of all the relationships I've built in the organization and the city, but you can't control the business side of the game," Kazmir said at the time.

Similar struggles with the slider have again plagued Kazmir (2-2, 7.11 ERA) during his shaky 2010. He has walked at least four in each of his last three starts, issuing five free passes while allowing seven runs in 4 1-3 innings of an 11-6 loss at Boston on Thursday.

Trading him appears to have been a smart decision for the Rays, whose starters lead the majors with a 2.58 ERA.

The emergence of Jeff Niemann, who won 13 games as a rookie last year, was one reason the Rays could afford to trade Kazmir. Niemann (2-0, 2.23) has been even better in 2010, and he's coming off his best start after holding Seattle to four hits in seven innings of Thursday's 8-0 win.

It was not as easy for Niemann against the Angels last year. He didn't get a decision in two starts, allowing nine runs and 14 hits and six walks in nine innings.

Los Angeles (15-19) has responded to a seven-game losing streak, on a road trip Torii Hunter called a "disaster," by winning three of four as the club tries to get back in the race for a fourth straight AL West title.

Hunter, sidelined with a sore knee for Sunday's 8-1 loss at Seattle, homered and drove in two runs Monday.

The Rays hope to have B.J. Upton back after he missed Monday's game due to the birth of his son. The outfielder has been slumping, going 3 for 31 with 13 strikeouts in his last nine games.