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Mariners-Rays Preview

May 15, 2010 - 4:07 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Seattle (13-21) at Tampa Bay (24-10), 4:10 p.m. EDT

Until recently, the Tampa Bay Rays haven't had trouble scoring runs on a consistent basis.

The Rays look to give James Shields much more support than they did in his last start while trying to even their home series with the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

Tampa Bay's 192 runs are among the most in the majors, but the AL East-leading Rays (24-11) have averaged 3.3 runs while losing four of six.

After scoring 21 runs during a three-game sweep at Seattle last week, the Rays managed just six hits in a 4-3 loss Friday. Carlos Pena (two hits in his last 46 at-bats), B.J. Upton (4 for 43 over the last 12 games) and Pat Burrell (2 for 25 with no RBIs in May) went a combined 0 for 12 in the series opener.

"We need to start scoring some runs," said manager Joe Maddon, who's team has dropped four of seven since sweeping the Mariners. "Some guys are struggling at the plate, but they'll turn it around."

The Rays didn't give Shields (4-1, 3.13 ERA) any support when they fell victim to a perfect game for the second straight season, this time in a 4-0 loss to Dallas Braden and Oakland on Sunday.

Shields allowed four runs - two earned - and 11 hits while striking out six in six innings of that contest.

"I didn't pitch well," Shields told the Rays' official website. "You've got to tip your cap to Braden."

Shields' teammates helped him out in a 5-2 win at Seattle on May 4. The right-hander gave up two runs and struck out a season-high 10 in eight innings to improve to 3-2 with a 2.32 ERA in seven starts versus the Mariners.

Franklin Gutierrez, who's 6 for 13 with a homer against Shields, hit one of three home runs Friday for the Mariners. Seattle snapped a four-game losing streak to Tampa Bay by scoring one fewer run than it totaled in three contests against the Rays last week.

Adam Moore and Mike Sweeney also homered for the Mariners, who entered Friday's contest with a major-league low 16 homers, but have hit six in two games.

"It's obvious that we haven't been scoring as much as we want," Saturday's scheduled starter Jason Vargas told the Mariners' official website. "We are going to score. We're behind them and we believe in them."

Vargas (3-2, 3.00) fell to Shields and the Rays last week despite giving up three runs and striking out eight in 6 2-3 innings in his first start versus Tampa Bay.

The left-hander gave up one run and four hits in 7 1-3 innings of an 8-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday to match his win total from 2009.

Evan Longoria, who homered off Vargas earlier this month, had three hits Friday, including his ninth home run for the Rays.

The All-Star third baseman is a career .353 hitter with three homers and 12 RBIs against the Mariners.