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Blue Jays-Rays Preview

Jun 9, 2010 - 4:14 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (33-25) at Tampa Bay (37-20), 7:10 p.m. EDT

After a stellar start from one of their talented young pitchers, the Tampa Bay Rays hope David Price can continue the team's and his own dominance of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Price looks to become the AL's first nine-game winner while trying to help the Rays to a fourth consecutive victory over the Blue Jays on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.

In his second full season, Jeff Niemann improved to 6-0 after throwing a two-hitter in Tampa Bay's 9-0 rout of Toronto on Tuesday.

Coming off a 3-3 road trip, the AL East-leading Rays (38-20) opened a six-game homestand by improving to 19-6 against the Blue Jays since the start of last season. They're 11-2 at home in that span and have outscored Toronto 24-3 in winning the last three matchups at Tropicana Field.

The 24-year-old Price (8-2, 2.29 ERA) has keyed Tampa Bay's success over the Blue Jays (33-26) this season.

Two wins shy of matching a career high set in 2009, Price is 4-0 with a 2.20 ERA in five career starts against the Blue Jays and dominated them in winning two meetings this season.

After throwing a four-hitter in a 6-0 home win over Toronto for his first career complete game April 25, the left-hander gave up two unearned runs in eight innings of a 7-3 victory at Toronto last Wednesday.

Price is 6-1 with a 1.96 ERA in his last eight starts overall.

"He's got such good stuff," Rays catcher Dioner Navarro said. "If he stays ahead of hitters, it's really difficult to get him."

Price outpitched Toronto scheduled starter Shaun Marcum (5-2, 2.77) last week. Marcum was working on a complete game but was charged with five of the Rays' six runs in the ninth inning to fall to 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in four starts against them.

"Very tough," said Marcum, who went 5-0 with a 1.85 ERA in six May starts. "Late in the game they come back and battle and that's probably why they were in the World Series a couple of years ago and why they're leading the division."

Toronto pitchers have given up 23 runs and 34 hits in losing all three games against Tampa Bay this month.

Carlos Pena hit a grand slam and a solo shot in Tuesday's series opener. Batting .183 for the season, Pena was in a 1-for-18 slump before going 4 for 8 with three homers in the last two games.

"It's a good sign," said Pena, who leads the AL with 64 strikeouts. "It just feels good to contribute with the bat. It really does."

Evan Longoria added three hits with two RBIs on Tuesday and is 11 for 28 against the Blue Jays this season, but he's 1 for 7 all-time versus Marcum.

Adam Lind and Mike McCoy each singled Tuesday for Toronto, which has totaled five hits while losing its last two games.

After hitting .305 during a breakout 2009 season, Lind is batting .212 and he's 1 for 17 in his last five games. He's 3 for 14 all-time against Price.

Toronto's Vernon Wells had his 14-game hitting streak snapped after going 0 for 3 on Tuesday. He's 2 for 16 at Tropicana Field this year.