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Padres-Rays Preview

Jun 23, 2010 - 5:07 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

San Diego (40-29) at Tampa Bay (42-27), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Three days ago, the Tampa Bay Rays were tied for the best record in baseball. Another loss could leave them with the third-best record in their division.

The slumping Rays look to avoid losing for the ninth time in 12 games Wednesday night when they continue a three-game series against the NL West-leading San Diego Padres.

Tampa Bay (42-28) had a six-game lead in the AL East on May 23 and was tied with the New York Yankees for baseball's best record entering play Sunday, but consecutive losses have knocked the Rays out of the top spot and into a second-place tie with Boston.

Tampa Bay has dropped eight of 11, with an inconsistent offense the biggest reason.

The Rays, who had six hits in Tuesday's 2-1 series-opening loss to the Padres, have plated 10 runs in their last six losses compared to 19 in their last two victories.

"All of us here have played for enough time in this game to realize these things do happen, they can turn around and just happen the opposite way," catcher John Jaso told the Rays' official website. "It's a grind, and you just have to kind of grind these things out."

The Rays appear to have a decent chance of getting their offense on track against San Diego scheduled starter Kevin Correia, who'll be making his first appearance against Tampa Bay.

Correia (5-5, 5.27 ERA) gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings of Wednesday's 7-1 loss to Toronto, the third time in four starts he yielded at least five runs. The right-hander is 1-4 with a 6.21 ERA in his last eight outings, and has an 8.53 ERA in his last three road starts.

Even amid those struggles, the Padres (41-29) have won four of Correia's last five starts.

San Diego's only runs Tuesday came in the third inning, when Chase Headley had an RBI infield single and Will Venable was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Adrian Gonzalez continued his tear at the plate, doubling twice to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. The two-time All-Star first baseman is batting .443 with six homers, 11 doubles and 19 RBIs in his last 18 games.

Gonzalez and the Padres will try to win three consecutive games for the first time since May 29-31 when they face James Shields (6-6, 4.50) in the middle game of this series.

Shields earned the win in Saturday's 9-8, 11-inning victory over Florida - two days after he allowed three runs and five hits in six innings of a 3-1 loss in Atlanta. Making the first relief appearance of his 133-game career, the right-hander threw a scoreless 10th for Tampa Bay, which used a club-record nine pitchers.

Shields hasn't had much success lately as a starter, posting a 7.58 ERA while losing his last five outings. He's particularly struggled at home, recording a 17.65 ERA while losing his last two starts at Tropicana Field after going 1-1 with a 2.62 ERA in his first five outings there.

Shields has never faced San Diego.