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Diamondbacks-Rays Preview

Jun 27, 2010 - 2:29 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Arizona (29-45) at Tampa Bay (43-30), 1:40 p.m. EDT

Tampa Bay's series with Arizona didn't get off to a positive start, but it has a chance for a successful conclusion.

The Rays try for a second consecutive victory over the Diamondbacks while going for their first series win in more than two weeks Sunday at Tropicana Field.

Less than 24 hours after being no-hit for the third time in less than a year, Tampa Bay (44-30) bounced back with a 5-3 win over Arizona on Saturday.

Stymied by former teammate Edwin Jackson's 149-pitch performance Friday, the Rays managed five hits to win for the fifth time in 15 games. Tampa Bay has not won a series since taking two of three from Toronto from June 8-10.

"We got runs whenever we needed them,"said Tampa Bay's David Price, who became the AL's first 11-game winner Saturday. "That's what we've got to do."

Sean Rodriguez and Jason Bartlett each drove in two runs, but the Rays stranded 12 runners. Tampa Bay is 6 for 47 (.128) with runners in scoring position over the last five games.

"We've hit without any real luck but overall I like the idea we're maintaining our patience," manager Joe Maddon said after his team saw 314 pitches over the first two games of the set.

The Rays have played the last two games without Carl Crawford in the starting lineup. Batting .306, Crawford is day to day with a sore left shoulder.

Even without one of its top offensive catalysts, Tampa Bay was able to benefit from 11 walks and a hit batter Saturday.

"We got what we deserved," Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said after his pitchers walked 19 batters in the first two games.

Rodrigo Lopez (3-6, 4.59 ERA) hopes to change that when he takes the ball for Arizona hoping to build on his first victory since May 15. The right-hander snapped his personal four-decision skid by holding the New York Yankees to three runs in eight innings of a 10-4 win Monday.

Lopez, a former Baltimore Oriole, is 10-5 with a 4.75 ERA in 15 starts against Tampa Bay, but he hasn't faced the Rays since 2007.

Tampa Bay counters with Wade Davis (5-8, 4.90), who tries to avoid losing a fifth consecutive start.

The right-hander lasted 4 1-3 innings in a 2-1 loss to San Diego on Tuesday, throwing 103 pitches and giving up two runs with five walks. Davis, who won three of his first five starts, is 0-4 with a 7.32 ERA in June.

"I've got to get it going again," Davis said. "I've had some bad times. This is definitely nothing to panic about. I feel good, the body feels good. It's just a couple of tweaks here and there."

Davis will make his first appearance against the Diamondbacks (29-46), losers in eight of 11 overall and 16 of 18 on the road.

Arizona's Mark Reynolds struck out four times Saturday. The major league leader with 107 strikeouts, Reynolds has fanned 25 times in 11 games.