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Tigers-Rays Preview

Jul 27, 2010 - 4:32 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Detroit (51-46) at Tampa Bay (59-38), 7:10 p.m. EDT

While Matt Garza was throwing the first no-hitter in Tampa Bay Rays history, Justin Verlander certainly knew how he was feeling.

The Detroit Tigers ace and his teammates, however, are likely more concerned with their slumping bats and their seven-game road losing streak.

As Verlander looks to steady the Tigers on Tuesday night and follow Garza's gem with one of his own, the Rays seek a fourth consecutive victory as the teams continue their four-game set in St. Petersburg.

Garza faced the minimum 27 batters and pitched the fifth no-hitter in the majors this season as Tampa Bay beat the Tigers 5-0 in the series opener Monday.

The Rays (60-38) were relieved to finally get a no-hitter of their own after falling victim to three of them - including two perfect games - in the last 13 months.

"We needed one. I don't care who it came from. We just needed one for our own confidence," Garza said. "The guys are just as excited as I am. It's fun."

Verlander (12-5, 3.76 ERA) pitched a no-hitter against Milwaukee on June 12, 2007, striking out 12.

The hard-throwing right-hander is 4-0 with a 3.24 ERA in his last five starts. He fell behind Toronto 2-0 in the second inning Thursday but regrouped to pitch eight innings in the Tigers' 5-2 victory.

"This was definitely satisfying, because I was able to abandon my game plan early, completely revamp the way I was pitching, and still have enough success to go eight innings and get us a win," Verlander said. "I went to more off-speed stuff and kept them off balance."

Verlander also has a strong track record against Tampa Bay, going 4-0 with a 3.55 ERA in six starts - with the Tigers winning all of them.

Detroit (51-47) has struggled to pick up victories lately, however, losing 10 of 13 to slip three games behind the White Sox and two behind Minnesota in the AL Central.

The Tigers have averaged 2.8 runs in 12 games since the All-Star break, and Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Brandon Inge are all on the disabled list.

"They're missing some really important people, there's no doubt about that," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "But they're all major league players. ... They're not going to make any excuses, I know that."

Jim Leyland's club, which played without the manager after he was ejected in the third inning Monday, hasn't won on the road since June 28. Only five teams have a worse road record than Detroit's 16-30 mark.

Tampa Bay has been the majors' best road team, but the Rays also are hoping to make the most of their 11-game homestand against three contending opponents. The Yankees and Twins visit Tropicana Field after the Tigers.

The Rays appear ready for the challenge, going 15-6 in July to build a comfortable lead in the AL wild card race. They only had three hits Monday, but one was a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth by Matt Joyce.

They'd figure to get even hotter if James Shields (8-9, 4.90) can regain his form. Tampa Bay's opening day starter has a 7.25 ERA in his last 10 starts after posting a 2.99 ERA in his first 10.

Shields struggled against Detroit last year, allowing 18 hits and 10 earned runs in 13 1-3 innings. He has an 8.10 ERA while losing each of his last five home starts - the longest home losing streak of his career.