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Rays-Angels Preview

Aug 24, 2010 - 6:55 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Tampa Bay (77-48) at Los Angeles (62-64), 10:05 p.m. EDT

Tampa Bay has played well on the road against the Los Angeles Angels this year. The Rays, though, did not have to face Ervin Santana until now.

The right-hander looks to remain perfect against the Rays in Anaheim while trying to help the Angels avoid a fourth consecutive home loss to the AL East co-leaders Tuesday night.

Tampa Bay (77-48) moved into a first-place tie with New York by winning its third straight, 4-3 over Los Angeles on Monday. It was the Rays' fifth one-run game in a row.

"That's pretty interesting," manager Joe Maddon said. "It's much more fun to excruciatingly look at the scoreboard every night."

Since losing six straight on the road to the Angels, the Rays have won three in a row in Anaheim this season. Three of the teams' four 2010 meetings have been determined by one run.

Tampa Bay improved to 3-2 on a seven-game trip. B.J. Upton's leadoff homer highlighted a three-run first inning for the Rays, a major league-best 38-24 on the road.

"We're really just trying to win ballgames, no matter what the situation is," third baseman Evan Longoria told the Rays' official website.

Hitting .239 on the season, Upton went 1 for 14 in Oakland over the weekend but had two hits with two RBIs on Monday.

"The numbers aren't what I would like but I just do what I can," Upton said.

The center fielder is a lifetime .225 hitter against the Angels but has gone 7 for 18 versus Santana (13-8, 3.93 ERA), who leads Los Angeles in wins.

Santana has posted a 1.21 ERA in winning all three of his home starts against the Rays. He tossed a three-hitter in a 6-0 home victory in his last outing versus Tampa Bay on Aug. 11, 2009.

Santana has been outstanding of late, posting a 2.66 ERA in winning his last three starts. He allowed two runs over seven innings of a 7-2 win at Boston on Thursday.

Making his debut against Los Angeles, Tampa Bay's Wade Davis (9-9, 4.45) will come off the disabled list for his first start since Aug. 5.

The right-hander, who has not lost since June 27, was 4-0 with a 3.41 ERA in five outings prior to suffering a strained shoulder. Davis did not experience any discomfort after throwing 43 pitches during a simulated game Friday.

"I don't anticipate any setbacks," Maddon told the Rays' official website.

Howie Kendrick went 2 for 3 with an RBI on Monday for the Angels (62-64), losers of seven of 10 since winning three in a row.

Kendrick, 11 for 24 in his last six games, has batted .405 with 12 RBIs in 20 games against Tampa Bay.

"I'm seeing the ball well and having some good swings," Kendrick told the Angels' official website. "I just want to keep it going."

Los Angeles is 12-22 versus the AL East.