• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Angels-Rays Preview

Sep 19, 2010 - 4:12 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Los Angeles (72-75) at Tampa Bay (88-58), 1:40 p.m. EDT

A late rally gave the Tampa Bay Rays a chance to build some positive momentum heading into a key division showdown.

For that to happen, they'll need Jeff Niemann to continue to improve.

Niemann will take the mound Sunday as the Rays close a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels, who hand the ball to Scott Kazmir in his first visit to Tropicana Field since being traded last year.

Tampa Bay (89-58) avoided back-to-back losses with a 4-3, 10-inning win over Los Angeles (72-76) on Saturday, its fifth straight game decided by one run.

The Rays, who lost 4-3 to the Angels on Friday after giving up a ninth-inning home run to Brandon Wood, got a game-tying single from Carlos Pena with two outs in the ninth Saturday, then capitalized on Wood's throwing error with two outs the following inning to score the winning run.

The victory kept Tampa Bay one-half game behind the Yankees in the AL East. The Rays open a four-game set in the Bronx beginning Monday.

"This is big game for us," Rays shortstop Reid Brignac said of Saturday's win. "We let one slide away (Friday night). We bounced back and made some plays."

Tampa Bay can conclude its homestand with a 4-2 record with a victory Sunday. However, it will need a good start from Niemann (10-6, 4.32 ERA), who has struggled over the past month.

Niemann, who went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 9 with a strained right shoulder, is 0-3 with a 15.60 ERA in four starts since his return. He's lasted a combined 15 innings in those outings.

The right-hander's first start off the DL was against the Angels on Aug. 25. He gave up 10 runs and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings of a 12-3 defeat.

He pitched somewhat better last Sunday, going five innings at Toronto while allowing three runs, two hits and four walks in a 5-4 loss. He did not factor in the decision, but was pleased with the results.

"A lot of positives came out of today," Niemann told the Rays' official website. "A good one to build off of."

Niemann is 1-1 with a 9.15 ERA in four career starts against the Angels. Mike Napoli is 5 for 10 with a double, a triple and a home run off him.

The Angels will try to bounce back from Saturday's loss when they hand the ball to Kazmir (8-14, 5.99), whose 26 career wins at Tropicana Field are second all-time behind current Rays starter James Shields' 30.

Kazmir broke into the majors with Tampa Bay in 2004 and helped the club win its first AL pennant in 2008, but was traded after posting a 5.92 ERA in 20 starts last season. The left-hander is 0-2 with a 5.23 ERA in two starts against the Rays this season.

Kazmir is 0-5 with a 4.58 ERA over his last seven outings. He pitched 5 2-3 innings at Cleveland on Tuesday, giving up four runs while allowing two homers in the Rays' 4-3 loss.