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Rays, White Sox resume set down south

Apr 19, 2011 - 2:50 PM (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays try to stay hot this evening, when they continue a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Tropicana Field.

After losing their first six games the Rays have rebounded to win seven of their last 10. They drew first blood in this series on Monday, as Felipe Lopez went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and three runs batted in to help back eight shutout innings from David Price in the Rays' 5-0 win.

Ben Zobrist added a two-run shot and Sam Fuld went 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored for Tampa Bay, which has won six of its last seven.

Price (2-2) was sensational in his outing, allowing only four hits and a pair of walks while striking out nine.

"They're a tough team to pitch against," Price said about the White Sox. "It was big for me to go out there and throw the way that I did and our defense helping me out, that was awesome. I couldn't ask for anything better."

Ramon Castro doubled to account for one of the four hits for the White Sox, who have dropped five in a row and six of their last seven overall.

Edwin Jackson (2-1) was tagged with the loss for yielding four runs on 11 hits and one walk in seven frames. The veteran right-hander, who tossed a no-hitter against the Rays at Tropicana Field while pitching for Arizona last June 25, fanned three.

"They had me ducking a little bit tonight," Jackson said the Rays' hitters.

Heading to the hill for the Rays this evening will be righty James Shields, who hasn't received a decision in two starts since losing his season debut. Shields pitched well his last time out on Thursday against Minnesota, as he allowed two runs and nine hits in seven innings of his team's 4-3 win.

"Any time you throw seven innings and give your team a chance to win, I think you can build off that," Shields said. "I felt really good last game. So, hopefully, I can continue to bring that into the next game."

Shields gave up five runs and eight hits in six innings to the White Sox two starts ago, but is 2-2 lifetime against them with a 5.33 ERA in eight outings.

Chicago, meanwhile, will counter with left-hander John Danks, who was excellent in his last trip to the hill, but has nothing to show for it. Danks allowed just a run and five hits over eight innings to the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 7-4 loss.

Danks opposed Shields on April 8 and like his counterpart did not get a decision in that one. However, he owns a 5-2 mark in eight starts against the Rays with a 4.10 ERA.

On the injury front Tampa was without Johnny Damon on Monday after he had to leave Sunday's contest with a bruise on the tip of his finger. Damon could be available to pinch-run on Tuesday.

Chicago has won five of its last eight matchups with the Rays.