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Rays set to battle another first-place team in Rangers

May 30, 2011 - 2:36 PM (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays took two of three over the weekend from the American League Central-leading Cleveland Indians. Tonight, they take aim at another division leader when they welcome the AL West front-running Texas Rangers to Tropicana Field for the start of a three-game series.

Of course, tonight's matchup is a rematch of last year's American League Division Series that the Rangers won in five games. Texas won all three games on the road in that series, but has lost 13 of its last 16 regular-season matchups in St. Petersburg.

The Rays pulled out a series win on Sunday, as Jeremy Hellickson worked seven scoreless innings and John Jaso clubbed a two-run homer, helping Tampa Bay to a 7-0 victory over the Tribe.

Johnny Damon went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Evan Longoria finished with two hits, two walks and scored twice for Tampa Bay, which won for only the third time in its last nine tries.

Hellickson (6-3) scattered three hits and two walks while striking out six for the Rays.

"I felt good all seven innings," Hellickson said. "[Jaso and I) were on the same page the whole game."

Hoping for a similar effort tonight, the Rays turn to righty Wade Davis, who is 4-4 and winless in his last three starts. Davis did not get a decision on Tuesday in Detroit, as he allowed five runs (four earned) and eight hits in six innings to raise his ERA to 3.71.

Davis was pounded by the Rangers in his only other start against them to the tune of eight runs and nine hits in just 3 1/3 frames.

Texas needed some late-inning heroics to stay on top of its division on Sunday, as the Rangers scored twice in the ninth to get past the Kansas City Royals, 7-6, in the finale of a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

In the bottom of the ninth with the Royals holding a one run lead, KC closer Joakim Soria promptly gave up a leadoff home run to Nelson Cruz to tie the game. Mike Napoli then singled to left, but Soria struck out the next two batters.

Elvis Andrus then singled to right and Napoli was waved home. The throw to the plate was there in plenty of time, but Napoli's slide saw his foot touch home plate before Brayan Pena applied the tag to give the Rangers the win, maintaining their half-game edge on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, which also won on Sunday.

Napoli finished the game 3-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored, Michael Young hit a two-run homer and Ian Kinsler added a solo shot for the Rangers, who have won five of seven.

Heading to the hill for the Rangers tonight will be lefty Derek Holland, who is 3-1 with a 4.68 earned run average. Holland picked up his sixth straight no-decision on Tuesday against Chicago, as the White Sox reached him for four runs and four hits in four innings and did not return after a lengthy rain delay. The Rangers eventually lost the game 8-6 and are 2-4 in Holland's last six starts.

"I was very frustrated with that," Holland said. "I'm better than that. I'm not using the weather as an excuse ... I could have done a better job. I left a couple of pitches up and the wind took them out here."

Holland has faced the Rays three times and is 2-1 against them with a 7.04 ERA.

Tampa won four of its six matchups with the Rangers last season.