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Rays turn to Price in opener with Angels

Jun 6, 2011 - 2:36 PM (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays turn to David Price this evening when they continue their west coast swing with the first of three games against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium.

The Rays' 11-game trip hasn't gotten off to a great start, as they dropped three of four to the Seattle Mariners to start the season-long trek. On Sunday against Seattle the Rays watched their bullpen implode in the eighth inning, surrendering four runs in the 9-6 loss.

"It's really tough, I let the team down, it's on me. (If I) go out there and do the job we probably have a chance to win, but I didn't, so it's on me," said Joel Peralta, who served up Miguel Olivo's go-ahead three-run homer.

Peralta's blowup was especially frustrating since the Rays had scored three times in the top of the eighth to go ahead, 6-5. Ben Zobrist and Kelly Shoppach each recorded two hits and drove in a run for Tampa Bay, which has dropped 14 of 21 overall.

The Rays hope Price can get them back on track. The left-hander, though, has lost two of his last three starts and is 6-5 on the season with a 3.52 ERA. He absorbed the loss on Wednesday against Texas, as he allowed three runs and five hits in eight innings.

"Last year, I was pretty lucky," Price said of his 19-win campaign a year ago. "This year, I haven't been so lucky. My numbers last year, I don't feel like they compare to my numbers this year at all. I feel like I've thrown the ball a lot better this year. With WHIP and walks and stuff like that. I feel like I'm controlling games a lot better than I did last year. It's just not happening for me right now."

Price was roughed up by the Angels earlier in the year and is 1-2 lifetime against them with a 5.14 ERA in five starts. Back on April 29 the Halos reached him for five runs in just 4 1/3 innings.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, will counter with rookie Tyler Chatwood, who is 3-2 with a 3.64 ERA. Chatwood did not get a decision on Wednesday in Kansas City, but had his finest outing as a pro, as he scattered five hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings in his team's 2-0 loss.

"It was a heck of a game," Chatwood said. "Somebody had to score first, and it just so happened to be them."

Chatwood lasted four innings in his only other start against the Rays and surrendered five runs and nine hits.

Los Angeles dropped the rubber match of its three-game series with the New York Yankees on Sunday and fell a game under .500 in the process in the 5-3 loss.

Mark Trumbo belted a solo home run for Los Angeles, which has dropped four of its last five games. Joel Pineiro (2-3) absorbed the loss after yielding four runs, nine hits and three walks over 6 2/3 innings.

"We couldn't get that one key hit," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

The Angels have won four of five from the Rays this season and have taken seven of the last nine matchups in the series.