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A's hope that Cahill can bounce back in clash with Rays

Jul 27, 2011 - 3:02 PM (Sports Network) - Trevor Cahill tries to bounce back from one of the worst starts of his career this evening when the Oakland Athletics continue their four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at the Coliseum.

Cahill lost his third straight start and fourth consecutive decision on Friday against the New York Yankees, who battered him for 10 runs and nine hits in only two innings of work, dropping him to 8-9 on the year to go along with a 3.77 earned run average.

"You try to avoid the big inning," said Cahill, who fell to 0-4 lifetime against the Yankees. "The second inning was the big inning. You try to regroup and before you know it, I was out there and same thing was happening again."

Cahill hasn't fared much better against the Rays, as he is 1-1 against them, but has allowed 10 runs and 15 hits in 10 2/3 innings of those outings.

Tampa, meanwhile, will counter with righty James Shields, who snapped a four- start losing streak his last time out. Shields beat the Yankees on Thursday, holding them to a run and six hits in 7 2/3 innings. The win pushed his record to 9-8, while lowering his ERA to 2.53.

Shields has faced the A's 10 times and is 4-2 against them with a 3.54 ERA.

On Tuesday, Brandon McCarthy allowed one run through eight strong innings to lead Oakland to a 6-1 victory.

McCarthy (3-5) scattered six hits and two walks while fanning three in Oakland's seventh win in 11 games.

"That's as good as I've seen [by McCarthy]. He had the ball down in the zone and good movement on everything," Athletics manager Bob Melvin.

Cliff Pennington went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and Scott Sizemore reached base four times, including three walks, and crossed the plate for three of the A's runs.

David Price (9-9) allowed four runs on seven hits and four walks through six innings for the loss.

Ben Zobrist's homer in the eighth accounted for the Rays' lone run. They have dropped four of their last five.

The Rays took five of nine from the A's last season, but have dropped eight of their last 12 in Oakland.