• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Marlins' Willis tries to snap personal losing streak

May 19, 2007 - 3:02 PM Florida (19-23) at Tampa Bay (18-23) 7:10 pm EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- After getting their offense on track, the Florida Marlins look for ace Dontrelle Willis to do the same.

Willis and the Marlins aim to win consecutive interleague games when they face the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Saturday.

Florida was averaging just 3.4 runs per game in the month of May before beating Tampa Bay, 8-4, on Friday. Aaron Boone hit a first-inning grand slam and Reggie Abercrombie added a two-run single for the Marlins, who had led the major leagues with 5.7 runs in April.

Willis (5-3, 5.14 ERA) goes to the mound looking to end a personal two-game losing streak. The lefthander allowed two runs and six hits in six innings in a 7-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.

It was Willis' second straight loss after the Marlins had won six of his first seven outings. After scoring 53 runs in his first seven starts, Florida has mustered just three in his last two.

The 25-year-old Willis has not dropped at least three straight starts since April 25-May 11, 2006.

Jae Seo (2-3, 7.26) toes the rubber for the Devil Rays to see if he can return them to winning ways. Tampa Bay had won four straight before the loss to Florida. Seo began the winning streak by pitching seven scoreless innings in a 2-1 win at Toronto on Sunday.

Seo is 4-3 with a 2.52 ERA in 11 career games - 10 starts - against the Marlins but will have to contend with Boone, who is 3-for-3 with the bases loaded this year and is batting an impressive .382 (26-for-68) for his career against Tampa Bay.