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Rays seek sweep of White Sox at the Trop

Jul 7, 2013 - 1:43 PM (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays will shoot for their first series sweep since May when they take on the Chicago White Sox Sunday in the finale of a three-game set at Tropicana Field.

Jeremy Hellickson won his fourth straight start as the Rays cruised to an 8-3 victory in the series opener on Friday night.

On Saturday, the Rays' bats were much quieter but starter Matt Moore didn't need much in terms of run support as he led Tampa Bay to a 3-0 triumph.

Moore earned his 12th win of the season by pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out six batters and allowing just five hits. Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth inning to close the door and earn his 19th save.

Ben Zobrist went 2-for-3 while Luke Scott, Sam Fuld and Desmond Jennings knocked in a run each to account for the Rays' offensive production. Tampa Bay has won three straight games and is looking for its first series sweep since taking a four-game set against Miami from May 27-30.

Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham each had a pair of hits for Chicago but the White Sox could not figure out the Rays' pitching.

Chris Sale pitched a solid seven innings and allowed just three runs, two of which were earned, while striking out nine batters in the loss.

The White Sox have lost back-to-back games and eight of their last 10.

John Danks has been pitching well of late and will attempt to put together another strong start when he takes the hill for the White Sox on Sunday.

Danks missed the first month and a half of the season after undergoing season- ending shoulder surgery last May. Since returning from the DL, Danks has made eight starts and posted a 2-5 record with a 4.38 ERA.

However, in his last two starts Danks has pitched a total of 14 1/3 innings and allowed just three earned runs in that time. Danks has split both of those decisions but received just 2.5 runs per nine innings in support.

In his eight starts this season, Danks has not made an appearance against the Rays. Danks is 5-3 with an ERA of 3.90 in nine total starts lifetime against Tampa Bay.

Defending Cy Young award winner David Price will make his second start since coming off the DL for the Rays.

Price's first start since his stint on the DL went as well as it could on Tuesday. Price pitched seven shutout innings while striking out 10 batters and allowing just three hits in an 8-0 win over the Houston Astros. The start was the first for Price since he went on the DL in mid-May with a triceps injury.

Price struggled through the first month and a half of the season before going on the DL. The southpaw is 2-4 with a 4.65 ERA on the season but prior to his effort on Tuesday Price was just 1-4 with an ERA over 5.00.

He does have a start against Chicago under his belt this season. Price faced the White Sox on April 28 and earned his only other win of the season by lasting seven innings while allowing three runs and striking out nine batters. Price is 3-4 with a 3.52 ERA in seven career starts against the White Sox.

In six total meetings this season, Tampa Bay has bested Chicago four times.