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Rays make first trip to Dodger Stadium

Aug 9, 2013 - 2:44 PM (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays make their first-ever trip to Dodger Stadium on Friday when they open a three-game interleague series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Rays are the last remaining big league club to have never played at Dodger Stadium.

Tampa Bay entered the day trailing Boston by two games in the American League East race. The Rays were swept in a two-game set in Arizona on Wednesday, 9-8.

Tampa Bay's bullpen was forced to log overtime when starter Chris Archer had to leave the game in the second inning with tightness in his right forearm. And while the offense managed to plate eight runs, it also watched Arizona turn a team-record six double plays.

Los Angeles has won two straight and 23 of its last 28 games overall to open a 5 1/2-game lead over Arizona in the National League West. The Dodgers took three of four from the Cardinals in St. Louis this week.

On Thursday, L.A. cruised to a 5-1 win behind Hyun-Jin Ryu, who allowed just one unearned run in seven innings while striking out seven and walking nobody. A.J. Ellis delivered a three-run home run in the fifth.

The Dodgers will turn to Chris Capuano for Friday's series opener. The left- hander held the Cubs scoreless over 6 1/3 innings his last time out. Capuano has not lost since July 4 and has allowed one earned run or none in seven of his 14 starts this season.

"There's definitely a sense of trying to follow the other acts (in the starting rotation)," he said. "I'm just trying to follow and do my job."

Meanwhile, Rays starter David Price has tasted defeat only once since his July 2 return from the disabled list with a strained left triceps. After posting a 5.24 ERA before the injury, Price has gone 5-1 with a 1.57 ERA in seven starts since coming off the DL.

"I'm going to make people prove to me that they can hit my best stuff," Price said. "If they do that, then I'll look to change. But until then I'm extremely competitive. I want to go out there and go nine every time and not allow a base runner, a base hit or a walk, or anything. That's the way I've always been, and I don't plan on changing."

Carl Crawford is facing the organization he spent nine years with before landing with Boston and then Los Angeles. He is 0-for-9 lifetime against his former teammate, Price.