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Rays' Archer aims to extend home success in matchup with Tribe

May 11, 2014 - 1:05 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Tampa Bay Rays snapped their six-game home skid Saturday night. For Chris Archer, pitching at Tropicana Field has provided plenty of success.

Archer takes the mound Sunday afternoon for the Rays in the rubber match of a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians. The 25-year-old right-hander is 4-0 in his last eight starts at home, with the last loss coming Aug. 13 versus Seattle. He's 1-0 over his last four starts overall with his only defeat this season coming April 14 at Baltimore.

On Tuesday against the Orioles, Archer surrendered seven hits and three runs over five innings of a no-decision.

The big problem for Archer this season has been facing right-handed hitters, who have batted .364 against him. That's the fourth-highest average in the AL. Prior to 2014, Archer had limited righties to a .173 average.

Archer and the Rays certainly remember the first and only time he faced the Indians. That start was his first of the 2013 season on June 1 in a game that had nearly five hours of rain delays and didn't end until close to 3 a.m. Archer gave up homers to Jason Giambi and Asdrubal Cabrera and allowed seven hits and five runs over four innings in taking the loss at Progressive Field.

Josh Tomlin, who sparkled in his 2014 debut Tuesday, gets the mound call for the Indians. The righty fired 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a 4-2 home win over the Twins. It was his first start since July 27, 2012 at Minnesota.

Tomlin threw 20 straight scoreless Triple-A innings prior to his promotion to the parent club. He's 1-2 with a 4.38 ERA in four career starts against the Rays.

Last night, Erik Bedard worked six strong innings while James Loney and Matt Joyce each drove in a pair of runs to give the Rays a 7-1 win.

Bedard (2-1) gave up just one hit with three walks and four strikeouts for the Rays, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria each scored twice.

"I'm always a slow starter so the first couple were rough, but after that you just get in the groove of things and throw strikes," Bedard said.

Zach McAllister (3-3) dropped his third straight decision as he was beaten up for five runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings for the Indians, who had a four- game winning streak stopped.

The Rays won four of six versus the Indians last season.