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Huff hopes to continue tear vs. former team

Apr 3, 2008 - 4:18 PM Tampa Bay (1-1) at Baltimore (1-1) 7:05 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - Aubrey Huff and the Baltimore Orioles attempt to take the rubber game of a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays when the teams meet in Camden Yards on Thursday.

A former member of the Rays, Huff crushed the pitching of his former team last season, batted .365 (23-for-63) with seven home runs and 14 RBI in 17 games.

The 31-year-old spent the first 6 1/2 seasons of his career with the Rays until Tampa Bay traded him to the Houston Astros in 2006.

After going 1-for-4 against the Rays on Opening Day, Huff had a home run and four RBI in Wednesday's 9-6 win over Tampa Bay.

On Thursday, Steve Trachsel hopes to be the pitcher that takes advantage of another solid hitting day from Huff.

The righthander, who went 7-11 with a 4.90 ERA with the Orioles and Chicago Cubs last season, returns to Baltimore after being traded by the club in August.

His counterpart on the mound will be Andy Sonnanstine, who had a 6-10 record with a 5.85 ERA last season. The righthander struggled early in his rookie campaign, but finished strong with a 5-2 record over his last nine starts.