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Orioles, Rays continue battle for AL East supremacy

Apr 30, 2008 - 1:34 PM Tampa Bay (14-12) at Baltimore (15-11) 7:05 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - An April series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles has traditionally been a battle to stay out of the American League East basement. This season, it means a battle for first place.

The Orioles hope to, at the very least, maintain a share of first place in the AL East on Wednesday when they host the Rays in the second game of a three-game set.

Tampa Bay has finished last in the division in nine of its first 10 years in the league. Meanwhile, Baltimore hasn't been much better as a nearly perennial fourth-place club during the past 10 years.

However, this season has seen a reversal of fortunes for both franchises. The Orioles have won four of their last six to move into a tie with the Boston Red Sox atop the division, with the last of those wins snapping Tampa Bay's six-game win streak on Tuesday, 7-4.

On Wednesday, Baltimore will turn to Brian Burres (3-1, 2.49 ERA), who is coming off the longest outing of his career. He allowed three hits and striking out four in eight innings in Baltimore's 5-1 win on Saturday over the Chicago White Sox.

The lefthander hasn't surrendered a run over 13 2/3 innings since permitting six in his only loss of the season - a 6-2 setback against the Rays on April 13.

His counterpart on the mound will be Andy Sonnanstine (3-1, 5.28), who will look to put his past struggles against the Orioles behind him. In three career starts vs. Baltimore, he is 1-2 with an 8.04 ERA.

In his last start Thursday, the righthander yielded three runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings in a 5-3 win over Toronto.