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Rays LHP Kazmir looks to extend scoreless streak

May 20, 2008 - 1:56 PM Tampa Bay (26-19) at Oakland (24-22) 10:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - It didn't take long before Scott Kazmir returned back to his dominating form.

Kazmir aims to lead the Tampa Bay Rays past the Oakland Athletics for the second consecutive game when the two clubs meet in the second of a three-game series on Tuesday.

After starting the season out on the disabled list with an elbow injury and then getting tagged his his debut, Kazmir (2-1, 1.96) bounced back with some impressive showings over his previous two starts. The hard-throwing lefthander hasn't allowed a run over his last 12 innings - both wins.

The Rays locked up Kazmir for the next three years with a $28.5 contact extension last week. He has made 101 starts since joining the club late in 2004, owning the franchise record for victories. Last season Kazmir became the youngest pitcher since 1975 to lead the American League in strikeouts when he fanned 239 batters.

The 24-year-old is 4-1 with a 3.81 ERA through eight career starts against Oakland.

Rookie Evan Longoria's two-run homer in the 13th inning off reliever Chad Gaudin helped lift Tampa Bay to a 7-6 win over Oakland in Monday's series opener.

The A's counter with rookie Greg Smith (2-3, 3.26), who has lost three of his last four starts - including a 4-2 loss at Cleveland where he gave up three runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings last Thursday. He is making his first career appearances in the series.