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Jackson looks to keep Rays rolling

Jun 27, 2008 - 1:21 PM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Matt Garza's one-hit, 10-strikeout complete game win over the Florida Marlins will be a tough act to follow.

But if the Tampa Bay Rays get a similar outing from Edwin Jackson (4-6, 4.35 ERA) on Friday, they have a great chance to pounce on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Tampa Bay, which has won seven of nine games, swept the Marlins in the three-game set and averaged nine runs per game. Rookie third baseman Evan Longoria was 7-for-16 with two homers and six RBI in the series.

The Rays have been one of the biggest surprises in the American League this season as they sit 16 games above .500 and lead the wild card race.

Jimmy Barthmaier will make his major league debut for the Pirates, whose rubber game against the New York Yankees was rained out in the third inning on Thursday.

Barthmaier started the season at Double-A Altoona, where he went 2-4 with a 4.86 ERA in 10 starts. The righthander earned a promotion to Class AAA Indianapolis in late May when Bryan Bullington was called up to the Pirates.

In five starts with Indianapolis, Barthmaier went 2-1 and allowed 10 earned runs in 31 2/3 innings. His most recent start came on Saturday, when he limited Rochester to one earned run on four hits, while striking out eight in six innings of work.

The Pirates were in need of spot-starters for both Friday and Saturday because of injuries to starters Phil Dumatrait and Ian Snell.