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Longoria, streaking Rays host lowly Royals

Jul 4, 2008 - 1:15 PM Kansas City (39-47) at Tampa Bay (52-32) 5:10 pm. EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Rookie Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays look to avoid a letdown on Friday in the opener of a four-game series with the Kansas City Royals.

Longoria notched three hits, including a two-run double in a six-run seventh inning, to help the Rays complete a three-game sweep of Boston with a 7-6 victory on Thursday.

A potential candidate for American League Rookie of the Year, the 22-year-old third baseman is hitting .367 (22-for-60) with five homers and 18 RBI in his last 15 games. Longoria and the Rays have won four straight and eight of their last nine contests.

After sweeping the world champions, it would be easy for the Rays to overlook the struggling Royals. Kansas City has lost four of six, but is coming off a 10-7 victory over Baltimore on Thursday. Jose Guillen drove in three runs and the Royals used a six-run seventh inning to earn the series split.

Tampa Bay sends its most inconsistent starter to the hill in this one, as Edwin Jackson (4-6, 4.33 ERA) gets the ball. The righthander is 1-3 with a 5.75 ERA in his last six starts.

Kansas City counters with Brian Bannister (7-7, 4.88), who was reached for seven runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 9-6 loss to St. Louis on Sunday. Bannister has struggled on the road, going 2-4 with a 7.78 ERA in seven starts.