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Streaking Rays go for sixth straight win

Aug 4, 2008 - 1:26 PM Cleveland (48-62) at Tampa Bay (66-44) 7:10 p.m. EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The last time the Tampa Bay Rays played the Cleveland Indians, they were limping home to the All-Star break. Three weeks later, the Rays are playing like a different team.

Tampa Bay aims to win its sixth consecutive game when it hosts Cleveland in the opener of a three-game series on Monday.

The Rays, who are coming off a sweep of the Detroit Tigers, were outscored, 31-8, over a four-game span by the Indians, which sent Tampa Bay into the All-Star break on a seven-game losing streak.

But since then, Tampa Bay is 11-5, helping the Rays take a three-game lead over the Boston Red Sox (64-48) atop the American League East. The Rays have never won more than 70 games in a season and already have equaled last season's win total.

To keep the momentum going, however, Tampa Bay will have to deal with the AL's All-Star starter, Cliff Lee (14-2, 2.58 ERA), who will be on the mound Monday for the Indians.

The lefthander is coming off a rare rough outing, as he gave up six runs over five innings in Cleveland's 14-12 loss to Detroit on Wednesday. He pitched six scoreless innings in his only start against Tampa Bay on July 11.

The Rays counter with Matt Garza (9-6, 3.56), who outdueled Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay in his last outing. The righthander is coming off his first career shutout, when he yielded just five hits in Tampa Bay's 3-0 victory over Toronto on Tuesday.

Garza allowed seven runs over five innings in his last start against the Indians on July 12.