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Struggling ace Kazmir aims to help Rays rebound

Aug 17, 2008 - 6:39 AM Tampa Bay (74-48) at Texas (62-62) 8:05 pm. EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- With their stars out, the Tampa Bay Rays need ace Scott Kazmir to snap out of his funk.

The lefthander aims for his first win in over three weeks on Sunday as the Rays face the Texas Rangers.

Tampa Bay, which is without Rookie of the Year front-runner Evan Longoria (fractured wrist) and star left fielder Carl Crawford (finger), managed three hits in a 3-0 loss on Saturday.

Despite the loss the Rays maintained a 3 1/2-game lead over the Boston Red Sox (71-52), who lost to Toronto Saturday.

They hope that Kazmir (8-6, 3.22 ERA) can get back on track and pick up his first win since July 21. The lefthander is 0-1 with a 5.21 ERA in his last four starts, and has not lasted longer than five innings in that span. On Tuesday, Kazmir allowed two runs and two hits in five innings of a 2-1 loss to Oakland.

"The last inning I threw a couple of sliders and all in all I just have to go deeper into the game," Kazmir said after the loss. I think there was a lot I can take out of this start."

He faces a Texas lineup that is looking to find its early season form. The Rangers have been shut out four times in the last nine games after being blanked once in the first 115.

"Sometimes when we pitch well, we don't score runs and vice versa," All-Star center fielder Josh Hamilton said. "We need to find more consistency as a team."

Texas, which has the worst ERA in the majors (5.45), sends converted reliever Dustin Nippert to the hill. Nippert (1-2, 7.03 ERA) is making a spot start for Vicente Padilla, who has been pushed back twice due to a sore chest. Nippert has not started a game since August 5, 2006 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.