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Rolling Rays look to sweep Angels

Aug 20, 2008 - 10:09 AM LA Angels (76-48) at Tampa Bay (77-48) 7:10 p.m. EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The Tampa Bay Rays don't have it in their name anymore, but they sure are having a devil of a time proving to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim they aren't alone among the American League elite.

After riding strong pitching and timely defense in the first two games, the Rays can complete a series sweep of the Angels on Wednesday.

Eric Hinske belted a two-run homer and Andy Sonnanstine threw 5 1/3 solid frames before five relievers closed a 6-4 victory in the opener. The following night, James Shields tossed eight strong innings and the Rays rallied for a 4-2 comeback triumph.

Such are the vagaries when they are the only AL team against which the Angels have a losing record. The contests were also a good start to a crucial stretch run, which could ultimately tell the fate of baseball's biggest surprise.

The Rays began a stretch in which they play 28 of 31 against teams in playoff contention, including six against the Red Sox.

Matt Garza (10-7, 3.63 ERA) takes the mound for Tampa Bay, which has 22 wins against the AL West - most in the majors.

The 24-year-old righthander is coming off a two-hit shutout against the Texas Rangers on Friday, his second whitewash in four starts.

The Angels will counter with Jered Weaver (10-9, 4.47), who has pitched into the seventh inning once in the past 10 outings. In that span, though, he's surrendered more than three runs three times.

In his lone start against Tampa Bay, he allowed one run and four hits in eight sterling innings en route to a 6-1 win on June 10.