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Rays target fifth straight win over White Sox

Aug 23, 2008 - 10:24 AM Tampa Bay (78-49) at Chi White Sox (73-54) 3:55 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- As if the Tampa Bay Rays needed more help, Rocco Baldelli is making his presence felt.

Baldelli and the Rays eye their fifth straight win over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.

After playing only 35 games in 2007 because of a strained left hamstring, Baldelli rejoined the Tampa Bay lineup for the first time on August 10 after having been sidelined with a mitochondrial disorder.

Baldelli hit his first home run - his first since May 3, 2007 - and was one of three Rays to homer during Tampa Bay's 9-4 series-opening win over the White Sox on Friday.

After posting their fourth consecutive win over the White Sox, Scott Kazmir (9-6, 3.21 ERA) will try to extend Tampa Bay's dominance.

The lefthander won for the first time in five starts in Sunday's 7-4 triumph at Texas, permitting two runs and four hits over six frames, striking out seven for his second victory since the All-Star break.

He will be opposed by Javier Vazquez (10-10, 4.34), who has lasted at least six frames in each of his last six starts. The righthander won for the third time in his last four outings in Sunday's 13-1 rout of Oakland, allowing a run and four hits with eight strikeouts over eight innings.