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Rays-Marlins Preview

May 24, 2009 - 4:33 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Tampa Bay (22-22) at Florida (19-24), 1:10 p.m. EDT

James Shields has gotten no runs to work with over his last two starts. Perhaps a matchup with the Florida Marlins will give him some room for error.

The Tampa Bay Rays, who have been unable to fully take advantage of Shields' strong pitching, look to continue their success at the plate against the Marlins in the finale of a three-game interleague series Sunday.

Tampa Bay (23-22) has not scored a run for Shields (3-4, 3.43 ERA) in his last two outings, wasting the right-hander's best start of the season Tuesday night. Shields gave up four hits and struck out five in 8 1-3 scoreless innings, but the Rays lost 4-1 in 11 innings to Oakland.

Shields has gotten two runs or fewer to work with in five of his nine outings.

"I've always said it's not how you pitch, it's when you pitch," Shields said.

Shields is 2-1 with a 3.81 ERA in four starts against the Marlins (19-25). His Florida counterparts haven't fared nearly as well versus Tampa Bay.

The Rays have won five straight against Florida, batting .321 with 10 homers while averaging 11.5 runs during that streak.

Tampa Bay beat Florida 10-3 on Saturday night, benefiting from another poor performance by the Marlins after winning 15-2 on Friday. Florida pitching has been horrendous over the last seven games, posting a 7.66 ERA with the Marlins losing six of those contests.

"It has certainly been a struggle," Florida infielder Wes Helms said. "But it's something you have to battle through. It's not something you can just wish away. You just have to keep working hard every night."

The Marlins hope Josh Johnson (3-1, 2.54) can give them a boost. Johnson, though, has not had many runs scored on his behalf, getting three or fewer in each of his last eight starts.

The right-hander allowed three runs - two earned - and four hits in 6 1-3 innings against Arizona on Tuesday night, but suffered a loss as Florida was defeated 5-3.

Johnson is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in two starts versus the Rays, but he has never faced Tampa Bay third baseman Even Longoria.

Longoria hit a tiebreaking single in eighth inning Saturday, raising his major league-leading RBI total to 48.

"That's how we played all last year," said Longoria, batting .417 (10 for 24) with eight RBIs in five road games against the Marlins. "The belief is back. In tight games we believe firmly we can win those games now. As long as we keep believing that, we're going to be pretty good."

Jason Bartlett is also coming off a big game at the plate for the Rays, going 2 for 5 with three RBIs to hike his average to .376. The shortstop already has a career-high six home runs.

Florida's lineup, meanwhile, is struggling, scoring a total of eight runs in its last three games. Marlins rookie left fielder Chris Coghlan is 2 for 27 (.074) over his last nine contests, dropping his average to .143.

Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez missed his team's latest loss, leaving town to attend his daughter's high school graduation. Florida played no better for bench coach Carlos Tosca, dropping to 8-24 following an 11-1 start.