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Rays-Indians Preview

May 27, 2009 - 4:32 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Tampa Bay (23-24) at Cleveland (18-28), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Tampa Bay Rays fared much better last year when Jason Bartlett provided little impact in the lineup. Now, they won't get any production from the shortstop.

With Bartlett on the disabled list, the Rays look to avoid losing their 16th straight on the road against the Cleveland Indians as the teams continue a four-game series Wednesday night.

After its surprising pennant run last season, Tampa Bay (23-25) is going to have a tough time catching up in the tough AL East.

The Rays are in danger of losing four straight for the first time this season after dropping the first two contests in this series. They fell 5-1 on Tuesday, a day after letting a 10-run lead slip away in an 11-10 defeat - the biggest collapse in Tampa Bay history.

Tampa Bay hasn't beaten the Indians (19-28) in Cleveland since a 1-0 win Sept. 28, 2005, and its chances of ending that skid haven't gotten any better with Bartlett being put on the DL with a sprained left ankle before Tuesday's game.

Bartlett is having a career season, batting .373 with 30 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He's already set a career high with seven homers.

Rookie Reid Brignac started Tuesday and went 1 for 3 in place of Bartlett, who joins second baseman Akinori Iwamura (season-ending knee injury), closer Troy Percival (shoulder), designated hitter Pat Burrell (neck), ace Scott Kazmir (quadriceps) and four others on Tampa Bay's DL.

"A lot of guys are going on the DL, but we have to push through this," Tampa Bay right fielder Ben Zobrist said. "Last year we had guys go down and other guys stepped up. We have to do that again."

With Bartlett out, the Rays went hitless in 10 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford, however, were bright spots.

Pena hit his AL-leading 16th homer and Crawford had a stolen base, giving him 30 in 30 attempts. He has not been caught in 32 tries since July 18.

The Rays will try to end their slide against Zach Jackson (0-0, 5.79 ERA), who was recalled Tuesday and will make his first start of the season. The left-hander made two relief outings for the Indians before being optioned to Triple-A Columbus on April 21.

In seven appearances, including four starts with the Clippers, Jackson went 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA. He's 4-5 with a 5.58 ERA in 16 career major league starts.

This will be Jackson's first appearance against the Rays.

He could certainly use some support from an Indians lineup that has come alive of late, averaging 5.8 runs en route to winning five of seven games.

"It's good to get a couple of wins in a row," Cleveland left fielder Mark DeRosa said.

Ryan Garko homered for the third time in two games Tuesday, giving him four this season. The first baseman is batting .348 (16 for 46) with four homers, six doubles and 16 RBIs in his last 12 home games against the Rays.

Garko, though, is 1 for 6 against the Rays' Andy Sonnanstine (3-4, 6.60).

The right-hander gave up one run and five hits in six innings in a 15-2 rout of Florida on Friday. He posted a 14.09 ERA in his previous two outings.

Sonnanstine surrendered five runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings against the Indians on May 17, but earned a decision in the 7-5 victory. He's 1-2 with a 7.41 ERA in three career starts versus Cleveland.