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Rays-Indians Preview

May 28, 2009 - 6:22 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Tampa Bay (23-26) at Cleveland (20-28), 12:05 p.m. EDT

It's fitting that the Cleveland Indians' first chance to sweep a series this season would come against the Tampa Bay Rays at home.

The Indians wrap up the set looking for a 17th straight home victory over the struggling Rays on Thursday.

Two days after scoring seven runs in the bottom of the ninth inning en route to an 11-10 series-opening victory, Cleveland (20-28) overcame a five-run deficit to win 12-7 on Wednesday for its season-high third straight victory.

"It's a big win for us, to finally get three straight. We're all feeling confident," said outfielder Ben Francisco of a game delayed almost two hours by rain and played the same day Indians owner Larry Dolan was hospitalized with a mild heart attack.

The Indians have won six of their last eight contests and a season-high four in a row at Progressive Field. They're 4-3 against the Rays (23-26) heading into the finale of the season series.

Having clinched just their fourth winning series this year, the Indians now will try to sweep a fourth straight four-game set from Tampa Bay. The reigning AL champions have lost a season-high four in a row and haven't won in Cleveland since Sept. 28, 2005.

"We have to push through this and fight through it," outfielder Ben Zobrist told the Rays' official Web site.

Francisco homered and drove in four runs for Cleveland, which has scored 28 runs in the last three games. He's batting .368 (7 for 19) with three homers and nine RBIs in six games against Tampa Bay this season.

On Wednesday, Tampa Bay scored five first-inning runs, but gave up eight over the second and third innings. Rays' pitchers have yielded 21 earned runs and walked 15 batters over 24 2-3 innings in the set.

Right-hander Jeff Niemann (4-3, 4.53 ERA) hopes to turn things around for the Rays and cool off the Indians' bats when he faces them for the first time.

Though he didn't factor in the decision of his last start, Niemann allowed one run and four hits while striking out a season-high five in six innings of a 10-3 win at Florida on Saturday. He's surrendered four earned runs in 14 innings over his last two starts.

(The) last two have gone pretty well," Niemann said. "I'm trying to build on those and just keep the ball rolling."

Evan Longoria homered and drove in two runs Wednesday for Tampa Bay, which is trying to get by without injured regulars Pat Burrell (neck), Jason Bartlett (ankle) and Akinori Iwamura (knee).

Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford singled Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to seven games. He's batting .320 (8 for 25) against the Indians this season.

The Rays could have a good chance at ending their losing streak in Cleveland as they face struggling rookie David Huff.

Huff (0-1, 17.55) has allowed 13 runs in 6 2-3 innings of his first two career starts. He gave up six and seven hits in three innings of a 7-6 win at Cincinnati on Saturday.

"It's disappointing," the left-hander told the Indians' official Web site. "I'm a competitor. I love to win. I need to win. So this is frustrating."