Tampa Bay @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 24, 2011 ) Tampa Bay 5, Houston 1

THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Rays are eight games over .500 after winning the first game of the series, matching their season high. Now the Rays, who have won six of seven, will try to build on that as they send Wade Davis to the mound at the Houston Astros Saturday night. Bud Norris goes for the Astros, who have lost 15 of their last 20. Tampa Bay improved their road record to 24-16, the best in the majors. The Rays had a league-high 47 victories away from home in 2010. Houston has the worst record in the majors and has won the least home games (13).

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS-HOU, SunSports.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Bud Norris (4-5, 3.26 ERA) vs. Rays RH Wade Davis (6-5, 4.57 ERA)

Norris is having a breakout season, despite his record. He has allowed just two runs and eight hits combined his last three starts over 21 innings. That includes six one-hit innings June 19 against the Dodgers. Norris has 95 strikeouts and 35 walks in 94 innings. His only interleague appearance was in May of 2010 against Tampa Bay, when he allowed four runs in five innings without getting a decision.

Davis has won his last two starts and will be pitching on eight days rest, due to a reshuffling of the rotation. He allowed just one run on six hits over six innings to beat Florida on June 17. Davis has struck out just 40 in 80 2/3 innings, while walking 33. He has never faced the Astros, but Davis 1-3 in interleague play.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (28-49): Hunter Pence was back in the lineup Friday after missing a week with a sore left elbow, but went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts as the Astros managed just three hits off James Shields. Third baseman Chris Johnson had Houston’s only RBI in the first game of the series to continue his improvement. Johnson was batting .210 through May 29 but is 27-for-87 (.310) since with a homer and eight RBIs. Johnson now has 32 RBIs, third on the team behind Pence (51) and Carlos Lee (37). Lee has to pick it up. The big left fielder is 2-for-20 with one RBI the last five games.

ABOUT THE RAYS (42-34): Evan Longoria was batting .188 in June coming into the series, but belted a two-run homer and had an RBI single in the victory Friday. Longoria has had at least three RBIs in a game four times in the last 13, but the Rays are hoping he can be more consistent and raise his average (.232). The Rays would also like to get more production from versatile Sean Rodriguez, and he has started to do that, going 6-for-15 the last four games. Outfielders Matt Joyce and Johnny Damon both got the day off Friday but should be back in Saturday.

FINAL PITCH: Rays reliever J.P. Howell has returned to the team after going back to St. Petersburg, Fla. to have his sore left foot looked at. There was no structural damage found. He was diagnosed with gout.