Cincinnati @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2011 ) Cincinnati 3, Tampa Bay 4

THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Rays finally have a victory against the Cincinnati Reds - now they will send one of the major league’s hottest pitchers to the mound with a chance to win their first series against manager Dusty Baker’s team. James Shields, coming off three straight complete-game victories, will take on the visiting Reds and Edinson Volquez Wednesday afternoon. Evan Longoria’s walk-off home run Tuesday gave Tampa Bay its first victory over Cincinnati after seven straight losses. The Rays have won nine of 11 games and are 10-4 in interleague play. The Reds have lost seven of their last 11 games.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, SunSports (Tampa Bay), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH James Shields (8-4, 2.29 ERA) vs. Reds RH Edinson Volquez (4-3, 5.77). Shields has been extraordinary his last three starts, allowing two runs - one earned - and 12 hits. He has 117 strikeouts and only 28 walks in 121 2/3 innings. Teams are batting .207 - right-handed hitters .182 - against Shields, who is 9-6 in interleague play. Scott Rolen is 2-for-16 against Shields, but has a home run. Volquez is 0-1 in his last three starts. He has allowed eight runs over 9 1/3 innings in his last two and has only one victory since May 6. Volquez has only 30 strikeouts and 27 walks in 73 1/3 innings. The former Texas Rangers pitcher is 5-14 all-time against the American League.

ABOUT THE RAYS (45-35): Johnny Damon continues to get big hits. The 37-year old designated hitter/outfielder had three more RBIs Tuesday to give him 37 and moved within one hit of Ted Williams on the all-time list with 2,653. Longoria has been the lead man of late with five homers and 15 RBIs in the last eight games, going 11-for-34. The All-Star third baseman has also scored nine runs in that stretch. Sam Fuld, who had struggled with the bat after a torrid start, is slowly getting back into the groove with seven hits in his last 19 at-bats and several outstanding catches in left field.

ABOUT THE REDS (41-40): Despite the tough loss, there were plenty of good signs for the Reds on Tuesday. Jay Bruce hit his first home run since June 1, a majestic blast to dead-center field off Rays closer Kyle Farnsworth. Edgar Renteria, batting only .230, came through with a clutch single for his 899th career RBI. Joey Votto belted a big RBI double to the opposite field against one of the league’s best lefthanders - David Price. Drew Stubbs also fought back after striking out his first two at-bats to hammer a triple to deep center off Price. Brandon Phillips, who turned 30 on Tuesday, has an eight-game hit streak (17-for-36).

FINAL PITCH: The Rays are 19-19 at home and 26-16 on the road. One big reason is Longoria’s production. Longoria is batting .294 with seven homers and 30 RBIs on the road, and .193 with three homers and four RBIs at home.