Oakland @ Tampa Bay preview
Tropicana Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2011 ) Tampa Bay 10, Oakland 8
THE STORY: The Tampa Bay Rays have a difficult hill to climb if they are to contend for a playoff spot, but they are hanging around. The Rays have won five of their last seven and will send Jeff Niemann to the mound to start a three-game series with the visiting Oakland Athletics on Friday night. Tampa Bay registered 16 runs in the last two games to even its record after 52 contests at Tropicana Field. Oakland permitted 19 runs en route to getting swept at Seattle. The Athletics, who are 18-38 on the road, defeated the Rays three of four in Oakland on July 25-28.
TV: 7:10 p.m. EST; CSCA (Oakland), SunSports (Tampa Bay).
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Guillermo Moscoso (4-5, 3.41 ERA) vs. Rays RH Jeff Niemann (5-4, 3.51 ERA).
Moscoso gave up two runs over 6 1/3 innings to defeat the Minnesota Twins in his last start Saturday. He allowed five runs in as many innings against the Rays on July 25, but did not get a decision in his first-ever outing against them. Kelly Shoppach and Ben Zobrist homered off Moscoso in that game. The righthander has given up two runs or less in five of his last seven outings.
Niemann has allowed four earned runs in his last five starts and has won his last four decisions. He defeated Seattle last Friday with 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Niemann is 2-0 lifetime against Oakland with a 1.59 ERA over 17 innings. Niemann, who has not lost since May 4, has 58 strikeouts and 19 walks in 2011.
ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (49-62): Oakland manager Bob Melvin expects to have both Cliff Pennington and David DeJesus back in the lineup for this series. Pennington, who is batting .404 since the All-Star break, has missed the last two games with Bell’s Palsy. DeJesus, who is out with a sore thumb, has only one at-bat since Friday. Hideki Matsui has been quite healthy of late, sporting a season-high 12-game hitting streak. He has two homers, 10 RBIs and scored 11 times in that stretch. Josh Willingham has also been warm, going 9-for-27 with three homers and 11 RBIs in his last seven games.
ABOUT THE RAYS (58-52): Tampa Bay scored in the 10th, 11th and 12th innings in Thursday's 7-6 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Rays are just the fifth team in major league history to accomplish that feat. Desmond Jennings has been a big spark to the lineup in the leadoff spot, with 17 hits in 48 at-bats since being recalled. Jennings has three homers, 10 RBIs and five stolen bases. Casey Kotchman is hot again, going 10-for-24 the last six games, and Zobrist has 12 RBIs in his last 11 games. Johnny Damon is without a hit in his last 15 at bats.
FINAL PITCH: Rays catcher Robinson Chirinos became the first non-starter to tie a game with a hit in extra innings and have a walk-off hit in the same game since then Chicago White Sox outfielder Aaron Rowand did so in September 2004. Chirinos had his first career homer and four RBIs Wednesday.