Rays Bring 5 Game Losing Streak To Detroit For Series With Tigers

The Rays travel to Detroit to finish the second half of their six game road trip having been swept for the first time this season, in a three game series at Toronto. The Tigers come into the series off a 9-4 victory over the Angels, but are only 2-5 on their current homestand.

(Sports Network) - David Price attempts to become the American League's first 15-game winner this evening when the Tampa Bay Rays open a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Price, though, will need a little more support than the Rays provided Andy Sonnanstine on Sunday when they came within an out of being no-hit for the third time this season, as Toronto's Brandon Morrow tossed a one-hit shutout and struck out 17 batters in the Blue Jays' 1-0 win.

With two outs and a man on first in the ninth, Evan Longoria hit a sharp grounder that went off the glove of a diving Aaron Hill in the hole between first and second base to spoil the no-hit bid. It left men at the corners, but Morrow struck out Dan Johnson with a high fastball to end the game.

"If any pitcher ever deserved a no-hitter it was him," said Longoria. "He was making his pitches all day and we never had a chance. Every time we would get into a hitters count he would come back and make the perfect pitch."

Sonnanstine (2-1) was the tough-luck loser after giving up just one run and three hits with three walks and a strikeout over 5 1/3 innings for the Rays, who have dropped five straight and have fallen 2 1/2 games back of the New York Yankees in the American League East.

Price, meanwhile, did not get much support his last time out on Wednesday against Minnesota. He surrendered a run and five hits and struck out seven in seven innings, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 2-1 loss.

The former first overall pick, who is tied with New York's CC Sabathia and Minnesota's Carl Pavano for the American League lead in wins, is 14-5 on the year with a 2.82 earned run average.

Price beat the Tigers the last time he faced them and is 2-0 in four games (two starts) against them with a 1.65 ERA.

Detroit will counter with righty Armando Galarraga, who is 3-4 with a 4.32 ERA. Galarraga lost his third straight decision on Wednesday against Chicago, as he allowed four runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Galarraga has faced the Rays three times and is 1-0 against them with a 6.35 ERA.

Detroit put the brakes on a four-game losing streak on Sunday, as Johnny Damon went 3-for-5 with three RBI, helping the Tigers get past the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 9-4, in the finale of a three-game series. Will Rhymes had three hits and knocked in two, and Alex Avila added two runs driven in for Detroit, which had managed just eight runs during its skid.

"I was just trying to play my game. I felt OK, never felt really great hitting but I felt like I was able to battle, help the team a little bit," said Rhymes, who is slated to be optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Monday. "I know while I was here, we struggled, but I did all right."

Rick Porcello (5-10) allowed eight hits and three runs -- two earned -- over six innings for the win.

Tampa Bay has won all four of its matchups with the Tigers this season.