Royals-Rays Preview

The Tampa Bay Rays blew a crucial opportunity to gain ground against the AL leaders, but they're now facing the perfect opponent as they look to bounce back.

The Rays will try to improve to 7-0 against the Kansas City Royals this year when they open a four-game series at Tropicana Field on Friday night.

Tampa Bay (55-47) began this nine-game homestand by losing two of three to New York. A 6-2 defeat to the Yankees on Wednesday further weakened the playoff chances of the Rays, who are third in the AL East and struggling to keep pace.

"We know in the clubhouse what we have to do," slugger Evan Longoria told the team's official Web site. "It's no easy task. We understand what we have to accomplish and the ground we have to cover.

"But I feel like we're ready, and as long as we keep our minds positive and just focus on the day-to-day things, I think we're going to be all right."

Before the Rays host wild card-leading Boston for two games next week, they'll try to take advantage of their final series with the Royals this year.

Tampa Bay pounded Kansas City's bullpen in winning the first six meetings of 2009. The Royals (40-61) blew eighth-inning leads in four straight losses to the Rays, with their relievers going 0-4 with a 7.27 ERA in the season series.

Conversely, the Tampa Bay bullpen has not allowed an earned run in 14 innings versus Kansas City, yielding eight hits and three walks. J.P. Howell has converted all four save chances against the Royals this year and has pitched 8 2/3 scoreless innings of relief in his career against them.

The Rays have outscored the Royals 11-0 in the eighth inning this season.

Tampa Bay rookie starter David Price (3-4, 5.60 ERA) lasted three innings and gave up six runs in a 10-9, 12-inning victory at Toronto on Saturday. The left-hander is 1-2 with a 9.37 ERA in his last four outings.

"I really don't know," Price told the Rays' official Web site. "I haven't really had a start where I felt terrible. I just haven't had a ton of great results. That's just part of it."

Price has never faced the Royals. He has gone 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA in five home starts this year.

Kansas City has dropped 13 of its last 16, losing the final two games of a four-game set in Baltimore. They fell 7-3 in Thursday's finale.

"It would have been nice to win one of these last two," manager Trey Hillman said.

The Royals have lost 12 of the 13 appearances by Sidney Ponson (1-6, 6.79) and seven of his eight starts. The right-hander, though, turned in an outstanding effort Sunday against Texas with six scoreless innings in a 7-2 loss.

Ponson went 6-3 with a 4.46 ERA in his last 13 starts against the Rays. He was 0-1 with a 6.28 ERA in three starts versus Tampa Bay last season.

Rays All-Star left fielder Carl Crawford is 8 for 36 (.222) in his career against Ponson.