The Tampa Bay Rays attempt to extend their winning streak against the Miami Marlins when the Sunshine State rivals square off at Tropicana Field on Saturday in the middle game of their three-game interleague series. After sweeping a three-game set in Miami last weekend, Tampa Bay trounced the Marlins at home in the series opener on Friday for its eighth consecutive win in the all-time series. Matt Moore and two relievers combined on a one-hitter while Desmond Jennings tied his career high with four RBIs in the 11-0 romp.
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The Rays, who are 2-5 at home in interleague play, have outscored the Marlins 33-7 in their four meetings this year. Miami lost for the ninth time in 10 games as it played without third baseman Hanley Ramirez, who was hit in the nose by a ball in batting practice. He is hoping to return to the lineup Saturday. The Marlins have scored only 17 runs over their last 10 games while allowing 67.
Marlins Rays Betting
When: 7:15 PM ET, Saturday, June 16, 2012
Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Anibal Sanchez (3-5, 3.40 ERA) vs. Rays RH James Shields (7-4, 4.06)
Sanchez is looking to avenge a home loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday in which he allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings. The 28-year-old has dropped five of his last six starts, with four of the defeats coming at home. Sanchez has been superb on the road this season, going 2-1 with a 1.83 ERA in five outings.
Shields outpitched Sanchez on Sunday, limiting the Marlins to one run and four hits over 6 1/3 innings. The performance helped the 30-year-old snap his personal three-game losing streak. Shields has been better on the road than at Tropicana Field, where he is 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA in six outings this year.
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1. 3B Donovan Solano, who replaced Ramirez in the lineup, recorded the Marlins’ only hit Friday – a one-out single in the first inning.
2. Marlins RHP Carlos Zambrano has allowed 11 runs over 4 1/3 innings in two losses to the Rays this year.
3. Tampa Bay 2B Ben Zobrist recorded his fifth consecutive multi-hit performance with a single and a solo home run.
