Currently: The Tampa Bay Rays haven’t lost a series since the All-Star break, and it’s been nearly two months since they’ve dropped one at home.
Looking to continue both of those impressive streaks, the Rays aim to take the finale of their three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday at Tropicana Field.
AL East-leading Tampa Bay (80-51) dropped four games in Cleveland ahead of the All-Star break, but has since gone undefeated in 11 series, winning 10 and splitting a four-game set in that span. The club has also secured seven straight home series since dropping two of three contests against Houston from June 20-22.
The Rays preserved their chances of extending both streaks, benefiting from a fourth-inning homer from Carlos Pena to beat Toronto 1-0 on Wednesday.
Tampa Bay, which is an AL-best 25-12 since the All-Star break, became the third team in the majors to reach the 80-win mark.
“We don’t quit,” said starter Matt Garza, who pitched 7 2-3 innings Wednesday. “Everybody is out there for one reason, that’s to try to get to October.”
The Rays are 10-4 versus the Blue Jays (68-64) thus far, winning four consecutive series against them for the first time since taking five in a row over two seasons from Sept. 20, 2002-Aug. 6, 2003.
Trying to match that mark, Tampa Bay hands the ball to Edwin Jackson (10-8, 3.93 ERA), who has gone 5-1 with a 2.86 ERA over his last six starts.
The right-hander walked a season high-tying five over six innings, but limited the Chicago White Sox to two runs and seven hits in a 9-4 road victory on Friday to become the Rays’ fourth 10-game winner.
“(Ten wins) is quite a departure from last year,” manager Joe Maddon told the Rays’ site, noting Jackson’s 5-15 mark in 2007. “The stuff’s the same—he still has a tendency to walk folks. But his composure is a lot better than it was last year.”
Jackson hopes to exhibit similar confidence at Tropicana Field, where he is 4-5 with a 4.65 ERA in 12 games. He has struggled at home versus the Blue Jays, compiling a 7.31 ERA in losing three career appearances.
Infielder Joe Inglett, who is 4-for-6 in his career versus Jackson, finished with two of the Blue Jays’ six hits Wednesday, but they weren’t enough for starter David Purcey, who fanned a career-high 11 batters for his first complete game.
“It’s a shame we couldn’t score a couple runs for him,” Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston told the team’s official Web site.
Toronto, which has alternated wins and losses over its last eight games, tries for a better offensive effort behind Jesse Litsch (9-7, 4.01), who hasn’t allowed a run in 13 straight innings.
The right-hander yielded three hits over six innings in an 11-0 home win over Boston on Saturday. It was his first win in six outings in also his second start since a four-week stint at Triple-A Syracuse.
Litsch now hopes to end his recent road woes, as he is 0-4 with a 6.09 ERA over his last six away starts.
He is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in five career starts against the Rays. All of those decisions have come in Tampa Bay, where he has posted a 4.80 ERA.
Tampa Bay All-Star catcher Dioner Navarro is 5-for-10 lifetime versus Litsch, but didn’t play Wednesday due to a tight hamstring, and might also be out Thursday.
Meanwhile, Toronto third baseman Scott Rolen, out with a shoulder injury, could return to the lineup for the first time since Aug. 8.
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