Rays-Blue Jays Preview

5/7/2008 10:52 PM

By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA
STATS Senior Writer

Injured shortstops David Eckstein and John McDonald weren't able to end the Toronto Blue Jays' run-scoring slump. Marco Scutaro, their replacement, didn't waste any time helping them do it.

After a successful debut as the team's starting shortstop, Scutaro is expected back in the lineup when the Blue Jays play the decisive game of their series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.

Toronto (17-18) beat upstart Tampa Bay 6-2 on Wednesday night in the middle game of this series.

It was the first time the Blue Jays scored more than five runs in 21 games, last doing so in an 11-2 win at Baltimore on April 15. No American League team has had such a streak since Detroit went 24 games without scoring more than five runs in 2002.

"It's been a while," Blue Jays third baseman Scott Rolen said. "We're still putting some pressure on the staff. It would be nice to be a little more consistent through the game and hopefully that's coming."

Toronto went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position and collected 11 hits despite missing its top two shortstops. Eckstein (right hip) and McDonald (right ankle) were both injured in a 5-4 loss to the Rays on Tuesday night.

The duo, though, combined for just one RBI in their last 13 games. Scutaro, who has been used mostly at third base in his first season with Toronto, made his first start at shortstop this season and went 3-for-4 with two RBIs as the Blue Jays finally ended their woes at the plate.

Toronto purchased the contract of infielder Jorge Velandia from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, but Scutaro seems to be the team's best option at shortstop right now. Eckstein and McDonald were feeling better Wednesday, so the Blue Jays have chosen to wait another day before deciding whether either player will be placed on the disabled list.

After a slow start, Toronto has won six of seven despite struggling to score runs for most of that stretch.

The Rays, meanwhile, have lost four of their last five after winning eight of nine. Tampa Bay (17-16) has been held to three runs or less in three of its last five contests.

After collecting just four hits Wednesday, the Rays' lineup will face Blue Jays starter Jesse Litsch (4-1, 4.32 ERA). The right-hander has won his last two starts, posting a 1.88 ERA.

But his only loss of the season was against Tampa Bay, allowing five runs and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings as Toronto lost 6-4 on April 22. Litsch is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts against the Rays.

In his last outing, Litsch gave up two runs and five hits in 7 1-3 innings in a 5-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night.

Tampa Bay will counter with Edwin Jackson (2-3, 4.98 ERA), who is 0-3 with a 7.97 ERA in his last four outings. He allowed six runs and nine hits in four innings as the Rays lost 7-3 to Boston on Friday night.

The right-hander, who is 0-2 with a 4.22 ERA in six games against Toronto, has gotten just three runs to work with over his last four starts.

Jackson and the Rays could certainly use some better at-bats from cleanup hitter Carlos Pena, who has struck out 10 times in his last three games and is batting .200 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs on the season.

Last year, Pena hit .282 and set Tampa Bay single-season records with 46 home runs and 121 RBIs.

"I just think he's out of the zone a little bit," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I don't think there's anything wrong with his swing, per se. It's just that he's opening up and swinging at too many pitches."