Tampa Bay Rays vs Toronto Blue Jays mlb match review and live streaming links with radio commentry espn 360 gamecast May 18, 2011. The Toronto Blue Jays waited an extra day for an opportunity to extend their winning streak after being rained out. The struggling Tampa Bay Rays will turn to a streaking starter to help them get back on track.
Toronto hosts Tampa Bay on Wednesday night looking to win seven straight for the first time in nearly three years as the teams begin a two-game set.
7:07 PM ET, May 18, 2011
Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Jose Bautista is hitting .407 with six home runs and eight RBIs during the streak and has reached base safely in his last 22 games.
Toronto hasn't won seven in a row since a 10-game run Aug. 30-Sept. 9, 2008, while the Rays have lost three of four after a 6-2 loss Tuesday against the New York Yankees.
Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson (4-2, 2.98 ERA) will look to keep his own streak going while attempting to slow a Toronto offense averaging seven runs per game during its run.
Hellickson has won three straight starts, including his first career shutout Friday against Baltimore, in which he retired the final 13 hitters he faced. That performance followed five scoreless innings May 7 against the Orioles after he allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings against Minnesota on April 28.
"I felt just as good in the ninth as I did in the first," Hellickson said after Friday's start. "I had a few (complete games) in high school, but this is the one that counts. This is much better."
Tampa Bay (24-18) has beaten Toronto in four of six meetings this season, though Hellickson started the Rays' loss April 22. He allowed three runs in seven innings of a 6-4 defeat in 11 innings.
Bautista homered off Hellickson in that start and scored twice on a pair of Adam Lind's RBI hits. However, Lind has been out with a bad back since May 8 and his replacement, Eric Thames, was scheduled to make his major league debut Tuesday. Thames said he's ready to step into the role after hitting .342 at Triple-A Las Vegas.
"I pride myself on my hitting, and I work very hard on it," he said. "I listened to the veterans in spring training, I applied what they told me, and so far, it has been working in my favor."
Toronto will keep its rotation intact following the rainout, meaning right-hander Jesse Litsch (4-2, 4.14) will take the mound in search of his third straight win.
Litsch was sent to Triple-A after going 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA over his first three starts. Since returning April 26, he's gone 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA, including a 9-3 victory against Boston on May 11 when he allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings.
"Since coming back from (the minors), he has put together some solid outings," manager John Farrell told the Blue Jays' official website.
However, Litsch is 0-3 with a 4.82 ERA in his last five starts against the Rays, though he hasn't faced them since Aug. 28, 2008, when he allowed a career high-tying 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Johnny Damon, who is 4 for 9 over his last two games, is 7 for 17 (.412) lifetime against Litsch.
Toronto hosts Tampa Bay on Wednesday night looking to win seven straight for the first time in nearly three years as the teams begin a two-game set.
7:07 PM ET, May 18, 2011
Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Preview: Rays at Blue JaysThe Blue Jays (21-20), winners of six consecutive games after beating Detroit 4-2 on Monday, had Tuesday's game against the Tigers rained out. It gave Toronto a day off before playing five straight and 12 of its next 15 games at home.
Current Conditions - Toronto
CLOUDY 57 °F
Wind: E 17
5-Day Forecast
GAME: Tampa Bay Rays (24-18) at Toronto Blue Jays (21-20)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 18 - 7:07 PM EST
WHERE: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Jose Bautista is hitting .407 with six home runs and eight RBIs during the streak and has reached base safely in his last 22 games.
Toronto hasn't won seven in a row since a 10-game run Aug. 30-Sept. 9, 2008, while the Rays have lost three of four after a 6-2 loss Tuesday against the New York Yankees.
Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson (4-2, 2.98 ERA) will look to keep his own streak going while attempting to slow a Toronto offense averaging seven runs per game during its run.
Hellickson has won three straight starts, including his first career shutout Friday against Baltimore, in which he retired the final 13 hitters he faced. That performance followed five scoreless innings May 7 against the Orioles after he allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings against Minnesota on April 28.
"I felt just as good in the ninth as I did in the first," Hellickson said after Friday's start. "I had a few (complete games) in high school, but this is the one that counts. This is much better."
Tampa Bay (24-18) has beaten Toronto in four of six meetings this season, though Hellickson started the Rays' loss April 22. He allowed three runs in seven innings of a 6-4 defeat in 11 innings.
Bautista homered off Hellickson in that start and scored twice on a pair of Adam Lind's RBI hits. However, Lind has been out with a bad back since May 8 and his replacement, Eric Thames, was scheduled to make his major league debut Tuesday. Thames said he's ready to step into the role after hitting .342 at Triple-A Las Vegas.
"I pride myself on my hitting, and I work very hard on it," he said. "I listened to the veterans in spring training, I applied what they told me, and so far, it has been working in my favor."
Toronto will keep its rotation intact following the rainout, meaning right-hander Jesse Litsch (4-2, 4.14) will take the mound in search of his third straight win.
Litsch was sent to Triple-A after going 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA over his first three starts. Since returning April 26, he's gone 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA, including a 9-3 victory against Boston on May 11 when he allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings.
"Since coming back from (the minors), he has put together some solid outings," manager John Farrell told the Blue Jays' official website.
However, Litsch is 0-3 with a 4.82 ERA in his last five starts against the Rays, though he hasn't faced them since Aug. 28, 2008, when he allowed a career high-tying 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Johnny Damon, who is 4 for 9 over his last two games, is 7 for 17 (.412) lifetime against Litsch.
