(Best E Casino) - Scott Kazmir tries to win his seventh straight start this afternoon, when the Tampa Bay Rays play the rubber match of their three-game series with the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium.
Kazmir, who missed the first month of the season with a left elbow strain, has been absolutely incredible for the upstart Rays this season. In seven starts since returning from the disabled list, he has gone 6-1 with a sparkling 1.40 earned run average.
Since dropping his season debut on May 4, Kazmir has ripped off six consecutive wins, allowing just four earned runs in the process.
The 24-year-old lefty had his longest outing of the season in his last trip to the hill. On Friday against Texas, he allowed two runs and six hits over eight innings. Kazmir also fanned six without walking a batter.
Kazmir tossed six scoreless innings in defeating the Angels earlier in the season and is 2-1 in his young career against them with a 3.26 ERA in three starts.
Los Angeles will counter with John Lackey, who has owned the Rays over the course of his career. In 10 starts against Tampa, Lackey is an impressive 8-1 with a 2.35 ERA. He has been even better against the Rays at home, where he has won six straight starts.
Like Kazmir, Lackey missed the start of the season with an injury but has been great upon returning. He picked up the win Friday against Oakland, when Lackey allowed a run and four hits in seven innings to run his record to 2-1 and lower his ERA to 1.70.
After dropping the series opener on Monday, Los Angeles exacted a measure of revenge last night, as Jered Weaver threw eight strong innings to lead the Angels to a 6-1 win.
Weaver (6-6) gave up just one run on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts, while Garret Anderson and Vladimir Guerrero each hit a two-run home run for the Angels, who snapped a two-game slide.
Gabe Gross hit a solo home run for the Rays, who were trying to win consecutive games in Anaheim for the first time since 2000.
Tampa Bay starter James Shields (4-5) was tagged with the loss after giving up six runs on 10 hits in his third complete game of the season.
Tampa has won four of its five matchups with the Angels this season, but has lost nine of its last 10 at the Big A.
