Thu Aug 28 10:59:47 2008

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Rays aim for monumental win in finale with Blue Jays

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(Sports Network) - Red-hot right-hander Edwin Jackson goes for a sixth win in seven starts when the first-place Tampa Bay Rays close out a three-game midweek series with the visiting Toronto Blue Jays tonight at Tropicana Field.

The Rays, who've already established a franchise record by surpassing 70 wins, can guarantee their first-ever .500 finish by securing win No. 81 in this game with Toronto.

Tampa Bay enters the contest as the unlikely front-runner in the American League's East Division, leading the defending world champion Boston Red Sox by 3 1/2 games. The Blue Jays are fourth in the East, 11 1/2 games off the pace.

Jackson has started twice against the Blue Jays in the last 1 1/2 months, dropping a 9-4 verdict on July 20 in Florida before winning, 3-2, in Toronto on July 30.

In those two games, Jackson combined to allow 15 hits and eight runs in 9 1/3 innings.

Lifetime against Toronto, he is 1-3 in nine games (8 starts) with a 4.20 earned run average in 49 1/3 innings.

For the Blue Jays, south Florida native Jesse Litsch looks for his second consecutive win after snapping a five-start winless skid last week.

Born in Pinellas Park, Fla. and a product of South Florida Community College, Litsch was 8-4 after defeating the Cincinnati Reds on June 26, but subsequently went 0-3 with two no-decisions through August 14.

He finally got season win No. 9 Saturday against Boston, taking an 11-0 verdict after allowing just three hits with four strikeouts in six scoreless innings.

The 23-year-old is 4-5 in 12 road outings (11 starts) this season with a 4.80 ERA in 65 2/3 innings.

On Wednesday, Carlos Pena homered and Matt Garza went 7 2/3 strong innings as Tampa Bay edged Toronto, 1-0, to even this series.

Garza (11-7) allowed only six hits without a run for the Rays, who snapped a two-game losing streak and remained 3 1/2 games ahead of second-place Boston in the AL East. The Red Sox clobbered the Yankees, 11-3, on Wednesday.

Joe Inglett collected a pair of hits for the Blue Jays, who have dropped three of five.

Toronto starter David Purcey (2-5) pitched very well in defeat, scattering five hits and allowing one run over eight innings, while fanning a career-best 11 batters without a walk.

Tampa Bay has won 10 of 14 games versus Toronto this year, winning two of three at over the Blue Jays at home in mid-July. The Rays also swept a three- game set between the clubs in Orlando from April 22-24.