Tue Apr 29 15:01:54 2008

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Rays in an unfamiliar position

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(Sports Network) - Quick, raise your hand if you thought the Tampa Bay Rays were going to be tied for first place at this point in the season. Raise your hand again by the way if you thought that the Baltimore Orioles would be the team they are tied with.

I am sure nobody outside of Rays manager Joe Maddon's house had that scenario playing out, but that is exactly where we find ourselves today on April 29, as the two biggest surprises in the AL East meet for a three-game series at Camden Yards with first place on the line.

The Red Sox are technically also tied with the Rays and O's, but find themselves percentage points behind the upstarts.

Tampa moved to the top of the pack over the weekend with an impressive three- game sweep over Boston which culminated on Sunday with James Shields' brilliant two-hit shutout, as the Rays won their sixth straight game.

"I can't say enough," Maddon said. "That was outstanding."

With Baltimore's loss to Chicago on Sunday, the Rays now find themselves tied for the division lead this late in a season for the first time in their 11- year existence.

Shields, meanwhile, gave up a single to Dustin Pedroia in the first inning on Sunday, then didn't allow another hit until 15 batters later.

The 26-year-old right-hander, who has assumed the role of staff ace until Scott Kazmir returns, faced just two batters over the minimum and struck out seven, while walking just one.

"I wanted it bad," Shields said. "These first two games were probably the most exciting games in Major League baseball this year, as far as I'm concerned. The way that we won those ballgames was huge for us. It showed our character, showed the way that we play, and the way that we're going to be playing. So coming into [Sunday's] game, we knew it would be a big game for us."

Shields' remarkable outing helped land him the AL Player of the Week Award, as he went 2-0, while pitching to a 1.13 earned run average over the week. In his past two starts, he has combined for 12 strikeouts and three walks in 16 innings.

KAZMIR GETTING CLOSE TO RETURN

Speaking of Kazmir, the 24-year-old lefty is getting closer to returning. He made his final rehab start for Triple-A Durham on Monday and is expected to toe the rubber on Sunday for the Rays in Boston.

Kazmir, of course, has been sidelined since spring training with a strained elbow.

After two starts for Class A Vero Beach of the Florida State League, Kazmir started for the Bulls on Monday and allowed a run and three hits over five- plus innings .He also struck out three and walked a batter in the 81-pitch effort.

"It's a good stepping stone," Kazmir told the Burlington Times. "I felt good about this outing and I'm ready to make the next step. I threw every one of my pitches. Just trying to move forward."

Kazmir went 13-9 last season with a 3.77 ERA and became the eight-youngest pitcher to lead the league in strikeouts with 239.

LONGORIA LIGHTING IT UP

It's probably no surprise that the Rays turnaround has coincided with the recall of third baseman Evan Longoria from Triple-A Durham. Tampa is 9-6 since Longoria has joined the club and the talented former first round pick is hitting .271 with three homers, 10 RBI and has scored eight times.

Over the team's six-game win streak Longoria is 6-for-18 with two home runs and six RBI.

WHO'S HOT

The Tampa Bay bullpen has been a big reason behind the team's early season success. The corps, which is spearheaded by rejuvenated closer Troy Percival, leads the majors with a 2.26 ERA, has allowed a major league low 57 hits in 75 2/3 frames, has held the opposition to an AL-best .210 average, given up the fewest amount of walks (25) in the majors and has allowed just three home runs, tied for the lowest allowed in the majors.

"It's just a different feeling when you know there's a good chance the game is going to be closed out," outfielder Carl Crawford recently told the St. Petersburg Times. "You're not really worried about it as much now. It's a little less stressful."

WHO'S NOT

Despite his six home runs and 13 RBI, first baseman Carlos Pena is having a tough-go of it at the plate, batting a mere .200. He has just three hits in his last six games (3-for-17) and has not homered or driven in a run since April 12 against Baltimore.

LOOK AHEAD

The Rays will visit the O's for three games in a pivotal early-season matchup starting on Tuesday at Camden Yards before closing the nine-game road swing with a pair of three-game stops in Boston and Toronto.