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Streaking Rays aim for series win over Central-leading ChiSox

Sun 1st, June 2008

(Sports Network) - The surprising Tampa Bay Rays still own the best record in the American League and will close out a four-game weekend series against the Chicago White Sox today at Tropicana Field.

Scott Kazmir threw seven shutout innings and Cliff Floyd hit a solo home run yesterday, as the Rays squeaked by the White Sox, 2-0.

B.J. Upton had the other RBI for the Rays, who have won two in a row and seven of their last nine. Carl Crawford went 2-for-3 and Akinori Iwamura scored a run in the win.

Kazmir (5-1) got the victory after he yielded just three hits and three walks, while striking out six. Grant Balfour earned his first save of the year by recording the game's final out.

Alexei Ramirez had a double for the White Sox, who have dropped two in a row and three of their last five overall. Jermaine Dye, Joe Crede and Toby Hall had a hit each in the loss.

Chicago starter Javier Vazquez (5-4) was dealt the loss despite a solid outing. He went seven innings and gave up two runs on five hits, while fanning 10 batters with just two walks.

Mark Buehrle, who will get the ball today for Chicago, is just 2-6 this season with a 5.27 ERA, a far cry from what fans of the White Sox have come to expect from the lefty. He has yielded 79 hits in 66 2/3 innings of action and has posted only 37 strikeouts.

Buehrle was unimpressive in a loss to the Indians on Tuesday, surrendering seven runs (6 earned) and eight hits over just five innings.

The veteran is 6-2 lifetime against Tampa, but he lost his only outing against the Rays this season back on April 19.

Andy Sonnanstine, who takes the mound for the Rays, is 6-3 with a 4.98 ERA this season and has surrendered 82 hits in 68 2/3 innings of action. On Tuesday, the righty allowed 10 hits in five innings to Texas, and while the result was only two earned runs permitted, Sonnanstine was still saddled with the loss.

Sonnanstine is 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in two career outings against the White Sox.

Chicago has won nine of its last 13 versus the Rays despite losing these last two matchups.

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