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Garza aims to lift Rays past Marlins in finale

Thu 26th, June 2008

(Sports Network) - If nothing else, Tampa Bay right-hander Matt Garza figures to be in a good mood when he takes the mound today to lead the Rays in closing out a three-game interleague series with the rival Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.

Not only did Tampa Bay win its second straight game in the series on Wednesday to stay within a game of first-place Boston in the American League East Division, but Garza's alma mater -- Fresno State -- capped an unlikely run to the College World Series title with a 6-1 defeat of Georgia.

And, Garza scored his most recent victory of 2008 against the Marlins, allowing three hits and a run while walking one and striking out three over seven innings against them in a 4-1 victory at Tropicana Field on June 14.

It was Garza's first career meeting with Florida.

Overall, however, the 24-year-old has lost three of four, including a 4-3 decision to Houston in his last start, in which he allowed seven hits and three earned runs in six innings.

The Marlins go with slumping lefty Mark Hendrickson, who turned 34 years old on Monday. A Washington native, Hendrickson is winless in five starts since defeating San Francisco, 8-6, on May 25.

He's pitched beyond five innings just twice in that stretch, including a 3 2/3-inning effort against Philadelphia on May 30 and a 2 1/3-inning debacle against Cincinnati on June 9.

Hendrickson is 2-3 in seven career games against the Rays -- six starts -- with a 4.21 earned run average in 36 1/3 innings.

On Wednesday, Carl Crawford homered twice and drove in five runs, and the Rays scored 10 runs in the fifth inning en route to a 15-3 sinking of the Marlins.

Evan Longoria went 3-for-6 with a homer, a double and three runs batted in for the Rays, winners of seven of their last 10. Ben Zobrist added a solo homer, and every Tampa Bay starter had a hit and scored a run.

In the midst of the offensive explosion, James Shields (5-5) tossed seven strong innings, holding the Marlins to a run on four hits, striking out five without issuing a walk. The Rays have four wins in five games this season with their intrastate rivals from the National League.

Marlins starter Ryan Tucker (2-2) was shelled in four-plus innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits in Florida's third straight loss.

Reliever Eulogio De La Cruz was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque before the game and fared even worse, surrendering six runs -- five earned -- without recording an out.

Mike Jacobs homered for the Marlins, while Dan Uggla added an RBI.

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