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(Sports Network) - Two red-hot right-handers face off at Tropicana Field tonight when the team with the best record in the majors, the Chicago Cubs, visit the season's biggest early surprise, the Tampa Bay Rays, in the second game of a three-game interleague set.

Tuesday's opener marked the return to St. Petersburg for Chicago manager Lou Piniella, who led Tampa Bay -- then known as the Devil Rays -- for three seasons and compiled a 200-285 record. His current pitching coach, Larry Rothschild, is also a former Rays manager.

In game two, the Cubs go with fiery Carlos Zambrano, who's 5-1 in his last 10 starts and enters the game with a 2.98 earned run average that's among the best among starters in the National League.

The 27-year-old got a no-decision in his most recent outing on June 12 at Atlanta, giving up eight hits and two runs in seven innings of the Cubs' 3-2 defeat of the Braves.

Zambrano, who is 4-2 in six road starts in 2008, has never faced the Rays.

Tampa Bay starts former 13th-round draft pick Andy Sonnanstine, who's 5-2 in his last 10 starts and whose seven wins in 2008 have already surpassed the six games he won in 22 starts as a rookie last season.

Sonnanstine established his new personal best in a June 13 start against intrastate rival Florida, allowing six hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings of the Rays' 7-3 home win.

He won five straight decisions between April 19 and May 16, including a nine- inning triumph against the Chicago White Sox and a pair of eight-inning victories against Baltimore and St. Louis.

The product of Kent State has never faced the Cubs.

On Tuesday, Evan Longoria and Cliff Floyd each hit solo home runs as the Rays downed the Cubs, 3-2.

Eric Hinske drove in a run while Akinori Iwamura scored the other run for the Rays, who have won three of their last four. Scott Kazmir started on the mound, but didn't factor in the decision as he gave up one run on three hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of work. Grant Balfour (1-0) got the win for pitching 1 1/3 perfect innings.

Ryan Theriot drove in a run while Mark DeRosa and Henry Blanco each scored for the Cubs, who had won five of six coming into the contest. Ryan Dempster started on the mound and pitched five innings, giving up one run on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Neal Cotts (0-1) got the loss for giving up two runs in one-plus innings of work.

Chicago took two of three at Wrigley Field the last time these teams met back in 2003.