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(Sports Network) - Life was good just a few days ago for the once-hot Tampa Bay Rays. Now the AL East leaders will try to avoid losing a season-high fifth straight contest when they resume a four-game series tonight against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Tampa Bay had ripped off wins in seven consecutive games and 11 in 12 tries to grab a five-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East standings. Since then, however, the Rays have dropped four in a row to watch their lead in the division dwindle to just 1 1/2 games over the defending-champion Red Sox, who have won three in a row to keep the pressure on.

The Rays have been outscored 27-7 so far during their current slide, and suffered a 13-2 pounding by the Indians in Thursday's series opener. Jonny Gomes hit a two-run homer to provide the offense, while starter Andy Sonnanstine took the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 frames. He had won his past four decisions.

James Shields will try to pitch Tampa back in the win column Friday, when he puts his unbeaten streak on the line. Shields has won three straight starts and hasn't received a loss over the past four trips to the rubber, including a July 6 performance versus the Kansas City Royals.

Shields held the Royals to a pair of runs and four hits in seven innings of a 9-2 victory. Shields, who is 2-4 in eight road starts this season, has pitched no less than 6 1/3 innings over his past five starts.

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 2.66 ERA in three career appearances against the Indians.

Cleveland ended a 10-game losing streak with Thursday's 11-run victory, as Ben Francisco finished with three hits, including a home run, and a career-best four RBI to lead the way. Casey Blake homered, while David Dellucci belted a two-run shot and Shin-Soo Choo added a solo blast in the win.

Indians starter Aaron Laffey earned the win and gave up just two runs, four hits and three walks with four strikeouts. It was Laffey's first win since June 12 against Minnesota, and Cleveland had not won any of the four games he started since then.

Cliff Lee will try to bounce back from a rough outing when he leads the Cleveland Indians Friday night in the second test of this series. Lee was 5-0 in eight starts before taking on the Twins at the Metrodome on July 6. Lee allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings of a 4-3 setback to absorb the loss, falling to 11-2 with a 2.43 ERA in 17 outings this season.

The veteran lefty, who is 4-0 with a 1.84 ERA in six home starts this season, owns a 4-2 lifetime mark and a 2.52 earned run average against Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay and Cleveland are meeting for the first time since the Indians won eight of 10 meetings last year, with a 4-0 mark as the host. Cleveland is 15-3 in the last 18 matchups with the Rays, going 9-0 at home over that span.