(SportsNetwork.com) - The Tampa Bay Rays attempt to get their offense on track and avoid a fourth straight loss on Tuesday night when they resume a three- game series with the Seattle Mariners.
The Rays have plated just three runs over their losing streak and went 0- for-10 with runners in scoring position in last night's 4-1 loss to the Mariners. They now lead the New York Yankees by only a half-game for first place in the AL East.
Another hard-luck loss fell on Jake Odorizzi, who was charged with two runs -- one earned -- over seven innings. He struck out seven and allowed just five hits and two walks in dropping his third straight start.
"I tried to give us as many innings as I could and try to save the bullpen," Odorizzi said.
Roenis Elias pitched six quality innings for Seattle, scattering six hits and three walks. His only mistake was a home run allowed to Logan Forsythe in the sixth frame.
Robinson Cano drove in two runs, Mike Zunino hit a solo shot and Nelson Cruz knocked in another run as Seattle improved to 4-3 on a nine-game road trip.
"I was able to get something I can could handle ... and just barreled it up," Zunino said of his ninth-inning homer.
Seattle is expected to activate center fielder Austin Jackson off the 15-day disabled list prior to tonight's game. Jackson has been out since suffering an ankle injury on the basepaths on May 3 and should be right back in the lineup tonight. Reliever Danny Farquhar was sent to Triple-A after last night's win to make room for Jackson on the roster.
Seattle's J.A. Happ should be eager to hit the mound tonight after a rain delay prevented him from working past from early issues last Thursday in Baltimore.
Happ served up a first-inning grand slam against the Orioles, but pitched only one more inning before the delay. He did not factor into his club's 5-4 loss and is 3-1 on the year with a 3.61 earned run average.
The lefty has not lost since April 17, winning three straight decisions. Happ is 2-2 with a 5.52 ERA in seven career games versus the Rays, all but one of those starts.
Tampa Bay's Alex Colome starts tonight after snapping a two-start winless streak with Thursday's 3-0 win over Oakland. He hurled the first five innings of the combined shutout, scattering four hits and a walk while striking out three.
The 26-year-old righty had allowed 11 runs and 17 hits over his previous two outings and is 3-1 with a 4.81 ERA on the season. Colome will be facing Seattle for the first time.
Seattle went 4-3 against Tampa Bay last season and will host the Rays for four games at Safeco Field next month.
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