Cincinnati Reds vs Tampa Bay Rays7:10 PM ET, June 27, 2011
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
The Tampa Bay Rays have given their starters plenty of run support during their current surge. Lately, Jeremy Hellickson has not been a beneficiary of that type of production.
The rookie right-hander tries to get back into the win column Monday night when the host Rays try to record their fifth straight victory as they open a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds -- a team they've never defeated.
Tampa Bay (44-34) is averaging 6.1 runs during an 8-1 run, and improved to a season-best 10 games above .500 after tying a season high with 19 hits in Sunday's 14-10 victory at Houston.
The Rays' only defeat in the last nine contests was a 5-1 loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday, when Hellickson (7-6, 3.09 ERA) threw six innings of two-run ball but they backed him with a single run.
It was the first time in his last three outings -- all losses -- that Tampa Bay scored. Hellickson had one of the top run-support averages in the majors through his first 11 starts at 7.53.
The Rays are averaging 3.2 runs at Tropicana Field compared to 5.2 on the road, but Hellickson, who last won June 4, has to feel good about how B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria are hitting as the club opens a six-game homestand.
The pair went 13 for 26 with six homers and 17 RBIs in a three-game sweep of the Astros over the weekend.
"The home runs are pretty, but it's the other kind of at-bats that get us going," said Rays manager Joe Maddon, whose team is 9-3 in interleague play.
Watch Cincinnati Reds vs Tampa Bay Rays Live Stream Online Free MLB June 27, 2011
