Tampa Bay RaysTampa Bay Rays vs. San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres Pick Center

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Padres hope to finally get home win over RaysFLMThe Padres have never beaten the Tampa Bay Rays at Petco Park in San Diego.In fact, the Padres go into the Wednesday afternoon finale of a three-game series against the Rays at Petco Park having lost nine straight to Tampa Bay dating back to June 24, 2010.The Padres' futility against the Rays in San Diego goes back to being swept in a three-game series during Petco Park's inaugural season of 2004, plus losses the last two days to their American League foes.The Padres will send right-handed rookie Cal Quantrill (5-3, 3.21 ERA) to the mound Wednesday hoping to reverse several trends that favor the visiting team.The Rays have now won nine straight games on the road -- a franchise record. They are also a major league best 40-22 on the road this season, and another road win Wednesday will give them a sweep of a six-game Western swing to Seattle and San Diego.Meanwhile, the Padres are 28-33 at home this season and have lost three straight home games.Quantrill will be opposed by Tampa Bay left-hander Jalen Beeks (5-1, 3.71 ERA). Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash was going to use a reliever as an opener in front of Beeks, as has been his practice. But the Rays used five relievers Tuesday night and all but one member of their bullpen in the first two games of the series -- leading to the decision to start the 26-year-old Beeks for only the third time in 25 major league appearances this season.Neither of Wednesday's starters have ever faced the other team.Beeks has worked 80 innings this season, allowing 36 runs (33 earned) on 80 hits and 30 walks with 65 strikeouts for a 1.375 WHIP and a .261 opponents' batting average. This will be Beeks' third start in a span of five appearances. He has a 7.63 ERA in his last four outings.Quantrill, meanwhile, has been the Padres' most effective starter of late, giving up eight runs (six earned) on 24 hits and six walks with 25 strikeouts over 33 1/3 innings in six appearances (five starts) for a 1.62 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP."We want to see more of the same from Cal," Padres manager Andy Green said recently. "We're not looking for anything to change at all. He's thrown the ball really well. He's attacked whatever we've given him to do. He's dominated his role whether it's been coming out of the bullpen or starting games." Green said Quantrill has been doing a good job mixing his pitches. He notes that Quantrill has attacked well with his fastball, while his slider and sinker have also been effective."We've been very encouraged about the way he has attacked early in his career," Green said. "We want to keep him on the same track. We think he has a good way about him on the mound. He has that bulldog mentality. Never yield. He's definitely finding his way in the big leagues right now. There's real fight to him."There is real compete to him. It doesn't mean every outing is going to be flawless or perfect. But his temperament has lent itself to competing on the big stage," Green said.--Field Level Media

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