(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays will try to rebound after being no-hit for the third time in less than a year, as they resume a three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks today at Tropicana Field.
Last night, Edwin Jackson recorded his first career no-hitter as Arizona topped Tampa Bay, 1-0, in the opener of a three-game interleague set from Tropicana Field.
It wasn't a classic performance by Jackson, who held his former team hitless despite walking eight and hitting a batter. He threw 149 pitches and struck out six for the second no-hit game in Diamondbacks franchise history.
Only Randy Johnson -- who hurled a perfect game -- had accomplished the feat previously for Arizona on May 18, 2004 at Atlanta.
"No. This isn't the first time that I've pitched against Tampa since I've been traded," Jackson said when asked if facing the Rays entered his mind at all. "It's one of those things where you can't get emotions get in the way. You have to stay within your abilities and stay within the game."
Jackson (5-6) turned in his second nine-inning start of the season, following a no-decision during a 1-0 loss in 14 frames at Los Angeles on June 2.
Adam LaRoche's second-inning homer was the lone run for Arizona, which snapped a two-game slide.
Jeff Niemann (6-2) was the hard-luck loser despite scattering six hits and a run with eight strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings.
Tampa Bay, which has dropped seven of its last nine games, was no-hit for the third time in less than a calendar year. Mark Buehrle of the White Sox turned in a 5-0 perfect-game victory on July 23, 2009 in Chicago, and Dallas Braden also hurled a perfect game in a 4-0 Athletics triumph in Oakland on May 9.
The Rays have a good chance of rebounding behind today's starter David Price, who is out to become the AL's first 11-game winner. The left-hander most recently had a personal three-game win streak snapped after allowing four runs -- three earned -- and six hits over six innings of a 4-1 loss at Florida on Sunday. He did match a season-high with nine strikeouts however.
Price, who is 4-1 with a solid 1.94 ERA in six starts at home, is making his first career appearance against Arizona.
Ian Kennedy will oppose Price and the Rays, as he seeks his first win in over a month. The right-hander has gone 0-3 with a 4.17 ERA over his last six starts since defeating San Francisco on May 19th. On Sunday, Kennedy yielded three earned runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings of a 3-1 loss at Detroit.
A former member of the New York Yankees, Kennedy has made four lifetime starts against the Rays, posting a 1-2 record and a 6.64 ERA.
Arizona took two of three from the Rays the last time these teams met back in 2007.