(Sports Network) - Joe Saunders will try to continue his dominating efforts for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tonight, when they battle the Tampa Bay Rays in the second contest of a three-game stint at Tropicana Field.

Saunders has been one of the biggest surprises in baseball, as the southpaw enters this matchup with a tremendous 6-0 record and an equally impressive 2.61 ERA. Over his previous two seasons, Saunders recorded a 15-8 ledger in 31 starts with an ERA well over four runs per contest.

The 26-year-old actually ran into some trouble in his last start, surrendering four runs on a whopping 12 hits in just five innings of duty against Baltimore. Despite the mediocre showing, however, Saunders and the Angels were able to snag a 6-5 victory.

One of the biggest reasons for Saunders' success is due to his play on the road, as the lefty is currently 3-0 with a strong 2.33 ERA. In 19 1/3 innings of work away from home Saunders has allowed only five runs.

As for the Rays, Scott Kazmir will be making his second start since coming off the disabled list. Tampa is hoping for a better outcome from its ace hurler, as the southpaw was rattled in his season debut.

Against Boston this past Sunday, the 24-year-old was battered by the Red Sox and surrendered four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks. Kazmir did strike out five batters, but lasted only four innings for Tampa, which eventually fell by a 7-3 margin.

Kazmir has two previous starts against the Angels in his career and the southpaw owns a 1-1 ledger with a 4.72 ERA.

On Friday, Evan Longoria hit the game-winning homer in the bottom of the ninth and James Shields pitched a one-hit shutout as the Rays beat the Angels, 2-0.

Shields (4-2) was dominant throughout, retiring 25-of-27 batters with the exceptions being a Brandon Wood single in the third and a ball that hit Erick Aybar in the fourth. In addition to allowing only two baserunners, Shields, who retired the final 17 batters he faced, struck out eight.

It was Shields' second shutout in his last three starts. He threw a two-hitter in a 3-0 home win over the Red Sox on April 27. In his previous outing, Shields was charged with 10 hits and seven runs through 3 2/3 innings in a loss at Boston.

Tampa Bay matched a franchise record by winning its seventh straight home game. The Rays last won seven straight at home, June 9-26, 2004. The Rays have won three of their last four overall.

Los Angeles starter Jon Garland went toe-to-toe with Shields through eight scoreless innings, allowing only four hits and three walks while striking out two. The Angels have lost two in a row following a four-game winning streak.

Justin Speier (0-2) came on in the ninth for LA and gave up a leadoff single to right from Upton. Pena grounded out to first moving Upton to second. Longoria made sure of the outcome taking a Speier fastball into the seats in left-center to win the game and preserve Shields' extraordinary effort.

LA won six of eight from the Rays last season.