(Sports Network) - Right-hander Matt Garza looks for a second straight strong outing today when the Tampa Bay Rays close out a three-game series with the visiting Texas Rangers at Tropicana Field.

Garza, the 25th overall pick in the 2005 draft, was a pedestrian 1-1 with three no-decisions through five starts this season, but has been stellar in his last two wins.

He scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings in a 7-1 defeat of the New York Yankees on May 12, then tossed 7 1/3 scoreless frames and allowed four hits in a 2-0 defeat of Baltimore on May 23.

The one start in between was a rough one, as Garza gave up 10 hits and six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings while getting a no-decision in a 9-8 Rays loss on May 17 at St. Louis.

Garza won his lone career start against the Rangers, allowing six hits and an earned run in 6 1/3 innings while with the Minnesota Twins.

Texas lefty Kason Gabbard tries to end a seven-start drought that's stretched since April 4.

Gabbard defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 11-6, in his 2008 debut on April 4, but has gotten six no-decisions and a loss in seven subsequent starts.

He was pulled after 2 2/3 innings of a no-decision against Cleveland on May 23, after surrendering four hits and six runs.

Gabbard has faced the Rays once and got a no-decision after allowing a hit in 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

On Tuesday, Josh Hamilton hit a grand slam and finished with five RBI, as Texas powered past Tampa Bay, 12-6. Hamilton also doubled, while Brandon Boggs went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI for Texas, which has won two of three and five of seven.

Vicente Padilla (7-2) took the win after allowing five runs on seven hits in six innings. The Texas starter had a season-high 10 strikeouts, a mark Padilla hadn't reached since July 5, 2006.

Cliff Floyd and Eric Hinske each hit a two-run home run for Tampa Bay, which had a four-game win streak stopped.

Andy Sonnanstine (6-3) took the loss after allowing seven runs -- just two earned -- on 10 hits in five innings of work.

Texas and Tampa met for the first time this season on Monday after the Rangers won five of nine clashes last year. The clubs did not meet in St. Petersburg in 2007, instead playing a three-game set in Orlando to try and increase the Rays' fan base.