(Sports Network) - Tampa Bay starter Scott Kazmir will try to run his unbeaten streak to six games tonight, when he leads the Rays in the first of three straight games against Texas at Rangers Ballpark.

Kazmir dropped his season debut at Boston, but has rebounded with five consecutive winning starts to improve to 5-1 with a 1.22 earned run average in six trips to the hill. In his most recent performance on May 31 versus the Chicago White Sox, Kazmir tossed seven shutout innings of three-hit ball in a 2-0 victory.

The left-hander beat Texas during his recent streak, having hurled seven solid innings of one-run ball for a 7-3 victory. Kazmir is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA through five career appearances against the Rangers.

Tampa Bay is coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, including Thursdays testy 7-1 setback which included a bench- clearing brawl in the second inning.

Rays starter James Shields pegged Coco Crisp in the hip before the Boston outfielder charged the mound in anger. Shields then defended himself by throwing a punch at Crisp, who ducked the attempt and unleashed a few blows. Tampa catcher Dioner Navarro tackled Crisp and Rays DH Jonny Gomes came running in from the dugout. Gomes landed a few shots on Crisp before the melee finally came to a halt. Crisp came away with a scratch on his forehead and cheek.

Shields took the loss after allowing four runs in just one-plus innings of work, as Tampa Bay opened its nine-game road trip on a sour note in Boston. Gomes knocked in the lone run for the Rays, who will also visit the LA Angels of Anaheim and are 11-15 on the road this season. Tampa Bay is now 1 1/2 games behind Boston for the top spot in the AL East standings.

Texas will continue a 10-game homestand on Friday and is 16-14 as the host this season. It split a four-game series with Cleveland by posting a 9-4 victory Thursday in the series finale. Milton Bradley led the way by going 3- for-4 with a home run and two RBI, while Michael Young homered and also drove in a pair of runs to extend his hitting streak to 21 games in the win. Ramon Vazquez had three RBI for Texas.

Starter Kevin Millwood earned the win despite giving up four runs on nine hits over six-plus innings of work. The Rangers are 4-3 so far on their current homestand. Ace Vicente Padilla just spent some time on the bereavement list because of a family issue back in Nicaragua. He landed on the list, retroactive to Sunday.

In 12 starts this season, Padilla is 7-2 with a team-low 3.67 earned run average. He is 5-0 over the previous seven trips to the hill, while Texas is a perfect 7-0 during that time. Padilla defeated Tampa Bay the last time out on May 27, allowing five runs over six innings of a 12-6 triumph. The right- hander hasn't fared too well in his career against Tampa Bay, as he owns a 1-2 record with a 9.18 earned run average in four career games (three starts) against the Rays.

Tampa Bay won two of three games versus Texas this season from May 26-28 at Tropicana Field.