Young right-hander Wade Davis looks for a third strong outing in his fourth major-league appearance tonight when the Tampa Bay Rays host the Seattle Mariners in the finale of a brief two-game series at Tropicana Field.

A third-round pick of the Rays in the 2004 draft, Davis debuted in the majors on September 6 against Detroit, getting a tough luck no-decision after allowing three hits and a run in seven innings.

He was ripped for six hits and eight runs in 2 2/3 innings against Boston in a subsequent start, but rebounded with a masterpiece at Baltimore, tossing a four-hit shutout. He also struck out 10.

The start against Detroit - lost by the Rays, 5-3 - was the only home appearance for the 24-year-old from nearby Lake Wales, Florida.

For the Mariners, closer-turned-starter Brandon Morrow makes his first start against the Rays.

The 25-year-old Californian, who was the fifth overall choice in the 2006 draft, opened this season with 16 relief outings and recorded six saves and a hold before debuting as a starter on June 13 at Colorado.

He had 18 holds and a 4.12 earned run average in 60 relief outings as a rookie in 2006, then made 40 bullpen outings in 45 games last season with 10 saves and three holds across 64 2/3 innings.

Morrow's picked up two saves and a hold in four career appearances against Tampa Bay, allowing a single hit in 4 2/3 innings.

In his last start, on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox, Morrow allowed six hits and two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.

A 4-3 loss in Tuesday's opener officially ended hopes of a repeat American League championship for Tampa Bay, which was mathematically eliminated from the postseason race.

Jose Lopez's solo homer in the eighth inning was the difference, while Ichiro Suzuki added a two-run homer for the Mariners, who won their second straight game and fifth in six tries. Adrian Beltre also drove in a run in the triumph.

B.J. Upton went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs for the Rays, who saw their four-game winning streak halted. Jason Bartlett also drove in a run in the setback.

Neither starter factored into the decision, as Ryan Rowland-Smith lasted five- plus innings and gave up three runs on six hits for Seattle. Jeff Niemann went 6 2/3 innings and was touched for three runs on four hits.

Seattle is 4-2 versus the Rays this season.