(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays try to take a commanding two games-to- none lead over the Chicago White Sox tonight in Game 2 of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field. Tampa picked up its first-ever postseason win in Game 1 of this best-of-five set on Thursday, as Evan Longoria finished 3-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI to help the Rays to a 6-4 triumph.

Akinori Iwamura was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Rays, who earned the first playoff berth in franchise history by winning the AL East with a 97-65 record.

Longoria, the AL's Rookie of the Year front-runner, is the second player to homer in his first two postseason at-bats. He joins Gary Gaetti, who did it with the Minnesota Twins in 1987.

James Shields (1-0) notched the win after allowing six hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings. The young right-hander fanned four with a walk. Dan Wheeler allowed a run in the ninth, but still recorded the final three outs to earn his first save.

Tampa was without the services of first baseman Carlos Pena, who had to leave the game in the second inning with blurry vision. However, the first baseman, who led the Rays with 31 homers and 102 RBI, is expected to be in the lineup tonight.

Dewayne Wise hit a three-run homer and Paul Konerko added a solo shot for the AL Central champion White Sox, who are back in the postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 2005.

Chicago starter Javier Vazquez (0-1) was tagged for eight hits and six runs over 4 1/3 innings in the loss.

Getting the call tonight for the Rays will be 24-year-old left-hander Scott Kazmir, who was 12-8 with a 3.49 ERA. Kazmir, who led the AL in strikeouts a year ago, has won four of his last six starts and was 8-2 with a 2.90 ERA in 14 starts at the Trop this season.

Kazmir is also 3-1 lifetime against the White Sox with a 3.34 ERA in five starts.

Hoping to pull the White Sox even tonight will be lefty Mark Buehrle, who was 15-12 with a 3.79 ERA. Buehrle was inconsistent for most of the season, but was there when the White Sox needed him most. He won four of his last five decisions and surrendered three runs or less in each of his last six starts.

Buehrle is also no stranger to the postseason, having pitched in five playoff games with three starts. He was 2-0 with a save during the White Sox' run to the 2005 World Series title.

Tampa won six of its 10 matchups with the White Sox this season, but was just 4-3 against them at the Trop.

This series will shift to U.S. Cellular Field for Game 3 on Sunday.







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