The Tampa Bay Rays have struggled against left-handers all season.

Now they have to face two who have haunted them in the past in one day.

The Philadelphia Phillies will send Cole Hamels and then Cliff Lee to the mound Sunday at Citizens Bank Park in a day-night doubleheader against the Rays.

Tampa Bay (38-32) has lost three straight overall and brings a 9-14 mark against left-handed starters into Sunday as it faces a pair of postseason nemeses from recent years in Hamels (10-3, 3.25 ERA) and Lee (0-3, 3.48).

Hamels was named the 2008 World Series MVP for going 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against the Rays, victories for the Phillies (34-38) in Game 1 and the clinching Game 5. He hasn't faced Tampa Bay since.

He ranks among the majors' top 10 with 99 strikeouts after fanning seven and allowing two runs over eight innings to earn Tuesday's 7-2 home win over Colorado.

Lee went 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 16 innings in a 2010 division series to help Texas defeat Tampa Bay in five games. He hasn't faced the Rays since, going 6-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 13 regular-season matchups before that.

Lee was originally scheduled to pitch Friday's contest, which was rained out to create this doubleheader. He warmed up with about 30-40 pitches Friday, and wasn't happy that the game was postponed after a delay of nearly three hours.

"I could've had my son look at the radar and he could've told me it was gonna rain," Lee told the Phillies' official website. "Somebody got that wrong. I don't know who it was, but it was pretty obvious it was gonna rain. Somebody up there was really adamant about us playing."

Philadelphia has lost eight of his 11 starts, but Lee has the third-lowest run-support average (2.90) in the majors.

David Price (9-4, 3.08) will start the opener for Tampa Bay against Hamels. He made two relief appearances in the 2008 World Series, then allowed a career-high 10 runs - five earned - in losing his lone career start against the Phillies in 2009.

The left-hander yielded four runs over seven innings to get credit for Tuesday's 5-4 victory at Washington, improving to 3-0 in his last four road starts. He has posted a 3.60 ERA in losing both 2012 matinée outings.

The Rays have not decided who will start the nightcap. Right-hander Alex Cobb (3-3, 3.82) is a possibility, although he may start Monday in Kansas City instead.

With Price going in the opener, the Phillies likely won't have lefty-swinging Jim Thome in the starting lineup. Thome, however, was the hero of Saturday's 7-6 victory with a pinch-hit home run off left-hander Jake McGee in the bottom of the ninth to win the game.

Thome recorded home run No. 609, tying Sammy Sosa for seventh place on the career list. He's baseball's all-time leader with 64 interleague homers, including five this year.

"Tip your hat to Thome. He hit a 96 mph fastball off a left-hander and they beat us," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

Juan Pierre and Jimmy Rollins also homered for the Phillies, helping manager Charlie Manuel earn his 900th career win.

"To do that for him, it was special for sure," Thome said.

The Rays' Jeff Keppinger was 5 for 5 with three RBIs in his first game after he missed 29 because of a broken toe. He contributed to a two-run ninth-inning rally that gave Jonathan Papelbon his first blown save with Philadelphia.

The former Boston closer had converted his previous 12 save opportunities against the Rays, posting a 0.47 ERA in 18 appearances versus Tampa Bay from 2009-11.

Conrad leads Rays over Lee, Phils for DH sweep

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Dumped by Milwaukee last week, Brooks Conrad is a hit with Tampa Bay.

Conrad ripped a pair of two-run doubles off winless Cliff Lee , and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 on Sunday night to complete a day-night doubleheader sweep.

Conrad was released by the Brewers after going 3 for 40. The infielder was claimed by the Rays on Thursday and went 3 for 6 with five RBIs in the first weekend for his new team. Conrad's two-out RBI single in the ninth on Saturday cost Jonathan Papelbon his first blown save.

"He's a very aggressive sort," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He's also very eager to play, our type of guy."

Conrad played three seasons for Atlanta before signing with Milwaukee last winter. He was most remembered for making three errors to give one game away during the 2010 NLDS against San Francisco.

"When I found out where I was going, I was super excited," he said. "Every guy I talked to said how they loved playing here, and how they loved playing for Joe Maddon."

Lee (0-4) allowed five runs and six hits in seven innings. The 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner hasn't won a game since last Sept. 26, or 273 days ago. Lee is making $21.5 million this year, most on the Phillies.

"I definitely made some mistakes, and they made me pay for it," Lee said.

In the opener Sunday, Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, and the Rays held on for a 3-2 victory. David Price became the first AL pitcher to reach 10 wins.

Cole Hamels pitched three-hit ball for seven shutout innings in his first appearance against the Rays since he was the MVP of the 2008 World Series for Philadelphia. But the lefty departed after throwing 111 pitches, and Pena connected off Antonio Bastardo (2-2).

Because of Friday's rainout, the Rays went with a "bullpen" game. Cesar Ramos tossed 2 2-3 hitless innings in his third career start and first since 2009. Wade Davis allowed three runs and three hits in 2 2-3 innings in relief of Ramos. Brandon Gomes (2-2) earned the win with 2 2-3 scoreless innings.

The five-time defending NL East champion Phillies are 6-15 in June and they fell back into last place, a game behind Miami.

The depleted Phillies should be getting some help soon. Chase Utley is scheduled to play for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, and the five-time All-Star second baseman could make his season debut this week. Utley has been sidelined because of chronic knee problems.

Former NL MVP Ryan Howard is still rehabbing in extended spring training after having surgery to repair a torn Achilles' tendon last year. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay hasn't pitched since May 27 because of a lat injury.

Lee hasn't received much run support this season. He couldn't even get a win when he threw 10 scoreless innings at San Francisco on April 18. But he has also blown three three-run leads. In his last seven starts, Lee has a 5.10 ERA.

Sean Rodriguez hit an RBI double off Lee to put the Rays up 1-0 in the second. Conrad followed by hitting a 3-0 pitch down the left-field line to score two and make it 3-0.

Placido Polanco hit an RBI double, and John Mayberry Jr. followed with a run-scoring single to get the Phillies within 3-2 in the fourth.

Lee retired the first two batters in the sixth before Ben Zobrist singled and Rodriguez walked. Conrad then hit a double off the top of the fence in right-center to give the Rays a 5-2 lead.

Rodriguez knocked over catcher Brian Schneider at home, and Schneider left the game with a right ankle sprain.

Polanco's RBI double in the sixth cut it to 5-3, but the Phillies couldn't score him from third with no outs.

The Rays scored two insurance runs in the eighth when B.J. Rosenberg walked four batters. Jake Diekman came in and walked in a run.

Price (10-4) went seven innings in Game 1 and gave up four hits, including Jimmy Rollins ' homer in the sixth.

"I try to treat every start the same, but whenever you're facing somebody who is one of their top guys, it definitely heightens your sense of awareness," Price said. "You know you can't go six and give up three."

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel became testy with the media when questioned about lifting Hamels for Bastardo, as well as explaining his late-game pinch-hitting decisions.

"That's our eighth-inning guy," Manuel said of Bastardo. "I think right now, what you see is the pitchers that we have. That's the ones that we have in our minor leagues and up here. That's what it is."

"You guys ought to sit in the dugout with me and give me all the scenarios," Manuel added. "I don't think we know them. I mean, we don't know how to manage the game. Like really, I think you should sit down there with us or tweet us (strategy) or something."

A duel between two of the top left-handers in the major leagues shaped up from the start. Price trailed 1-0 before the Rays rallied.

Fernando Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save in 22 chances. Rollins reached second base with two outs after a single and stolen base, but Rodney struck out Hunter Pence swinging to end the game.

Hamels was 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay in 2008 when the Phillies won their title. He pitched even better on Sunday.

Bastardo walked two of the first three batters he faced. Pena hit the first pitch over the fence in right field.

NOTES: Lee is the only pitcher in the majors this season with at least 10 starts and no wins. ... Jim Thome , pinch-hitting for the Phillies in the eighth in Game 1, was intentionally walked to tie Mickey Mantle for seventh place on the career list with 1,733 walks. ... Hamels fanned seven to tie Hall of Famer Jim Bunning for sixth place on the Phillies' career strikeout list with 1,197. ... The Phillies' sellout streak is up to 257 straight games, counting postseason play. ... The Rays open a three-game series at Kansas City on Monday night with RHP Alex Cobb (3-3, 3.82 ERA) scheduled to face Royals RHP Luke Hochevar (4-7, 5.65). ... Philadelphia hosts the Pirates on Monday night for the first of four when RHP Joe Blanton (6-6, 5.04) faces LHP Erik Bedard (4-7, 4.13).

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