Steven Souza Jr. homered off Milwaukee reliever Jacob Barnes leading off the ninth inning Sunday to lift the Tampa Bay Rays to a 2-1 win over the Brewers. Souza’s 24th home run helped the Rays salvage a win in a three-game series in which they scored only two runs. It was Souza’s first walkoff homer with the Rays.
Zach Davies gave up one hit in seven innings and the Milwaukee Brewers remained a half-game behind the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs with a 3-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night. It was the second straight shutout for the Brewers, who have given up only one run while winning three straight.
Evan Longoria and Steven Souza Jr. homered and Alex Cobb pitched seven strong innings for the Tampa Bay Rays in a 5-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Longoria’s two-run shot off Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez, his 15th of the season, put Tampa Bay up 2-1 in the sixth after a walk to Mallex Smith. Souza’s 21st homer of the season came off reliever Darren O’Day in the seventh. Cobb (9-6) gave up one run on four hits with six strikeouts. He has given up two runs or fewer in seven…
Texas turned three Tampa Bay miscues into a three-run sixth inning and the Rangers beat the Rays 4-3 on Saturday night. The Rangers took a 4-3 lead during the decisive sixth when two runs scored after center fielder Mallex Smith misplayed Adrian Beltre‘s two-out deep fly ball, and Beltre scored on two wild pitches by Chris Archer with Mike Napoli at the plate.
Elvis Andrus homered early, and then snapped a 10th-inning tie with a two-out infield single that gave the struggling Texas Rangers a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. Andrus, who homered in the first inning, hit a sharp grounder off Brad Boxberger (2-1) that forced Evan Longoria to make a diving stop. Pinch runner Delino Shields scored when the third baseman to was unable to complete the throw to first base.
C.J. Cron isn’t necessarily happy about his reduced role with the Los Angeles Angels this season. But when playing time does come, he’s determined to make the most of it. Cron did just that Sunday as a pinch hitter, connecting for a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning and powering the Angels to a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Tampa Bay Rays begin the second half of the season on Friday when they kick off a six-game road trip in the Pacific Time Zone. They hope to continue their momentum after winning 6 of their last 9 games heading into the all-star break, including taking three of four from the Boston Red Sox.