The Rays avoided a sweep yesterday as they beat the Rangers 6-5. Tampa scored all six of their runs in the first three innings but didn’t score after that. The Rangers did give them a scare when they hit two homeruns in sixth to make it 6-5 but that was close as they’d get.
Carlos Pena went two for four with a homerun and Ben Zobrist went yard as well and he scored two runs. James Shields picked up the win despite the late surge by the Rangers. He gave up five runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts. Al Reyes struck out two and pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his second save of the season.
Now the Rays travel to take on the first place Twins. Casey Fossum gets the start tonight but the key pitching battle will take place tomorrow when Johan Santana and Scott Kazmir lock up. Hopefully Kazmir will rise to the occasion.
