Associated Press
Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The surging Tampa Bay Rays have discovered a simple formula: It’s hard to lose when you don’t give up any runs.
Alex Cobb pitched a four-hitter for his first major league shutout and the Rays beat the Oakland Athletics 5-0 on Thursday night to pull within 2 games of the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East.
Matt Joyce hit a two-run double in a five-run fifth inning against Tyson Ross, hastily called up from the minors to pitch in place of suspended Oakland starter Bartolo Colon.
After the big inning, it was easy for Cobb.
“All the pressure goes away,” he said. “You don’t have to be fine, you can just go ahead and attack hitters. Once I got up by five, my main thought was to go as deep as I could and make them hit fastballs.”
Cobb (8-8) struck out eight and walked two in his second career complete game, both this season. He bounced back from a poor outing against the Los Angeles Angels to win for the fourth time in five starts.
“Nothing worked the last time. And to his credit, he just threw that in the trash can and did this tonight,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
It was the 14th win in 17 games for the Rays and their seventh shutout since July 19. They have pitched 13 shutouts this season, second-most in the majors behind the Angels (15).
Cobb threw a called third strike past Yoenis Cespedes for the final out. As the Rays poured onto the field for handshakes, a group of starting pitchers jumped together and bumped shoulders in excitement.
Matt Moore banged into Cobb and sent him tumbling onto the mound, minus his cap. Still clutching the ball in his glove, Cobb climbed back to his feet and smiled.
It’s the closest the Rays have been to first place since they were 2 out before games of June 16.
Oakland dropped into a tie with Baltimore and Detroit for the AL’s second wild-card spot, 2 games behind the Rays. The teams finish their three-game series Saturday and get a rare Sunday off because the Republican National Convention begins Monday in Tampa.
The A’s did not have a travel day after beating Minnesota at home on Wednesday afternoon. They were shut out for the 15th time this season.
“We just couldn’t figure (Cobb) out tonight,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He was throwing chase-fastballs to us. Every time we were looking for a fastball he threw a breaking ball, and every time we were looking for a breaking ball he threw a fastball, so he was pretty unpredictable tonight.”
Luke Scott also doubled for the Rays in the fifth against Ross (2-9), called up from Triple-A Sacramento when Colon received a 50-game suspension Wednesday for testing positive for testosterone. The Rays batted around in the big inning, which also included RBI singles by Sam Fuld and Evan Longoria.
Ryan Roberts broke the scoreless tie with a sacrifice fly.
Ross, making his first start for the A’s since June 28, pitched six-plus innings. He gave up nine hits while striking out six.
He will be sent back to Sacramento to work out of the bullpen, and the A’s plan to bring him back up when rosters expand in September.
“Now I’ve just got to move forward,” Ross said. “Learn as much as I can about relieving, and be ready come September. I’m excited about the opportunity. Out of the ‘pen, I think I have a chance to help this team win some games.”
Stephen Drew had two hits for Oakland, including a fourth-inning single that snapped an 0-for-22 slide. It was his first hit for the A’s since he was acquired from Arizona in a trade.
Cobb allowed 12 hits and eight earned runs in 2 2-3 innings at Los Angeles on Saturday night, the only time this month a Rays pitcher has given up more than four runs. The Rays came back from an 8-0 deficit to win that game and take Cobb off the hook.
“It’s great to see a teammate go out there and come back from struggling and really carry the team like he did tonight,” Joyce said. “I’m really happy for him and really proud of him.”
ANGELS 14, RED SOX 13 (10)
BOSTON — Kendrys Morales led off Los Angeles’ two-run 10th inning with a solo homer, and the Angels completed a three-game sweep.
TIGERS 3, BLUE JAYS 2 (11) DETROIT — Alex Avila’s RBI single with two outs in the 11th gave Detroit a victory over Toronto, one inning after center fielder Austin Jackson kept the game tied with a spectacular catch.
RANGERS 10, TWINS 6
ARLINGTON, Texas — Josh Hamilton had five RBIs, and Mitch Moreland doubled in the go-ahead run during a six-run eighth inning.
Zito lifts Giants
SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Zito took a three-hit shutout into the ninth inning, Hector Sanchez’s two-run double highlighted a four-run fifth and the San Francisco Giants rolled past the Atlanta Braves 5-2 for their fourth straight win.
Fresh off a sweep at the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, the NL West leaders stayed hot on a chilly and fog-filled night along the bay. Zito (10-8) allowed five hits, struck out five and walked three before Freddie Freeman’s two-run double off reliever Jeremy Affeldt broke up the shutout.
With two runners on, Sergio Romo got pinch-hitters Jason Heyward and Juan Francisco to ground out for his sixth save.
Hunter Pence, Brandon Belt and Pablo Sandoval all drove in runs to chase Atlanta starter Tommy Hanson (12-6) after 4 1-3 innings. Hanson gave up five hits and five runs while striking out four and walking three.
San Francisco has won nine of 12 to take a three-game lead over the Dodgers in the division.
ROCKIES 1, METS 0
NEW YORK — Collin McHugh pitched two-hit ball over seven scoreless innings for the Mets in his major league debut, but the Rockies completed their second straight four-game sweep of New York as Jordany Valdespin misplayed Tyler Colvin’s leadoff drive in the eighth into a game-changing triple.
CARDINALS 13, ASTROS 5
ST. LOUIS — David Freese’s three-run homer snapped the Cardinals’ seven-game longball drought and St. Louis completed a three-game sweep.
PHILLIES 4, REDS 3 (11)
PHILADELPHIA — John Mayberry Jr. hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning to deny the Reds their first series victory Philadelphia since 2006.