Rays 5, Royals 0
Alex Cobb pitched seven shutout innings and Ben Zobrist knocked in two runs as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-0 Sunday afternoon.
Cobb (3-0) allowed six hits and did not walk a batter, striking out two. It was his longest outing in seven major-league starts.
Zobrist had three hits and Desmond Jennings added two for the Rays. Jennings has reached base eight times in two games since being recalled from Triple-A Durham.
Chris Getz had two hits for the Royals, who had their four-game win streak snapped.
Tampa Bay left a runner at third base with one out the first two innings, but struck for two runs in the third. Johnny Damon walked and Zobrist doubled to open the frame. Evan Longoria singled home Damon and Zobrist scored on Matt Joyce’s sacrifice fly.
Royals starter Felipe Paulino (1-8) allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings. He gave up a two-out single to Sam Fuld in the sixth and hit the next two batters before being replaced by Blake Wood.
The Rays made it 4-0 when Wood walked Damon and hit Zobrist – each with the bases loaded.
Rays center fielder B.J. Upton was given the day off.