Rays 4, Rangers 1
James Shields allowed four hits in eight shutout innings as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the host Texas Rangers 4-1 on Wednesday.
Shields (13-10) struck out seven, including the 1,000th of his career. He has 199 this season.
Shields got Mike Napoli to ground into a double play with the bases loaded and one out in the first, then retired 14 more in a row. Shields allowed two hits in his final seven innings.
John Jaso singled home a run and Desmond Jennings added a bases-loaded walk in the second for a 2-0 lead.
Matt Joyce had an RBI single in the third and Johnny Damon delivered his 14th homer in the seventh for the Rays, who have won four of six on the road trip and are 7 1/2 games behind New York in the American League wild card race.
Tampa Bay closer Kyle Farnsworth allowed a run in the ninth on David Murphy’s RBI single.
Texas' Alexi Ogando (12-7) gave up three runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings. It was the third time in his last five starts he has gone four innings or less.
Elvis Andrus had a pair of hits for the Rangers, who maintained their 3 1/2-game lead over the Angels in the American League West.