Cardinals 5, Rays 3
Jake Westbrook allowed two hits over seven innings and Colby Rasmus had four RBIs as the St. Louis Cardinals won their fourth straight game, 5-3 over the host Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.
Rasmus’ three-run homer in the eighth, after a pair of two-out walks by reliever J.P. Howell, proved to be the difference after the Rays scored three runs in the bottom half, including a two-run homer by Matt Joyce.
Westbrook (7-4), who had one win in June, struck out seven and walked three.
Rasmus knocked in one run with a groundout and Yadier Molina singled home another in the second for the Cardinals, who improved to 4-0 at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon was ejected in the eighth for arguing balls and strikes by home plate umpire Vic Carapazza before Rasmus’ home run. David Price and Elliot Johnson, both on the bench, and Howell were ejected after Rasmus' homer.
Rays starter Wade Davis (7-6) had his three-game win streak snapped. He allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings.
Fernando Salas pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save.