Rays 3, Cardinals 0
Alex Cobb struck out 10 in seven dominant innings and recorded his first major-league RBI as visiting Tampa Bay defeated St. Louis to extend its season-high winning streak to seven games.
Desmond Jennings collected three hits and scored twice while Evan Longoria and Brandon Guyer each knocked in a run for the Rays, who have won eight straight on the road. Cobb (6-6), who shook off getting struck on the right elbow by a pitch in the fourth inning, scattered five hits and did not walk a batter to win his fourth consecutive decision.
Matt Carpenter had a double for the Cardinals, who struck out 15 times to lose their third straight contest overall and second in the series. St. Louis starter Lance Lynn (11-7) yielded two runs (one earned) on six hits and struck out seven over 6 1/3 innings to lose for the first time in four starts.
Yunel Escobar reached on an infield hit with one out in the second inning, moved up on a wild pitch and scored when Cobb doubled down the right-field line for his first major-league hit. Carpenter led off the sixth with his two-base hit, but he was later thrown out at the plate for the second out on Matt Holliday’s grounder to third base.
The Rays increased their lead to 2-0 in the seventh when Jennings singled, moved to third on an error by second baseman Kolten Wong and scored on Longoria’s sacrifice fly. Brad Boxberger fanned two in a perfect eighth inning for Tampa Bay and Jake McGee struck out the side in the ninth for his ninth save and the team's 11th shutout.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Tampa Bay’s eight-game road winning streak ties the all-time longest for the team and the Rays went unbeaten on a trip of two cities or more for the first time in club history (5-0). … Escobar was ejected by home-plate umpire Dan Bellino after being called out on strikes in the fourth inning. … The Cardinals activated LHP Kevin Siegrist from the disabled list after he missed 52 games with a left forearm strain and optioned LHP Nick Greenwood to Triple-A Memphis.