Longoria, Rays snapped Rangers' 4-game win streak
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Evan Longoria went 2-for-3 with a home run and Brad Miller had a three-run double to lift the Tampa Bay Rays to an 8-2 win over the Texas Rangers at Tropicana Field on Saturday.
Texas (73-51) had a four-game win streak snapped. Tampa Bay improved to 51-70.
Miller's double in the bottom of the seventh inning off Rangers reliever Keone Kela gave the Rays a 7-1 lead. The big inning started with a triple from second baseman Tim Beckham and he scored on a single by right fielder Steven Souza Jr.
After catcher Luke Maile reached base on a bunt single and Longoria walked, Miller ripped a double into the gap in right-center field to clear the bases.
Longoria hit his 28th home run of the season off Rangers starter A.J. Griffin in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Rays a 3-1 lead.
That was more than enough run support for Rays starter Jake Odorizzi (8-5), who gave up one run and six hits in six innings.
Griffin (5-3) gave up three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Rangers right fielder Nomar Mazara hit a home run off Rays reliver Kevin Jepsen with two outs in the top of the ninth inning.
Tampa Bay got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when left fielder Corey Dickerson doubled and scored on a single by Longoria to take a 1-0 lead.
The Rays increased the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning when Maile hit his first career home run off a 1-1 offering from Griffin.
Texas' first run came from the bat of second baseman Rougned Odor on his 23rd homer of the year in the top of the fourth off Odorizzi.
NOTES: The Rays placed INF Nick Franklin on the 7-day concussion disabled list and optioned RHP Ryan Garton to Triple-A Durham. INF/OF Richie Shaffer was recalled from Durham in a corresponding move and LHP Enny Romero (back) was activated from the 15-day disabled list. ... Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre was in the lineup Saturday but may take a bereavement leave soon after the death of his grandfather Thursday. Beltre decided to play Friday and had two home runs and four hits. "To watch him play (Friday) with such a heavy heart, it solidifies even more what I know about him and the man he is," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said to the Dallas Morning News. "To be able to do what he did is in itself incredible, without any distractions. To be going through that I'm sure was extremely tough for him." ... Rays 2B Logan Forsythe (back) remains out of the lineup after his back spasms flared up again Friday.