Cobb pitches Rays past Marlins
MIAMI -- Logan Morrison homered against his former team, Alex Cobb pitched six scoreless innings and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Miami Marlins 3-1 on Tuesday night at Marlins Park.
Marlins starter Edinson Volquez (0-4), who left the game after 4 1/3 innings due to a blister on his right thumb, became the first pitcher in the modern era to post at least nine strikeouts and eight walks in less than five innings. His eight walks were a career high, and he also allowed three hits and three runs.
Cobb (2-2) was much more efficient, allowing four hits and two walks, striking out two.
Tampa Bay drew at least one walk in each of the first eight innings. Rays second baseman Brad Miller, who is hitting just .217, drew four.
The Rays (14-14) lead this year's "Citrus Series" 2-0 against the Marlins (11-14). The final two games of this series will be played Wednesday and Thursday at Tampa Bay.
Miami's Marcell Ozuna singled to left in the sixth, extending his hitting streak in matchups against the Rays to 19 games. It's the second-longest active hit streak by a player against one team. Only Dustin Pedroia's 20-game streak against the Oakland Athletics is longer.
Morrison, who was drafted by the Marlins in 2005 and stayed with the organization through 2013, pulled his sixth homer of the year to right field in the third, giving Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead.
Tampa Bay scored twice more in the fifth. Volquez walked the bases loaded before exiting the game with one out. Reliever Dustin McGowan came in and allowed a sacrifice fly to Tim Beckham and an RBI single to Derek Norris.
Miami closed its deficit to 3-1 in the eighth as Martin Prado singled and scored on a one-out double by Giancarlo Stanton.
But Rays closer Alex Colome pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his seventh save and his second in two nights.
NOTES: Tampa Bay drew 11 walks on Tuesday and have 19 in the series. ... Rays 3B Evan Longoria, a three-time All-Star and a two-time Gold Glove winner, missed his second straight game due to a foot injury. ... The Rays activated OF Colby Rasmus (hip surgery) and designated OF Shane Peterson for assignment. ... Marlins C J.T. Realmuto hit .352 in April, giving him the fourth-highest batting average ever for a Marlins catcher (minimum 50 plate appearances) in a calendar month. Ivan Rodriguez owns the two best batting averages, both accomplished in 2003. ... Marlins LHP Adam Conley (1-2, 6.86 ERA) will face Rays LHP Blake Snell (0-2, 3.42) on Wednesday in Tampa Bay. The four-game series ends Thursday, also in Tampa Bay.