Rays 4 - 0 Cubs
Final
  for this game

Odorizzi, Rays blank Cubs

Aug 10, 2014 - 1:25 AM Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Yunel Escobar drove in three runs and Jake Odorizzi tossed six sold innings as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Chicago Cubs, 4-0, in the second of three at Wrigley Field on Saturday.

Odorizzi (8-9) surrendered just three hits with no walks and nine strikeouts to win his third straight interleague start.

"It was just one of those days where you have that good feeling and you know where it's going," said Odorizzi. "I was just trying to go get it as fast as I can."

Ben Zobrist finished 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored and Evan Longoria scored twice and hit an RBI double for Tampa Bay, which won its fifth consecutive game against the Cubs.

Starlin Castro supplied two hits and Javier Baez doubled for the Cubs, who lost for a third time in the past four games.

Starter Edwin Jackson (6-12) was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and three walks over six frames.

"We've been battling the last few weeks," said Jackson. "We are going to continue to battle through the rest of the year."

Odorizzi was strong from the start and did not allow a hit until Justin Ruggiano's leadoff single in the third broke up a string of five straight strikeouts.

Zobrist led off the fourth with a ground-rule double into the ivy in right field and moved to third after Arismendy Alcantara made a diving catch in center to rob James Loney of a base hit. Longoria chopped a liner into the left-field corner for a run-scoring double. Two batters later, Escobar's base hit to right scored Longoria for a 2-0 lead.

The Rays added two runs in the sixth. Zobrist walked to lead off the frame, Longoria reached after Baez missed a catch on a force attempt at second base and Matt Joyce walked to load the bases. Escobar smacked a single up the middle, making it a 4-0 game.

T.J. Yates fanned three batters in two perfect innings of relief and Jake McGee struck out three to strand two runners in the ninth.

Game Notes

The Rays lead the all-time series, 6-2 ... Escobar entered the game 0-for-9 against Jackson ... Castro extended his hitting streak to eight games ... Tampa Bay's three pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts.






Related News