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Moore, Rays blank Angels

Jul 29, 2012 - 4:37 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Ben Zobrist homered and knocked in two runs, Matt Moore pitched into the seventh inning and the Tampa Bay Rays blanked the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 3-0, in the middle portion of a three-game series at Angel Stadium.

Moore (7-7) scattered four hits and two walks while striking out six over 6 1/3 innings for Tampa Bay, which snapped a two-game slide.

"They have a very tough lineup. To only get into two jams was a good night," said Moore. "I was fortunate to get ahead of guys early."

Fernando Rodney worked a perfect ninth to record his 29th save of the season.

C.J. Wilson (9-7) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and three walks with seven strikeouts through 6 2/3 innings for the Angels, who had won four of their last five.

Wilson is winless in six straight starts and has not recorded a victory since June 26.

"He pitched well enough to get a win tonight," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said about Wilson. "We didn't help him offensively."

Tampa Bay jumped out to an early lead in its first at-bat as Desmond Jennings opened the game with a double to left-center field, advanced to third on B.J. Upton's bunt single and came home on Zobrist's sacrifice fly to center field.

The Rays added a run in the second inning thanks to a pair of errors.Sean Rodriguez worked a leadoff walk, stole second and moved to third on Angels catcher Bobby Wilson's throwing error and crossed the plate when shortstop Maicer Izturis dropped a towering infield pop up.

Zobrist's solo shot to dead-center field in the third inning gave Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead.

The Angels did not have a runner advance past first base until Albert Pujols was hit by a pitch to start the home fourth and moved to second on a Mark Trumbo single to left field.

Pujols would advance no further, though, as Moore retired the next three batters to end the inning.

The Angels also threatened in the fifth by loading the bases with one out, but they would come up empty again as Pujols popped up in front of the mound and Wilson was tagged out at the plate when he tried to score on an errant pitch by Moore, whose tag was shown by replays to have missed Wilson as he slid across the plate.

LA would then strand a runner on second in both the sixth and eighth innings before Rodney shut the door in the ninth to finalize the shut out.

Game Notes

Tampa Bay has won seven of the last eight meetings between the teams...Moore improved to 1-0 in two career starts against the Angels...Wilson fell to 4-2 in 19 appearances (six starts) against the Rays...The Angels went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.