Rays 3 - 0 Cardinals
Final
  for this game

Cobb leads Rays over Cardinals

Jul 24, 2014 - 4:15 AM St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Alex Cobb struck out 10 in seven shutout innings and drove in a run with his first major-league hit, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-0 win and two-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday.

Cobb (6-6) gave up five hits and no walks, pushing his personal winning streak to four decisions. His double in the second inning also gave him his first major-league RBI.

Desmond Jennings had three hits and scored two runs for the Rays, who have won seven in a row for the first time since late last season. They took the opener of this brief set 7-2 on Tuesday.

Brad Boxberger struck out two in a perfect eighth inning and Jake McGee fanned all three batters he faced in the ninth to give the Rays staff 15 strikeouts and no walks in the game.

"That's incredible," said Rays manager Joe Maddon.

The Cardinals lost their third in a row.

Lance Lynn (11-7) took a three-start winning streak into the game and pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs -- one earned -- on six hits and three walks. Lynn struck out seven but failed to tie teammate Adam Wainwright and three other pitchers for the major-league lead in wins.

"The last two days (Tampa Bay) has just had our number," said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.

Cobb struck out eight of the first 12 batters he faced and gave the Rays a 1-0 lead when he slapped a Lynn fastball down the right-field line for a two-out double in the second inning to score Yunel Escobar.

Later, Lynn hit Cobb on his right pitching elbow with a fastball in the fourth inning. Cobb hit the ground in obvious pain and was watched closely while he warmed up for the fifth inning.

Matt Carpenter hit a leadoff double in the sixth inning to give the Cardinals a runner at second base for only the second time against Cobb. But Carpenter was later thrown out at home trying to score on Matt Holliday's bouncer to third baseman Evan Longoria, who had to throw over Carpenter's head to get the ball to catcher Jose Molina.

Jennings' single and an error by Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong put runners at the corners with one out in the seventh and chased Lynn.

Randy Choate then plunked Brandon Guyer, loading the bases for Longoria, who lofted a sacrifice fly to center field off Seth Maness to give the Rays a 2-0 lead.

Jennings hit a leadoff single in the ninth off Sam Freeman and scored later from second base on Guyer's hit to make it 3-0.

Game Notes

McGee earned his ninth save ... The Rays threw their 11th shutout of the season. They last won seven in a row from Sept. 20-26 last year ... Cobb struck out 11 in a win at Houston on June 13. His career high is 13 ... Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo left two packages of peanut butter- filled cheese crackers on home plate for Molina in between the top and bottom of the first inning. Molina caught the first inning with the crackers in his back pocket. His brother, injured Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, was seen laughing and pointing from the dugout ... Escobar was ejected in the fourth inning for arguing a called third strike ... The Rays start a nine-game homestand Friday with the opener of a weekend series against Boston ... The Cardinals will open a six-game road trip on Friday against the Cubs.






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