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Devil Rays hold off Rangers

Apr 12, 2007 - 5:38 AM ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Carlos Pena and Ben Zobrist helped the Tampa Bay Devil Rays avoid a series sweep.

Pena and Zobrist each hit solo home runs as the Devil Rays ended a six-game road losing streak to the Texas Rangers with a 6-5 victory.

Ty Wigginton, Delmon Young, rookie Akinori Iwamura and Dioner Navarro each drove in a run for Tampa Bay, which snapped a four-game overall losing streak and avoided its ninth series sweep in its last 14 road series.

"Our guys' (attitudes are) different than last year. They go out there expecting to win," Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "But we have to get better on the road. Tonight was a big win because we have to stop getting swept on the road."

Zobrist opened the scoring by homering off Texas starter Robinson Tejada in the first inning. Pena drilled his first blast of the season in the fourth as Tampa Bay jumped to a 4-1 lead.

"I was just trying to see the ball and looking for a pitch in the zone that I could hit with authority," said Pena, who had begun the season in an 0-for-8 slump. "And I finally got one."

Tampa Bay starter James Shields (1-0) picked up the win, though allowing five runs - four earned - and five hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out eight.

"I made two mistakes to (Michael) Young," Shields said. "I wanted to bear down after that. I had to come back in the seventh (after the Rangers had trimmed Tampa's lead to 6-5) and shut them out."

Young caused most of the damage for the Rangers, reaching the righthander for a solo homer in the first inning and a three-run shot in the sixth. The home runs were his first of the year.

Brian Stokes held Texas in check during the eighth inning and Al Reyes pitched a perfect ninth for his second save of the season.

"If we can get six to seven innings from our starters and keep our bullpen going, we should be in good shape," Maddon said.

"I hope we can get positive vibes rolling," Pena said. "We'll see if we can win the next series in Minnesota. That's what we want. We have to improve on the road."

Tejada (1-1) took the loss, allowing six runs and 10 hits in five frames.

"They were real aggessive, going after the first pitch," Texas manager Ron Washington said. Tejada was looking to get ahead by throwing fastballs early in the count. "These (Tampa Bay) kids are good hitters."

Texas pitchers had five quality starts to begin the season, going 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA. But in the last two games against the Devil Rays, the Rangers' starters went 0-1 with a 12.91 ERA.

"We're capable of pitching, playing defense and swinging the bat," Washington said. "We'll be OK."

Ian Kinsler continues to swing the bat well, hitting his fourth home run of the season for the Rangers.