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Kazmir, Rays blank Angels

May 11, 2008 - 3:20 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Carlos Pena joked that the way the Tampa Bay Rays have been pitching lately, the team's hitters don't need to do much.

Scott Kazmir and three relievers combined on a three-hit shutout as the Rays posted their second consecutive 2-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Saturday.

Rookie Evan Longoria's run-scoring fielder's choice and Pena's sacrifice fly in the eighth inning provided all the offense for the Rays, who also defeated the Angels by the identical score on Friday.

With the victory, Tampa Bay remained over .500 for the 16th consecutive day - its longest stretch in franchise history.

Rays pitchers have not allowed a run at home in 31 consecutive innings and their starters have thrown 23 consecutive scoreless innings.

"It's almost like they don't even need us to hit," said Pena, who also made a key defensive play in the eighth.

Making only his second appearance of the season after starting on the disabled list with a left elbow strain, Kazmir (1-1) allowed three hits in six innings with six strikeouts and three walks.

"I'll take that all day," Kazmir said. "We (the pitchers) are just trying to feed off each other and keep the momentum going."

Trever Miller pitched a perfect seventh and Dan Wheeler, despite three walks, didn't allow a hit or run in the eighth. Troy Percival retired the side in order to record his eighth save of the season.

"For Percival pitching against his old team, under these circumstances, I know it meant a lot," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said.

Joe Saunders (6-1) allowed one run and four hits in six innings en route to his first loss of the season.

"It's always tough when you lose - and it was fun while it lasted," Saunders said of his streak. "After the first inning, I gave up one (run) and kind of knew I couldn't give up another one the way Scott was pitching."

Longoria, who belted a two-run home run in Friday's victory, had a bases-loaded fielder's choice in the first inning to stake the Rays to a 1-0 lead.

The Angels threatened in the eighth when Wheeler walked Sean Rodriguez and Gary Matthews to open the inning.

Playing in for a sacrifice bunt, Pena snagged Erick Aybar's sharp grounder to first, saving a run.

"I'd be OK with a little less drama," Wheeler said. "Carlos saved the game. The game turns right there if he doesn't make that play."

Wheeler then intentionally walked Vladimir Guerrero to load the bases and retired Torii Hunter on a pop up to first and Juan Rivera on a groundout to first.

"It worked out for us, but Wheeler pulled a Houdini act getting out of that," Maddon said.

Carl Crawford led off the eighth with a single and moved to second on B.J. Upton's sacrifice bunt. After Crawford stole third, Pena knocked him in on a sacrifice fly to center field.

The Rays recorded their fourth back-to-back shutouts in franchise history and first since September 3-4, 2007 against Seattle. The Angels were shut out in consecutive games for the first time since September 18-19, 2004 against Texas.

"When you go 18 innings without scoring runs, it's going to be tough to get a win," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We just weren't able to do much at the batter's box the past two nights and they were able to do just enough."