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Smyly shines as Rays blank Rangers

Aug 12, 2014 - 6:14 AM Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Drew Smyly pitched 7 2/3 shutout innings for his first victory in a Tampa Bay uniform, as the Rays beat the Texas Rangers, 7-0, in the opener of a four-game series.

Smyly (7-10) gave up three hits while striking out nine and walking three in his second start for the Rays since coming over from Detroit in the trade deadline deal that sent David Price to the Tigers. He set career highs in innings pitched and pitches (116).

"He was so good," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He was in command of everything. Fastball, two breaking balls. He was throwing it exactly where he wanted to."

Smyly threw 107 pitches in just 5 1/3 innings during a 3-0 loss last Tuesday against Oakland.

Matt Joyce knocked in two runs for the Rays, who have won four of five.

Texas starter Colby Lewis (8-9) allowed five runs -- two earned -- on five hits with four walks over five innings.

"He just couldn't command the baseball the way he has been," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He left some pitches up and they hit it. He just couldn't command it tonight."

The Rays jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second. Cole Figueroa walked, moved to second on Yunel Escobar's single and raced home when Lewis threw Curt Casali's sacrifice bunt past third baseman Adrian Beltre. With runners on the corners and one out, Escobar tried to score on Desmond Jennings' bunt down the first-base line. Rangers first baseman Adam Rosales fielded the ball and threw to Robinson Chirinos, who tagged out the sliding Escobar.

Ben Zobrist followed with a walk to load the bases for Joyce, who hit a two- run single to right.

Tampa Bay tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Kevin Kiermaier walked, stole second and crossed the plate on Zobrist's double to right. Zobrist then scored on Evan Longoria's single to right.

Jennings' RBI single in the eighth made it 6-0.

Smyly was on cruise control until the bottom of the eighth. Rougned Odor hit a one-out double to right and moved to third on a wild pitch. Dan Robertson walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Smyly exited after striking out Shin-Soo Choo. Joel Peralta retired Jim Adduci on a bases-loaded grounder to preserve the shutout.

Figueroa's RBI triple in the ninth accounted for the final margin.

Game Notes

Kiermaier left the game in the seventh inning with tightness in his lower back. The move was precautionary ... Rangers outfielder Alex Rios was out of the lineup on Monday after aggravating his sprained right ankle with a slide into home Sunday against Houston. Rios underwent an MRI on Monday and results showed only a slight sprain, and the outfielder could return Tuesday night. Rios originally injured the ankle July 19.