Matt Garza worked seven innings, allowing a run on five hits before departing with a 1-1 tie. Tampa Bay scored four times in the 8th inning to pull away for a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
Alex Cobb struck out 12 in eight innings and Ben Zobrist drove in a pair of runs to lead the Rays. Zobrist homered off of Garza, then drove in the game winning rbi double off of Brewers left Will Smith in the 8th.
The Brewers were held to three hits for the second straight game and their lead in the National League Central is down to 1-game over the Pittsburgh Pirates. St. Louis lost last night and remains 1 1/2 games behind the Brewers.
Cobb (7-6) won his third straight start and is 5-0 in his last six starts.
The Brewers have dropped four of five. They’ve scored just two runs on 12 hits in their last three games while striking out 30 times.
Scooter Gennett drove in the Brewers only run, with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.
The Rays have won 11 of their last 12 and send lefty David Price to the mound in the series finale Wednesday morning (11:10am) against the Brewers Yovani Gallardo.
Gallardo, with his 86 career victories, is tied for fifth with Ben Sheets on the all-time franchise wins list. A win today moves Gallardo into fifth place all by himself.
Price has won seven straight starts, but the Brewers are 17-10 (.630) this season against left-handed starters. Only the Marlins (16-9, .640) have a better percentage.