ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Alex Cobb struck out 12 in eight innings and Ben Zobrist drove in two runs Tuesday night, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. It was the Rays’ 11th win in 12 games.
Zobrist hit his ninth home run in the sixth inning for the only run off Milwaukee starter Matt Garza. Zobrist’s double in the eighth off reliever Will Smith (1-3) put the Rays ahead for the first time. Pinch-hitter Logan Forsythe followed with another RBI double and the Rays went on to a four-run inning.
Cobb (7-6) gave up three hits and two walks in winning his third straight start. The right-hander is 5-0 in his last six starts.
Garza, who pitched for the Rays for three seasons, gave up five hits and two walks in seven innings, striking out two.
The Brewers, who have lost four of five, have scored two runs and had 12 hits in their last three games while striking out 30 times.
Scooter Gennett drove in the Brewers’ run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth after a leadoff single by Aramis Ramirez.
Grant Balfour pitched the ninth for the Rays.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: The team expects to make a decision soon about the roster status of reliever Jim Henderson, who pitched in a rehab game late Tuesday.
Rays: Outfielder Wil Myers (broken right wrist) plans to take batting practice Saturday. Catcher Ryan Hanigan (strained left oblique) is sore after two days of batting practice and is expected to remain out until next week.
ON DECK
Brewers: Right-hander Yovani Gallardo (5-5) makes his first start against Tampa Bay Wednesday.
Rays: Left-hander David Price (11-7) looks to win his seventh consecutive start Wednesday.
