Cobb win seven innings and let Rays vs. Jays

ST. PETERSBURG - Rays manager Joe Maddon said before the game Wednesday against the Blue Jays that he expected his team to start things his way.

For in the first half of the season was the team of the injured list overcrowded and there were only a few games over .500.

Maddon, perhaps only to be something.

Tampa Bay won its fourth series of its last five games against Toronto, 3-2, at Tropicana Field with eight players reached base in the game

Woe to approximate this is nothing new for the Blue Jays, who lost 16 consecutive road series against the rays.

"We seem to fight, for whatever reason, since I played here the last two years, playing in the park," Jays starter Carlos Villanueva said. "We must be missing some final races. Our offense a few important people. As pitchers, we must have the game under control."

BJ Upton helped pace the offense in the night, going 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run.

Starting pitcher Alex Cobb, from a win after three defeats in a row, won another victory by throwing seven innings of one run baseball on five hits and two hits to go with seven strikeouts to batters with wholesale snapback hats from china .

"It was the best curve I've seen all year from one of our pitchers," Maddon said. "It was a mise en abyme of the major leagues. He threw his fastball for a strike, but gave shifting, shifting out of work ... I think his curve ball is set, all the game for him. "

The wins back-to-back in both of which he has allowed one run, are the first consecutive victories since May 25 to Cobb.

"If you feel what you're doing wrong, how do you think it was the main reason why you failed," Cobb said of his recent recovery. "They have a lot of confidence when you go there and you know your stuff is good enough to get these guys on."

Stellar pitching performance is not new to the Tampa Bay staff who allowed two runs or fewer in eight of the last 10 games.

"We are having a blast," said Cobb. "It's a role right now, we feed all rooting hard for each other in the dugout. It's just a fun atmosphere to be in., in a role like this, you definitely do not want to be a ripple in the water. "

Evan Longoria was not to reach the Ray based solely on the game, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and grounded into a double play on the double play, Longoria jogged to the first base, Maddon advised how to do it.

"I want nothing more than that," Maddon said. "Art is seeing what you want is what you get, until it is good. There is nothing wrong with that."

Maddon said before the game status Longoria for the match of the day Thursday would be delivered, how it is done based on Wednesday. After the victory, it was still uncertain if Longoria will be able to play in the series finale.

Toronto pushed the first run in the third year, when Edwin Encarnacion hit a one-out ball to left field with the victims runners on the corners, to Rajai Davis.

The lead did not last long, as Desmond Jennings and Upton hit back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the frame to balance the score. Matt Joyce hit a few simple runners at the corners with no outs Thurs. Longoria hit into a double play, but nickel to give Upton, Tampa Bay ahead.

Ben Zobrist and Carlos Pena and Jeff Keppinger were then both hit the middle one, the latter introduced by Zobrist. The handle has finally ended when Jose Molina popped out to left field.

Villanueva scored well outside the three third round of racing, pitching six innings going into the night with three runs on six hits against him and three walks with seven strikeouts.

"I thought it was close, and we made close to the end, but they outpitched us today," said Villanueva.

Cobb crossed by the rest of his departure, allowing just one hit in his last four innings before Joel Peralta came to him in the eighth.

Fernando Rodney took the ninth and gave a tour to David Cooper, his sleeves finished with 22 nonprofit lashes. The closest was his 34th major-league best Save to convert the year, though.

"It is unfortunate that it ends that way, but he threw strikes, it's hard hitters," said Maddon. "For most, a contact is not difficult to contact, or against him, speaking to his clothes. "