Tampa Bay Rays weekly report

The Rays got off to a fast start in Cleveland against the Indians on May 27, ringing up five runs in the top of the first, but the Indians hit back hard and eventually prevailed 12-7. Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria paced the offense, as Zobrist reached base four times and Longoria became the first player to reach 50 RBIs with a single in the first. Andy Sonnanstine (3-5) took the loss, pitching just three innings and giving up nine hits and eight earned runs, walking two and striking out three.

The Rays' skid reached five games on May 28 as the Indians won 2-1 to sweep the series in Cleveland. They did get a rare moral victory when Manny Aybar's home run in the sixth was upheld after review, but it wasn't enough to defeat the Tribe. Jeff Niemann (4-4) started and pitched three innings, giving up five hits, one earned run, walking one and striking out four.

On May 29, the Rays snapped their five-game skid with a 5-3 win over the Twins. Evan Longoria's three-run shot to center in the sixth put Tampa Bay ahead for good, and the Rays escaped an eighth-inning Twins rally. James Shields (4-4) pitched very well, throwing seven innings, giving up seven hits, two earned runs, walking one and striking out five.

On May 30, David Price (1-0) had his best outing as a big league player as the Rays beat the Twins 5-2. Price struck out 11 in 5 2/3 innings, and the Rays brought it home on offense with a four-run third inning, including Joe Dillon's solo homer to tie the game at one in the third. The bullpen pitched in as well. Price gave up five hits, one earned run and walked two on the way to his win.

On Sunday, the Rays just missed a sweep of the Twins, losing 3-2. Matt Garza (4-4) took the loss after pitching well for five innings, but falling into trouble in the sixth and seventh. Carlos Pena had his 17^th homer of the season and Matt Joyce also homered. Garza pitched seven innings, giving up seven hits, three earned runs, walking one and striking out six.

On Tuesday, Matt Joyce was the hero as the Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2. He threaded a go-ahead two-run double through the Royals' outfield in the sixth and added some insurance with a two-run homer in the eighth. Ben Zobrist also had a two-run shot, and Andy Sonnanstine (4-5) was brilliant in 6 2/3 innings of work.