The Tampa Bay Rays (31-48) defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates (39-38) 5-1 Wednesday behind their ace David Price.
Price went 8.1 innings allowing one run and fanning 11. Price gave up a solo homer to Andrew McCutchen in the ninth, but it was not enough to mount a comeback. Price became the first pitcher in 10 years to strikeout at least 10 in five straight starts according to ESPN.com
Price kept the Pirates off the board with the help of some timely defense by his supporting cast. Evan Longoria landed into the first row making a running catch, and Desmond Jennings ran down a 400-foot line drive at the wall with two men on base.
Ben Zorbist drove in the first run with a triple off Charlie Morton, which started a three run first inning. Kevin Kiermaier drove in two runs hitting 1-for-3. Kiermaier reached on a two-out bunt in the eighth inning to extend the Rays lead to 5-0.
Morton (4-9) pitched seven innings and matched Price with career-high 11 strikeouts, but gave up two earned runs. Pittsburgh’s offense was unable to drive in runs going 0-for-3 with RISP, according to MLB.com