Rays Top Rangers 7-0

Drew Smyly allowed three hits in his first win since the David Price trade, Matt Joyce had a two-run single and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Texas Rangers 7-0 on Monday night.

Smyly struck out nine in a career-high 7 2-3 innings to beat the Rangers for the second time this season. The left-hander hasn't allowed Texas an earned run in three appearances, including a relief outing when he was still with Detroit.

Smyly (7-10), who lost at Oakland five days after the Price deal at the non-waiver trading deadline July 31, struck out the final batter he faced, Shin-Soo Choo, for the second out with runners at second and third in the eighth.

Reliever Joel Peralta preserved the shutout by getting Jim Adduci on a bases-loaded grounder.

Before Adrian Beltre's line-drive single to left center in the seventh inning, the only hit for the Rangers was a bunt by Daniel Robertson in the third. Rougned Odor had a bloop double off Smyly in the eighth.

Colby Lewis (8-9) couldn't build on the momentum of his second career shutout, giving up five runs in five innings. Just two of the runs were earned because of the Texas right-hander's throwing error in Tampa Bay's three-run second inning. He also had four walks and hit a batter.

Lewis had a chance to escape the second with a 1-0 deficit before Joyce's two-out, bases-loaded hit for a 3-0 lead. The sharp single to right field came after Joyce ripped a line drive that was just foul and struck a security guard in the face. The man was bleeding as he was led off the field.

The trouble began for Lewis when his throw to get Cole Figueroa at third base on a bunt attempt by Curt Casali wasn't even close enough for Beltre to try to dive to keep it from going past him.

The Rays bunted again after Yunel Escobar went to third on Lewis' error, but Texas first baseman Adam Rosales shoveled the ball to catcher Robinson Chirinos for the tag. The call was upheld after a 3-minute review over whether Chirinos was blocking the plate.

Figueroa, Desmond Jennings, Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria each had a run-scoring hit for Tampa Bay.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: RF Kevin Kiermaier left the game in the seventh inning with tightness in his lower back. The move was precautionary. Wil Myers, on the disabled list since June 1 because of a fractured right wrist, played right field Monday night on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham.

Rangers: RF Alex Rios was out after aggravating his sprained right ankle with a slide into home Sunday against Houston. The MRI revealed no significant damage and he could return Tuesday night. Rios originally injured the ankle July 19 at Toronto.

ON DECK

Rays RHP Jeremy Hellickson (1-1, 2.61) makes his fourth start since returning from right elbow surgery. Tampa's oldest starting pitcher at 27 years, 126 days, Hellickson is 0-3 with a 5.03 ERA against the Rangers. Texas RHP Nick Tepesch (4-7, 4.46) faces the Rays for the first time since beating them in his major league debut last season.

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