St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) – Evan Longoria singled in Ben Zobrist with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and Rafael Soriano survived a shaky ninth as the Rays edged Toronto, 2-1, in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Sean Rodriguez homered in the fifth inning off Shaun Marcum, as the Rays remained a game behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East. New York edged Oakland, 4-3, on Wednesday.
David Price (16-6) added to his club-record in victories by pitching eight solid innings, allowing four hits, including a homer to John Buck in the fifth. Price also had two walks and fanned seven batters to move his career mark to 6-0 in seven lifetime starts against Toronto.
Marcum gave up five hits and fanned seven over six frames. Shawn Camp (4-3) was hit with the loss, Toronto’s third in four games.
The Rays, who posted their fourth victory in five games, barely pulled it out with Soriano getting his major league-best 40th save. Vernon Wells tripled to left-center with one out in the ninth. Adam Lind then struck out and Buck flied out to the warning track in left.
09/01 22:20:31 ET