By: John Mamola

Ben Zobrist’s two run home run in the bottom of the eleventh inning propelled the Rays to a 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers.  Zobrist’s 16^th home run of the season ended what was a great pitchers duel between what could be a possible playoff matchup.

Jeremy Hellickson and Rangers’ starter Derek Holland matched inning for inning for the first six innings of the game.  The Rays drew first blood on Holland in the fourth inning as Evan Longoria took a 3-1 fastball deep into the left field stands putting the Rays up 1-0. 

The Rangers answered with a solo home run of their own in the top half of the fifth inning as Michael Young blasted a solo home run of his own to tie the game at one a piece.

Following Young’s home run, both teams offenses were held silent into extra innings.  The two teams combined for only one hit in the next 36 total at bats. 

The game went to extra innings as the Rays offense only managed two hits in regulation, even at one point Rays pitchers retired 17 straight Rangers hitters.

The Rays were able to get to Texas reliever Mark Lowe in the bottom half of the eleventh inning.  BJ Upton led off the inning with a walk setting up Zobrist to win the game as he blasted a two run home run into the right field stands. 

With the win, the Rays are now 5-5 in extra inning games this season.

Jeremy Hellickson pitched six innings allowing a run on four hits with five strikeouts.  The Rays bullpen pitched five combined innings allowing one hit with eight strikeouts. 

Wade Davis gets the win pitching two innings allowing a hit and striking out five.

The Rays will look for two in a row against Texas tomorrow night as Chris Archer gets the start for Tampa Bay against Yu Darvish for the Rangers.  Catch all the action on 620am WDAE tomorrow night with a 6:30pm pre-game and a 7:10pm first pitch.