ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 18 (UPI) -- A two-run homer by Ben Zobrist in the seventh inning Friday rallied Tampa Bay to a 2-1 win over Toronto, halting the Rays' losing streak at seven games.
Tampa Bay had been mired in its worst skid of the season, one that came just as the Rays had surged to the lead in the American League East. Tampa Bay went into the all-star break a half game behind Boston.
James Shields (8-6) allowed only a third-inning homer by Adam Lind to get the victory. He gave up four hits in seven innings.
Grant Balfour worked out of a jam in the eighth and then pitched the ninth to pick up his fourth save.
The hard-luck loser was A.J. Burnett (10-9), who allowed five hits and struck out six in seven innings.
Tampa Bay did not manage a hit in the fourth, fifth or sixth innings, but Eric Hinske drew a two-out walk in the seventh and Zobrist hit Burnett's first pitch out to right for his fourth homer of the season.
Balfour came on with two out and a runner on third in the eighth and struck out Alex Rios to end the inning.
