MLB: Tampa Bay 4, Oakland 0

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 21 (UPI) -- Scott Kazmir pitched seven shutout innings and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-0 Monday.

Kazmir (8-5), winning pitcher for the American League in last Tuesday's All-Star Game, allowed two hits with nine strikeouts and four walks in just his second victory in his last eight appearances.

Evan Longoria had a home run and two RBI for the Rays, who have won three of their last four games after losing seven straight heading into the all-star break. Willy Aybar had a solo home run, B.J. Upton was 2-for-3 with two walks and a run scored, and Akinori Iwamura was 2-for-4 with an RBI for Tampa Bay.

Losing pitcher Dana Eveland (7-7) gave up four runs on seven hits with four walks in five innings.

Ryan Sweeney and Jack Cust had the hits for Oakland, which has scored only nine runs during a six-game losing streak.