ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Robinson Chirinos finished off an early Tampa Bay outburst with his first major league home run Wednesday to send the Rays rolling over Toronto 9-1.
James Shields surrendered a lone run over 7 1/3 innings to become Tampa Bay's second 10-game winner.
The Rays scored four times in both the second and third innings to take control. Ben Zobrist started the second inning with a homer and Tampa Bay scored three more times without producing a hit to the outfield.
Chirinos had spent a decade in the minors before being called up last month. Appearing in his 12th game as catcher, he drove in one of the second-inning runs with a squeeze bunt and his three-run homer in the third gave the Rays an 8-1 lead.
Shields (10-9) allowed three hits with three walks and struck out six in what was Tampa Bay's fourth win in six games.
Toronto has lost just twice in its last seven outings.
Carlos Villanueva (6-3) suffered the setback, giving up eight runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings.
