ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 19 (UPI) -- Matt Joyce cracked a grand slam and Alex Cobb tamed the Braves on two runs over seven innings Saturday in the Tampa Bay Rays' 5-2 interleague win over Atlanta.
After spotting the Braves a 2-0 lead, the Rays loaded the bases in the third inning, collecting a pair of walks and a Chris Gimenez single off Randall Delgado (2-4). Joyce followed by belting a 2-0 pitch deep over the right-center field fence, and the Rays went on to even their three-game interleague series at Tropicana Field.
Cobb (1-0), making his first start of the year -- in place of the injured Jeff Niemann -- surrendered a pair of runs on six hits over seven frames. He struck out six and walked two.
Juan Francisco and Eric Hinske each drove in a run for the National League East-leading Braves.
