Milwaukee Brewers keep Tampa Bay Rays under wraps

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Zach Davies pitched seven innings of one-hit baseball and the Milwaukee Brewers shut out the Tampa Bay Rays for the second straight night, winning 3-0 on Saturday at Tropicana Field.

Hernan Perez hit a solo home run in the ninth for separation in a 1-0 game, and Milwaukee (59-53) handcuffed Tampa Bay's hitters as it did in Friday's opener. The Rays (57-55), held scoreless in their last 20 innings, were shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since April 2016, against the Indians and White Sox.

Davies (13-5) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, and when Lucas Duda finally broke through with a single. Davies immediately followed by getting Evan Longoria to ground into a double play.

The Rays had a runner at third with one out in the fifth after a throwing error by Perez, but catcher Jesus Sucre lined out to center to end the inning.

Rather than use closer Corey Knebel on back-to-back nights, Milwaukee had Anthony Swarzak pitch the ninth for his first save with the Brewers and his second this season.

The Rays had a chance in the eighth inning against reliever Jacob Barnes, with Adeiny Hechavarria leading off with a single and Sucre following with a one-out bloop single. A throwing error by catcher Manny Pina put runners at second and third with one out, but Corey Dickerson struck out. Duda was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Longoria, but he popped out to center field to end the inning.

The Rays spoiled a quality start by Alex Cobb (9-8), who pitched six innings, holding the Brewers to one run. Reliever Ryan Stanek had four strikeouts in the seventh and eighth, but stayed in too long, giving up the home run to Perez -- his 12th of the season.

Stanek then gave up a single and walk to put two on with no outs, but Jose Alvarado -- who struck out the side in nine pitches in the ninth Friday -- fanned Jonathan Villar and Orlando Arcia. He was a strike away from getting out of the inning, but his wild pitch allowed Aguilar to score to make it 3-0.

For the second night in a row, the Brewers held to a 1-0 lead in a pitchers' duel.

Davies allowed only one baserunner in the first four innings -- a second-inning walk to Brad Miller. Miller reached on an error in the fifth, and the Rays had runners at first and third after a walk, but Davies got Sucre to line out to center to end the inning.

Milwaukee's only run off Cobb came on an RBI double by Arcia in the third inning, scoring Keon Broxton, who had singled.

Milwaukee had five hits, but Cobb kept the Rays close, striking out six batters in the first five innings.

Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw, who leads the team with 74 RBIs, had to leave Saturday's game after he was hit in the side of the neck by a throw from home as he tried to steal second base.

Shaw stole second base, but Sucre's throw knocked his helmet off as he slid into the base. Shortstop Hechavarria's glove also hit him in the side of the face as the throw came in. Shaw stayed down for several minutes as trainers attended to him. He walked off the field slowly but on his own, and was replaced by Perez, who pinch-ran for him and took over at third base.

NOTES: Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi, on the disabled list since July 25 with a lower back strain, will be activated and rejoin the rotation to start Wednesday when the Rays face the Red Sox. Rookie RHP Austin Pruitt, who picked the win in Wednesday's shutout victory against the Astros, will start Tuesday's game against Boston. ... Brewers RHP Brandon Woodruff, who won in Friday's series opener, became the 19th pitcher in franchise history to win in his major league debut, and just the fifth Brewer to throw a scoreless start in his debut. The last? Chris Saenz in 2004. ... Counting Saturday's game, the Brewers have played the Rays only 11 times, the fewest Milwaukee has faced any major league team.