Zobrist’s homer in 11th gives Rays win over Rangers

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Ben Zobrist’s home run in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted the Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

Zobrist’s 16th homer came off Mark Lowe (0-1) after a leadoff walk to B.J. Upton.

Wade Davis (3-0) got the win after striking out five of the six hitters he faced in the 10th and 11th innings.

The Rays’ fifth win in six games featured a total of 29 strikeouts for both teams.

Texas starter Derek Holland struck out a career-high 11 while giving up only two hits and two walks in eight innings. Holland threw a season-high 116 pitches, retiring five Rays in a span of seven pitches at one point.

Evan Longoria’s fourth-inning homer, his 11th, was the first hit off Holland, who was trying to win a fourth straight start for the first time in his career.

It was the Rangers’ fourth loss in 11 extra-inning games this season.

It was the second straight extra-inning game for the Rangers, who arrived at their hotel at 4:40 a.m., Friday after a 5-4, 10-inning win at Kansas City on Thursday night.

Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson pitched six innings, giving up four hits including a home run to Michael Young in the fifth inning.

It was Young’s seventh home run and his third in the last five days.

David Murphy walked after Young’s homer, and then Hellickson and four relievers retired the next 17 Rangers in order.

NOTES: Rays 17-game winner David Price has been scratched from his Saturday start because of shoulder soreness. Rookie RHP Chris Archer, called up from Double-A Montgomery on Friday, will start against the Rangers on Saturday night. Manager Joe Maddon expects Price’s next start to come next weekend at New York ... Matt Harrison, the Rangers’ 15-game winner, had his next start pushed back from Sunday here to Tuesday at home against Cleveland.