Game 138: Ben Zobrist Works Extra Inning Magic

When a team comes from being left for dead to making the playoffs, there are a number of games along the way that help build momentum. An extra inning walkover victory against the team with the best record in the American League may just be one of those games.

Ben Zobrist hit a walkoff two run home run in the bottom of the eleventh inning, catapaulting the Rays to a 3-1 victory over the Texas Rangers Friday night. Mark Lowe picked up the loss, facing two batters, walking B.J. Upton before giving up Zobrist’s home run.

The Rays scored first in the bottom of the fourth, as Evan Longoria hit a solo home run with two outs to put the Rays ahead 1-0. The lead was short lived, however, as Michael Young responded with a solo home run of his own in the fifth to knot the game at 1-1. Neither team threatened to score again until the bottom of the tenth, when the Rays put runners on first and second with one out. Michael Kirkman struck out Eliot Johnson, then Tanner Schleppers got the final out of the inning to get out of the jam.

Jeremy Hellickson pitched well, giving up only one run on four hits and a walk, striking out five in his six innings of work. Wade Davis picked up the win, striking out five batters in his two innings of relief.