Rays are at home in 1st

Shields sharp as 7-game skid ends

Toronto's Alex Rios makes an impact on the game with a leaping catch against the wall in the second inning. (SCOTT AUDETTE/REUTERS)

All the Tampa Bay Rays needed to end their losing streak was a home game.

Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer and James Shields allowed one run over seven innings to help the Rays snap a seven-game losing skid with a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays last night at St. Petersburg, Fla

Zobrist hit his fourth homer of the season off A.J. Burnett (10-9) to give the Rays a 2-1 lead in the seventh. All four of his homers have come in his last 11 games.

"It felt great," Zobrist said. "Burnett was pitching a great game. He was just real hard to hit. I was fortunate to get that fastball over the middle of the plate and put a good swing on it."

Six of Tampa Bay's losses during the losing streak came on the road. Last night's victory improved the Rays' home record to 37-14.

Shields (8-6) gave up four hits, two walks and had four strikeouts for Tampa Bay, which is a half-game ahead of the Red Sox in the American League East.

Grant Balfour got the final four outs for his fourth save.

Brewers 9, Giants 1 - CC Sabathia pitched a four-hitter to beat host San Francisco and win his third straight start since joining Milwaukee.

Prince Fielder hit a three-run homer in the seventh for Milwaukee, then Mike Cameron added a three-run shot in the ninth.

Sabathia (3-0), pitching in his native Northern California for the first time since the Brewers acquired him in a trade with Cleveland, retired 17 straight batters after Fred Lewis got aboard in the first. Aaron Rowand homered leading off the eighth for the second hit off Sabathia to end the shutout bid.

Sabathia struck out 10 and didn't walk a batter.

Reds 5, Mets 2 - Bronson Arroyo extended his latest surge by pitching eight innings, and host Cincinnati snapped New York's 10-game win streak.

The Reds scored four times in the fifth off John Maine (8-7) despite getting only two balls out of the infield. Ken Griffey Jr. drew a bases-loaded walk, Brandon Phillips lofted a two-run single into shallow right field, and Edwin Encarnacion got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Arroyo (8-7) has been extremely streaky this season. The righthander is in one of his upturns, winning his last four starts. The majors' hottest team managed only four hits off Arroyo, including Carlos Beltran's RBI double.

Phillies 4, Marlins 2 - Jamie Moyer beat Florida for the 10th time in as many career starts, pitching six innings to help Philadelphia win at Miami and take over sole possession of first place in the NL East.

Ryan Howard hit his 29th home run, most in the majors.

Ricky Nolasco (10-5) lost for the first time in his past six decisions. He pitched seven innings and allowed four runs, including both homers.

Moyer (9-6) allowed four hits, all singles, in six innings.

Twins 6, Rangers 0 - Glen Perkins pitched six shutout innings as host Minnesota shut out Texas, the first time this season the Rangers have not scored a run.

Perkins (7-2) allowed just three hits to a Rangers team that entered the game leading the majors in most offensive categories, including batting average, runs, hits, slugging percentage and total bases.

Dodgers 8, Diamondbacks 7 - James Loney homered leading off the 11th inning to lift the Los Angeles over host Arizona.

Nomar Garciaparra had his first multihomer game in nearly six years for the Dodgers, who pulled into a first-place tie with the Diamondbacks in the NL West.

Astros 2, Cubs 1 - Hunter Pence drove in the winning run with a double off Bob Howry in the bottom of the ninth inning as host Houston topped Chicago.

White Sox 9, Royals 5 - Jermaine Dye's two-run single highlighted a six-run first inning as host Chicago beat Kansas City.

Braves 7, Nationals 6 - Brian McCann's three-run double gave host Atlanta the lead in the third inning, and Washington's late rally fell short when it left the tying run on third base in the ninth.

Rockies 5, Pirates 2 - Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe homered, and Seth Smith hit an inside-the-park home run to lead host Colorado over Pittsburgh.

Orioles 7, Tigers 4 - Luke Scott homered twice, and host Baltimore also got home runs from Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff to defeat Detroit.

Mariners 8, Indians 2 - Raul Ibanez hit a grand slam to back another strong start from Felix Hernandez as host Seattle ended Cleveland's five-game winning streak.

Cardinals 11, Padres 7 - Yadier Molina's two-run single with the bases loaded broke an eighth-inning tie and host St. Louis beat San Diego.