Rays starting pitcher Alex Cobb took a three-hit shutout into the ninth inning of Sunday's 8-3 rout of the Yankees. Cobb (6-2) lost his shutout bid when Brett Gardner homered leading off the ninth.
"I had [fastball location] today, being able to go to both sides of the plate, and the fastball movement was good," Cobb said, per MLB.com. "When you have that, you're able to set up your other pitches. Kind of use one offspeed pitch the first half of the game and the other the other half, and then mix and match later in the game. It all starts with your fastball."
Cobb was charged with two runs on five hits in 8 1/3 innings, while striking out eight. He won his second-straight start and third-straight decision. Cobb hasn't lost in five starts and he's allowed no more than two runs in three-straight starts.
"The young man knows how to pitch," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He locates extremely well. He's got one of the best changes or split-change -- whatever you want to call it -- in the game. He's pitching."
The right-hander will start Friday at Cleveland. He beat Cleveland earlier this season with 7 1/3 scoreless innings and is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three career starts against the Indians.