Rays starter Alex Cobb almost went the distance as he pitched into the ninth inning Wednesday night against the Yankees. He settled for 8 1/3 shutout innings in a 3-0 win.
Cobb put a runner on base in the ninth and was removed with one out in the inning. Fernando Rodney got the job done for the save. Cobb surrendered just three base hits, walked one and struck out seven. He threw 106 pitches and improved to 3-1.
Cobb has pitched into at least the eighth inning in three of his four starts this season and has pitched into the seventh in all of them. He has already made two starts without allowing a run and has given up just six over 29 2/3 innings for a 1.82 ERA with 22 Ks.
The 25-year-old has won two straight outings and will look to make it three straight when he next takes the ball Tuesday at Kansas City.