Cobb sharp for 4 innings, fans 5 as Rays beat Pirates 4-2

BRADENTON, Fla. – Alex Cobb pitched one-hit ball for four scoreless innings Thursday and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2.

Cobb struck out five, twice fanning All-Star Andrew McCutchen, and walked none. He retired the first eight batters.

Relievers Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi followed as the Rays' staff combined for 11 strikeouts.

Pittsburgh starter James McDonald also gave up just one hit in four shutout innings. He walked three and struck out one.

An error by third baseman Gaby Sanchez helped Tampa Bay score four runs in the seventh.

Russell Martin hit a two-run double in the ninth for the Pirates.