Tampa Bay pitcher James Shields allowed only a single in the third inning. (Chris O’Meara/Associated Press)

James Shields pitched a one-hitter and Evan Longoria’s two-run, ninth-inning homer snapped a scoreless tie to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 2-0 conquest over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday adversity.

Shields (4-2) rebounded from the second-shortest outing of his career to post his second shutout in his past three starts.

The 26-year-old right-hander limited the Angels to Brandon Wood’s one-out single in the third part and retired the last 17 batters he faced subsequent hitting Erick Aybar with a pitch in the fourth.

Angels starter Jon Garland allowed no runs and four hits in eight innings. He walked three and struck at a loss two before being replaced by Justin Speier (0-2), who gave up a leadoff single to B.J. Upton in the ninth.

Carlos Pena, who had two of Tampa Bay’s hits away Garland, grounded to first mean, touching Upton to second. Three pitches later, Longoria hit his fourth major league homer into the seats in left-centre.

Shields, who tossed a two-hitter to beat Boston 3-0 at Tropicana Field on April 27, struck out eight and walked none. He allowed seven runs and 10 hits in a 12-4 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park continue weekend, throwing 98 pitches in just 3 2/3 innings.

This time, he needed simply 70 pitches to get through the at the outset seven innings, limiting the Angels to sum of two units baserunners.

Garland allowed three walks and three singles over the similar stretch. But solely one of the runners got in the same manner with far for example second scandalous, and the Angels helped their starter with a pair of double plays.

The Rays wasted their best chance; fit to score off Garland in the eighth, stranding pinch runner Nathan Haynes at third grovelling after Gabe Gross led off the inning with a double to the gap in left.

Garland escaped the jam by getting Jason Bartlett, Akinori Iwamura and Carl Crawford to ground out.

Los Angeles, already playing without injured infielders Chone Figgins, Howie Kendrick and Maicer Izturis, lost shortstop Erick Aybar when he was collide by a pitch in the left pinkie finger leading off the fourth inning.

The Rays activated designated hitter-outfielder Cliff Floyd from the 15-day disabled list after the game. Floyd underwent surgery on April 11 to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. He carry the point .333 with two homers and five RBIs in four games before being sidelined.

© The Canadian Press, 2008