ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Drew Smyly is putting a nice run together after struggling for two months.
Smyly allowed just a solo homer over seven innings of one-hit ball, Logan Forsythe and Kevin Kiermaier each homered and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the San Diego Padres 8-2 on Monday night.
"Drew, he was outstanding, to say the least," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said.
Alexei Ramirez hit his fifth homer and Derek Norris walked twice, and those were the only baserunners against Smyly (5-11). The left-hander struck out four during his fifth straight start with six or more innings and two or fewer runs.
Before the recent surge, Smyly went 0-7 with a 7.60 ERA in 10 starts from May 21-July 18.
"This game is full of streaks," Smyly said. "You've just got to ride out the good streaks and try and eliminate the bad ones."
Brad Boxberger and Kevin Jepsen completed a three-hitter, with Jepsen allowing a single to Wil Myers and a homer to Yangervis Solarte in the ninth.
Forsythe hit his fifth homer in his last 13 games off Luis Perdomo (5-7) to put the Rays up 3-1 in the second.
Kiermaier had a three-run drive in a five-run eighth that made it 8-1. He had three hits and two stolen bases.
Logan Morrison had an RBI double and Forsythe added a sacrifice fly during the eighth.
Perdomo allowed three runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He hit two batters during the first, including Morrison with the bases loaded.
"He made some real nice adjustments, but for us offensively we dug too much of a hole, swung up in the zone a lot," Padres manager Andy Green said. "We just didn't have very many good at-bats against Smyly."
Myers went 1 for 4 in his first game at Tropicana Field since being dealt by Tampa Bay to the Padres as part of a three-team, 11-player deal in Dec. 2014.
Myers was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2013 while with the Rays.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (right shoulder inflammation) will throw batting practice Tuesday.
Rays: RHPs Alex Cobb (Triple-A Durham) and Chase Whitley (Class A Charlotte), both coming back from Tommy John surgery, will make their next rehab starts Tuesday.
MOVING DAY
Padres: INF Luis Sardinas was acquired from Seattle for cash considerations or a player to be named and optioned to Triple-A El Paso. Green said Sardinas was obtained "with the intent of being one of the names we add to the mix, possibly playing shortstop for us in the future."
RAYS: Morrison (strained right forearm) was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and RHP Dylan Floro optioned to Durham.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Edwin Jackson (3-2), Tuesday night's starter, walked eight and threw 149 pitches in a no-hitter while with Arizona on June 25, 2010 at Tropicana Field.
Rays: Rookie LHP Blake Snell (3-5) looks to rebound Tuesday night from an outing Wednesday at Toronto that lasted just 1 2/3 innings.