St.  Louis, MO  (SportsNetwork.com) - Alex Cobb struck out 10 in seven shutout 
innings  and drove in a run with his first major-league hit, leading the Tampa 
Bay Rays to a 3-0 win and two-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday. 

Cobb (6-6) gave up five hits and no walks, pushing his personal winning streak 
to  four  decisions. His double  in the second inning  also gave him his first 
major-league RBI. 

Desmond Jennings had three hits and scored two runs for the Rays, who have won 
seven in a row for the first time since late last season. They took the opener 
of this brief set 7-2 on Tuesday. 

Brad Boxberger struck out two in a perfect eighth inning and Jake McGee fanned 
all  three batters he  faced in the ninth to give the Rays staff 15 strikeouts 
and no walks in the game. 

"That's incredible," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. 

The Cardinals lost their third in a row. 

Lance  Lynn (11-7) took a three-start winning streak into the game and pitched 
6  1/3  innings, giving  up two runs  -- one  earned -- on  six hits and three 
walks.  Lynn  struck out seven but  failed to tie teammate Adam Wainwright and 
three other pitchers for the major-league lead in wins. 

"The  last two  days (Tampa  Bay)  has just  had our  number," said Cardinals 
manager Mike Matheny. 

Cobb struck out eight of the first 12 batters he faced and gave the Rays a 1-0 
lead  when he slapped  a Lynn fastball down the right-field line for a two-out 
double in the second inning to score Yunel Escobar. 

Later, Lynn hit Cobb on his right pitching elbow with a fastball in the fourth 
inning.  Cobb hit the  ground in obvious pain and was watched closely while he 
warmed up for the fifth inning. 

Matt  Carpenter hit a leadoff double in the sixth inning to give the Cardinals 
a  runner at second  base for only the second time against Cobb. But Carpenter 
was  later  thrown out at  home trying to score  on Matt Holliday's bouncer to 
third baseman Evan Longoria, who had to throw over Carpenter's head to get the 
ball to catcher Jose Molina. 

Jennings'  single  and an  error by Cardinals second  baseman Kolten Wong put 
runners at the corners with one out in the seventh and chased Lynn. 

Randy  Choate then  plunked Brandon Guyer, loading the bases for Longoria, who 
lofted  a sacrifice fly to center field off Seth Maness to give the Rays a 2-0 
lead. 

Jennings  hit a  leadoff single in the  ninth off Sam Freeman and scored later 
from second base on Guyer's hit to make it 3-0. 

                                   Game Notes 

McGee  earned  his ninth  save ...  The Rays  threw their  11th shutout of the 
season.  They  last won  seven in  a row from  Sept. 20-26  last year ... Cobb 
struck  out  11 in  a win  at Houston  on June 13.  His career  high is 13 ... 
Cardinals  third  base coach Jose Oquendo  left two packages of peanut butter- 
filled  cheese crackers on home plate for Molina in between the top and bottom 
of  the first inning.  Molina caught the first inning with the crackers in his 
back  pocket.  His brother, injured Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, was seen 
laughing  and  pointing from the dugout  ... Escobar was ejected in the fourth 
inning  for arguing  a called  third  strike ...  The Rays  start a  nine-game 
homestand  Friday  with the opener of  a weekend series against Boston ... The 
Cardinals will open a six-game road trip on Friday against the Cubs.