There’s no place like home for Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- All the Tampa Bay Rays needed to end their losing streak was a home game.

Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer and James Shields yielded one run over seven innings to help the Rays end a seven-game skid with a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

Zobrist hit his fourth homer of the season -- all in the last 11 games -- off A.J. Burnett (10-9) to give the Rays a 2-1 lead in the seventh.

“It felt great,” Zobrist said. “Burnett was pitching a great game. He was just real hard to hit. I was fortunate to get that fastball over the middle of the plate and put a good swing on it.”

Six of Tampa Bay’s losses during the losing streak came on the road. Friday’s victory improved the Rays’ home record to 37-14.

Tampa Bay has won 33 of 40 at home since April 22. The Rays are 19-25 on the road.

“There’s definitely a comfort about it,” Maddon said of playing home games.

“You can’t deny that. As long as we maintain this kind of intensity and this kind of play at home I believe before the year is over we’ll become a much better road team also.”