ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Kenny Rogers lost his third straight start since serving a 13-game suspension and Jonny Gomes homered and drove in two runs, leading the Tampa Bay Devil Rays over the Texas Rangers 6-3 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Rogers (11-7) gave up six runs and seven hits in six innings. He has allowed 17 runs and 20 hits in 18 innings over his past three outings since returning from his penalty for shoving two cameramen.

Gomes homered in the third inning and had an RBI single in the fifth that broke a 3-all tie. Damon Hollins followed with a two-run double.

Texas completed a season-high 13-game road trip with only one win. It’s the most losses on any road trip in franchise history. Gary Matthews Jr. and Rod Barajas homered for the Rangers, who lead the majors with 203 homers.

Gomes, who went 3-for-4, had given Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead in the third on his solo shot.

Danys Baez, the fourth Devil Rays reliever, pitched the ninth for his 29th save. Tampa Bay has won five straight and is 23-12 since the All-Star break.

Texas loaded the bases with two outs in the second, but failed to score when Casey Fossum (7-10) struck out Mark DeRosa on three pitches.

Fossum went five innings, allowing three runs and seven hits. He struck out five and walked three.

The Devil Rays took advantage of a bases loaded, one-out opportunity by scoring twice for a 2-0 lead in the second. Nick Green hit a sacrifice fly and Julio Lugo had an RBI single.

Matthews made it 2-1 in the third with his second homer in two days and ninth over his last 25 games.

The Rangers tied it at 3 in the fourth when Barajas homered and Michael Young hit a run-scoring double. Young stopped an 0-for-10 stretch with his hit.

Notes: There was a smattering of boos when Rogers’ name was announced during pregame lineup introductions. … Texas C Sandy Alomar Jr. was hit near the knee by a pitch in the second and left one inning later. … Hollins singled in the second to snap an 0-for-15 slide. … Texas 3B Hank Blalock went 0-for-4 and has six hits in his last 41 at-bats. He has not driven in a run in 10 consecutive games. … Young went 2-for-5 for his major league-best 50th multihit game.

AP-ES-08-21-05 1650EDT


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