Karns takes shutout into 8th, Rays beat Rangers 8-2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Nathan Karns had a strong start on a day full of bad news for the Tampa Bay rotation.

Karns took a shutout into the eighth inning, pinch hitter Brandon Guyer had a three-run homer and the Rays beat the Texas Rangers 8-2 Friday night.

Before the game, Rays right-hander Alex Cobb said he would have season-ending elbow ligament replacement surgery. Then after the game, Tampa Bay put another starter, Drew Smyly, on the 15-day disabled list with left shoulder stiffness.

In addition, Saturday night's scheduled starter, Jake Odorizzi, was scratched due to the flu.

''We just get back to work,'' Karns said. ''Next guy comes in, he's got a job to fill. Pretty much how we've been all year. We have depth, so that's a good thing.''

Texas had won four in a row.

Karns (2-1) allowed two hits through seven scoreless innings before Adam Rosales homered to lead off the eighth. Karns struck out a career-high nine.

''Outstanding effort,'' Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said.

Yovani Gallardo (2-5) lost his fourth straight start, giving up four runs and three hits in 5 1-3 innings. He has gotten two runs of support during the skid.

''It's one of those things that the only thing I can do is go out there and make a pitch,'' Gallardo said. ''Anything after that, I can't control.''

Evan Longoria hit an RBI single that finished Gallardo in the sixth. Reliever Alex Claudio threw only one pitch in the game, and Guyer sent it into the left-field seats for the first pinch-hit homer of his career and a 5-0 lead.

Longoria was the designated hitter, one day after his streak of playing in 270 consecutive games ended due to flu-like symptoms.

The Rangers rallied to score twice in the eighth. After Rosales homered, Texas loaded the bases with no outs before Xavier Cedeno struck out Prince Fielder.

''Prince has been coming through in those situations for us,'' Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. ''I believe in what he's going to do for us this year ... keep loading the bases in front of him.''

Adrian Beltre cut the Rangers' deficit to 5-2 with a sacrifice fly to the center-field warning track off Kevin Jepsen. A walk reloaded the bases, and Jepsen struck out Carlos Peguero to end the inning.

Tim Beckham had a sacrifice fly and Jake Elmore hit an RBI single in the Rays' three-run eighth. Elmore was optioned to Triple-A Durham after the game.

David DeJesus put the Rays up 1-0 with a home run in the second. It was his second homer in 15 at-bats off Gallardo.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rangers: 1B Mitch Moreland (left shoulder) will join Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday. ... LHP Derek Holland (right shoulder) might start throwing in two weeks.

Rays: LHP Matt Moore (elbow surgery) had his second batting session.

ANCHORS AWEIGH

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus threw the ceremonial first pitch. There was also a swearing-in ceremony for new Naval recruits.

UP NEXT

Rangers: LHP Ross Detwiler (0-3) will start Saturday night against the Rays.

Rays: RHP Matt Andriese was recalled from Triple-A Durham to take Odorizzi's place. Odorizzi might pitch Sunday in Smyly's spot.