OAKLAND -- Bobby Crosby hit a two-run home run, and Gio Gonzalez got his first major league win, helping the A's beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 Tuesday night.
Gonzalez pitched out of a couple of jams in five-plus innings in his second career start and the A's won for the second time in their last 14 games to briefly derail the American League East-leading Rays.
Jerry Blevins and Joey Devine combined to pitch three scoreless innings, and Brad Ziegler got the final three outs for his second save in as many chances, running his scoreless streak to 38 innings.
Akinori Iwakura drove in a run and Jason Bartlett had two hits for the Rays, who lost for the third time in 13 games.
With rookie slugger Evan Longoria and outfielder Carl Crawford on the 15-day disabled list, the Rays managed six hits. Rocco Baldelli, playing just his second game after missing more than a year because of assorted ailments, batted cleanup and went 1 for 3.
Scott Kazmir (8-6) failed to pitch more than five innings for the fourth consecutive start. He allowed two hits and two runs in five innings, with two walks and six strikeouts. He's left the game behind or tied in six of his last seven starts.
Kazmir, who averages 9.87 strikeouts per nine innings, had won his last four decisions against the A's and six of seven overall. He fell to 1-3 in his last eight starts.
Emil Brown walked to open the second and Crosby followed with his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot into the left field bleachers. Kazmir retired 12 of the final 15 batters he faced.
Ben Zobrist walked with one out in the third. Bartlett doubled and Iwakura flew out to left to get Zobrist home.
Gonzalez (1-1), acquired in the trade that sent Nick Swisher to the Chicago White Sox, walked two batters with one out in the fourth but came back to strike out the next two hitters.
Zobrist and Bartlett each singled to open the fifth. A botched suicide bunt cost the Rays one run when B.J. Upton followed with a single. Gonzalez got Bartlett leaning off second for a caught stealing and Carlos Pena flied out.
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