Moore shuts out Red Sox, Rays inch closer

Matt Moore pitched a two-hitter for his first career shutout and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 3-0 on Monday night to move within a half- game of first place in the AL East.

Ben Zobrist had three hits and James Loney drove in two runs for the Rays, who earned their sixth consecutive victory and won for the 18th time in 20 games.

In his first start since pitching a scoreless fifth inning in the All- Star game, Moore (14-3) gave up Mike Napoli’s single in the second and David Ortiz’s base-hit in the seventh. Ortiz took second on a wild pitch — the only baserunner to get past first.

Moore walked one batter, struck out four and needed just 109 pitches to win his sixth consecutive start.

The Rays have lost just twice since June 28, improving from fourth place and seven games out to within one win of the division lead.

Brandon Workman (01) made his second career start, giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out four in six innings. Workman, who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his other start, allowed three straight singles to start the game before Loney made it 1- 0 on a sacrifice fly.

Loney, who rejoined the team from the paternity list on Sunday, also had a runscoring single in the fifth. Loney was the only established major- leaguer acquired by Boston in lastseason’s salary- dumping trade that sent Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Desmond Jennings drove in the third run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth off Jose De La Torre.