ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Erasmo Ramirez pitched efficiently into the eighth inning for his first win in a month, Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run homer in the seventh and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Atlanta Braves 2-0 Tuesday night.
Kiermaier’s fifth home run of the season — and first since June 3 — came off Williams Perez one out after Asdrubal Cabrera’s infield single. Cabrera’s seventh multihit game in his last eight gave him a .358 batting average since coming off the disabled list July 28.
Perez (4-3) gave up four hits in his first career complete game. In his third start since coming off the DL, he walked four while striking out one.
Ramirez (9-4) won for the first time in five starts since July 10. He gave up five hits and no walks, needing only 70 pitches to get through seven-plus innings.
Xavier Cedeno got two outs for his first save.
The Braves nearly scored in the first inning on Nick Markakis’ double. Cameron Maybin, aboard on a single, was out at the plate on a relay throw by second baseman Logan Forsythe.
After consecutive singles by Adonis Garcia and Andrelton Simmons in the second, Ramirez retired 16 straight before Garcia bounced a single up the middle leading off the eighth. Brandon Gomes came on and pitched 1 1-3 hitless innings.
Markakis had two hits to raise his interleague batting average to .339, best among all players with 150 or more interleague at-bats.