ST. Edwin Diaz Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Rookie Wil Myers helped the struggling Tampa Bay Rays get a key victory in the opener of a four-game series. Myers homered and had three RBIs, Alex Cobb pitched eight solid innings and the Rays took the lead for the first AL wild-card spot by beating the Texas Rangers 6-2 on Monday night. "Its big ... just to come out here and beat this team," Myers said. Texas remained a half-game ahead of Cleveland for the second AL wild-card spot. Myers had a second-inning solo shot and hit a two-run double during a four-run fifth. Cobb (9-3) allowed two runs, six hits, one walk and had 10 strikeouts. "At this point of the season, the position were in, every game is going to get bigger and bigger," Cobb said. "Yesterday was the biggest game of the season, today is the biggest game of the season, tomorrow will be the biggest game of the season. I dont think its unfair to say that. We realize the performance we have to put together out there every night, and I think were up for it." Matt Garza (9-6) gave up six runs and eight hits over 4 1-3 innings to lose his third straight start for the Rangers, who have lost seven in a row and are 2-12 in September. Garza is 3-5 with Texas since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs on July 22. Texas has not held a lead during the current skid. "Im not frustrated, Im confused," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Im trying to figure out what we have to do to jump-start this offence." The announced crowd was just 10,724. The Rays entered with the majors lowest home attendance average of 18,747. Tampa Bay went up 6-2 in the fifth. After James Loney and Evan Longoria both had RBI singles against Garza, Myers drove in two with a double off Jason Frasor. "Those were really big knocks right there," Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Myers. Garza, who was the MVP of the 2008 AL Championship Series when Tampa Bay beat Boston, pitched against the Rays for the first time since being traded to the Cubs on Jan. 8, 2011. "My job is to help us get to October and Im still going to keep trying, keep pushing, keep working and get ready in five days," Garza said. "Keep grinding." The Rays took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on Desmond Jennings sacrifice fly. Texas pulled even at 2 during the fifth when Mitch Moreland, mired in an 0-for-22 slide, doubled and scored on Ian Kinslers double. Kinsler was caught attempting to steal third to end the inning. Myers put the Rays up 1-0 on his 13th homer, an opposite-field drive to right in the second. Cobb retired nine in a row, including his first four batters on strikeouts, before Kinsler doubled to start the fourth. After advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by Elvis Andrus, Kinsler got tagged out during a rundown on Alex Rios grounder to third. A.J. Pierzynski tied it at 1 later in the fourth with an RBI single. Rangers centre fielder Leonys Martin made a strong defensive play in the third, throwing out Yunel Escobar, who tried to score from second on Ben Zobrists single. NOTES: Myers flew out to the centre field fence with the bases loaded to end the sixth. ... The Rangers held a players only meeting before batting practice. ... Rays reliever Jesse Crain (strained right shoulder) threw in a simulated game and will have his status evaluated Tuesday. ... Texas DH Lance Berkman (left hip and right knee) was in the starting lineup for the first time in two weeks and went 0 for 4. ... The Golf Channels Holly Sonders used a golf club from in front of the mound to hit a ball to the plate for the ceremonial first pitch. Pedro Martinez Jersey . Here is a look at all the moves through the first week of NHL Free Agency. The most significant deals will get the full Numbers Game column treatment, like these:Briere-for-Parenteau trade. Paul Sewald Jersey .com) - P.K. Subbans power-play goal 4:08 into overtime sent the Montreal Canadiens into the All-Star break with a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday.BOSTON - Anthony Ranaudo and a lineup loaded with rookies gave the Boston Red Sox reason to be optimistic for next season.Starting seven rookies for the first time since 1971, when Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk was a September call-up, the Red Sox beat Tampa Bay 11-3 on Wednesday night.Youth is served, Red Sox manager John Farrell said. This is a talented group. Weve got the opportunity to give them experience.Garin Cecchini hit his first major league home run to help the fifth-place Boston Red Sox beat the fourth-place Rays. Ranaudo (4-3) settled down after spotting Tampa Bay two runs in the first, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk and striking out two to snap a three-game losing streak.I think this is a really good building block for me to take home for the off-season, said Ranaudo (4-3), I realized I needed to go deep into this game and really competed. Thats just what I tried to do.The victory was the 69th of the season for the defending AL East and World Series champions, who need one more win to beat their total from 2012 a€” their only season under Bobby Valentine. It was their most rookie-laden lineup since Sept. 25, 1971, when the Red Sox beat the Washington Senators 6-3 and sent former Cy Young winner Denny McLain to his 22nd loss of the season.The Red Sox twice batted around, scoring five runs in the fourth inning and four more in the sixth, when they drew five walks a€” three with the bases loaded. Jake Odorizzi (11-13) allowed five runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out three in three-plus innings.In all, six Rays pitchers allowed 10 hits and nine walks.This is one of those blips on the pitching radar that we didnt see coming, Rays manager Joe Maddon said. Jake had a hard time; the relievers had a hard time too. It was beyond them beating us up with hits. We just walked too many.It was 2-all in the bottom of the fourth with two on and nobody out when Mookie Betts singled to load the bases and chase Odorizzi. Xander Bogaerts singled to drive in two runs and Daniel Nava doubled to bring home two more. Jacob Rhame Jersey. Brandon Gomes got the next two batters before walking Cecchini on a wild pitch that moved Nava to third.Another wild pitch allowed Nava to score, and then Rusney Castillo walked before Gomes got Bryce Brentz on a grounder to end the inning.FREE PASSESThe Red Sox scored three runs on walks, one on a wild pitch and one on a passed ball. With the bases loaded in the sixth, Steve Geltzs 3-2 pitch to Betts got past Jose Molina to the backstop, scoring Cecchini on the walk and allowing Castillo to come around from second and score on the passed ball.LOSERSThe Rays had posted six consecutive winning seasons, but Wednesdays loss guaranteed them of a losing record for the year. Its no fun to be in this position, Maddon said. For us, its not acceptable. We expect to be in the playoffs on an annual basis and compete for the World Series on an annual basis and it did not happen.TRAINERS ROOMRays: SS Yunel Escobar, who sprained his left knee, was sent back to Florida for an MRI. He will be out the remainder of the season. ... Ryan Hanigan was in the original lineup at catcher, but he was a little sore after hitting something off his toe in Tuesday nights game. ... During the fourth inning, C Curt Casali took a foul ball of his mask and left the game with a concussion. Maddon said he is done for the year. He was replaced by Jose Molina.Red Sox: DH David Ortiz rested a sore left wrist. ... 3B Will Middlebrooks missed his second straight game after spraining his right hand during batting practice on Tuesday. ... 1B Mike Napoli missed his sixth game in a row with lingering problems in his finger, back and toe.UP NEXTThe teams wrap up the three-game series on Thursday when Allen Webster (4-3) takes the mound against Rays RHP Jeremy Hellickson (1-4). Then the Red Sox say goodbye to their World Series championship defence a€” and to Derek Jeter as well a€” with a season-ending three-game series against the New York Yankees. ' ' '