Scott Kazmir (8-7) took a shutout into the eighth inning before the Rangers made it close and the Rays went on to capture their sixth victory in seven games.
Tampa Bay already had a 2-0 lead going into the fifth, when Zobrist hit a two-run homer and Carlos Pena produced a solo shot, his 32nd of the season. Both long balls came off starter Dustin Nippert (4-2).
The Rays moved within three games of Boston for the lead in the American League wild card chase. Texas is one game behind the Red Sox.
Texas scored three times in the eighth, one of the runs coming on a homer by Taylor Teagarden. J.P. Howell walked a batter in the ninth, but picked up his 19th save.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
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