Bud Norris pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers held off the Tampa Bay Rays for a 3-2 win on Tuesday night.
Norris (6-9) allowed two hits and walked two in 6 1/3 innings in his longest outing since he was acquired in a June 30 trade with Atlanta. Yasmani Grandal hit a leadoff homer in the seventh as Los Angeles won for the fourth time in five games.
Tampa Bay scored two runs in the eighth, but the rally fizzled from there. Kenley Jansen worked the ninth for his 30th save in 35 chances.
Rays right-hander Chris Archer, a potential trade target for contenders ahead of Monday's non-waiver deadline, struck out eight while pitching seven solid innings. He was charged with three runs, one earned, and four hits.
Los Angeles used two errors to grab a 2-0 lead in the third.
Joc Pederson reached with one out when first baseman Steve Pearce dropped second baseman's Logan Forsythe's throw. Pederson advanced on Norris' sacrifice and went to third when Chase Utley reached on Archer's high throw to first.
Corey Seager and Justin Turner then hit consecutive RBI singles. Seager extended his hitting streak to nine games.
Brad Miller hit an RBI double and Logan Forsythe scored on a wild pitch to trim Los Angeles' lead to 3-2 in the eighth. Luis Avilan got Kevin Kiermaier to pop up with the tying run on third to end the rally.
Los Angeles left fielder Howie Kendrick went 0 for 3, stopping his 16-game hitting streak.
The Rays dropped to 5-16 in July.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: RHP Chase Whitley (Tommy John surgery) is scheduled for a minor league rehab start on Saturday.
Dodgers: OF Yasiel Puig did not start for the fifth consecutive game due to a hamstring strain. Andrew Toles replaced Puig in right field and went 0 for 3.
UP NEXT
Rays: LHP Matt Moore (6-7, 4.31 ERA) will start Wednesday's game.
Dodgers: RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.61 ERA) will pitch in the series finale Wednesday. In his last outing, McCarthy gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings.
