Rays 1, Reds 0: Alex Cobb pitched seven strong innings and James Loney belted his first homer of the season as visiting Tampa Bay edged Cincinnati.

Cobb (1-1) allowed four hits and did not walk a batter while striking out five before Grant Balfour worked around a one-out walk in the ninth to notch his fourth save. Yunel Escobar and pinch-hitter Logan Forsythe added doubles for the Rays, who have taken the first two of a three-game series - both by one run.

Zack Cozart and Joey Votto each recorded a double for the Reds, who will lose their fourth consecutive series to start the season. Cincinnati starter Alfredo Simon (1-1) was outstanding over eight innings, yielding one run on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts.

Loney drilled a 0-1 pitch from Simon into the right-field seats to open the scoring in the second inning. Votto led off the fourth with his two-base hit to left field before being thrown out after Brandon Phillips’ single up the middle by Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, who was making his first career start.

The Reds got a runner to third with one out in the sixth before Cobb retired Billy Hamilton on a fly out and Votto on a ground ball to end the threat. Jake McGee struck out one while retiring the Reds in order in the eighth and Balfour got Phillips to ground into a double play on a 3-2 count to end the game.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kiermaier’s only previous major-league appearances were last year in Game 163 against Texas and in the American League wild-card contest against Cleveland as a late defensive replacement. … Votto made his ninth career start batting second in the order and first since 2008. … Tampa Bay added LHP Erik Bedard to the taxi squad and will place him on the active roster Sunday after a corresponding move.