Rays 6, Astros 1: Alex Cobb struck out a season-best 11 in 6 1/3 strong innings and Ben Zobrist went 3-for-4 with two RBIs as visiting Tampa Bay defeated Houston in the opener of a three-game series.

Matt Joyce recorded a two-run double in the second inning and Evan Longoria added a two-run single in the ninth as the Rays snapped a 10-game road losing streak. Cobb (2-4) allowed one run on three hits and a pair of walks to end a four-start winless streak as Rays pitchers struck out 16 combined.

Rookie Jon Singleton belted his fourth homer and notched his 10th RBI in his 11th major league game for the Astros, who managed only four hits. Houston starter Collin McHugh (4-4) threw 100 pitches in five innings, yielding four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out six.

James Loney reached when Houston shortstop Jonathan Villar dropped a popup to open the second inning and moved to third on Zobrist’s double before both scored on Joyce’s liner down the right-field line. Singleton cut the lead in half for the Astros by hitting the first pitch he saw into the left-field seats to open the fourth.

Tampa Bay left three runners on in the third and fourth combined, but Zobrist drilled a triple to center field with two outs in the fifth that scored a pair for a 4-1 lead. Brad Boxberger struck out Villar with two on and two out in the seventh and Joel Peralta fanned all three batters he faced in the eighth for the Rays.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Houston 2B Jose Altuve, who leads the majors with 90 hits, was held out of the lineup with a bruised hand and is listed day-to-day. … Tampa Bay C Ryan Hanigan, who snapped a 0-for-28 slump, joined teammates CF Desmond Jennings and RF Kevin Kiermaier with two hits each. … The Rays have won back-to-back contests for the first time since a four-game win streak May 22-25.