St. Petersburg, FL -- (Sports Network) - Carlos Pena homered and Matt Garza went 7 2/3 strong innings as Tampa Bay edged Toronto, 1-0, in the second tilt of a three-game series at Tropicana Field.

Garza (11-7) allowed only six hits without a run for the Rays, who snapped a two-game losing streak but remained 3 1/2 games ahead of second-place Boston in the AL East. The Red Sox clobbered the Yankees, 11-3, later Wednesday.

"Tonight I was fortunate that one was enough," Garza said. "This team finds a way to win."

Joe Inglett collected a pair of hits for the Blue Jays, who have dropped three of five.

David Purcey (2-5) pitched well in defeat, scattering five hits and allowing one run over eight innings, and fanning a career-best 11 batters without a walk.

"They gave me the ball tonight, I felt that I went out there and did my job, kept us in the game," Purcey said. "That's all you can do."

Pena's 27th home run of the season, a solo shot, broke a scoreless deadlock and put the Rays on the board in the fourth.

Garza did not allow a runner to advance past second for the duration of his outing but departed in the eighth after allowing a pair of two-out walks to Alex Rios and Vernon Wells.

Grant Balfour came in and got Adam Lind to strike out, then Dan Wheeler earned his ninth save after a scoreless ninth.

Rays left-fielder Justin Ruggiano preserved the victory when he made a spectacular leaping catch against the wall in left-center on a line drive hit by Toronto's Rod Barajas to end the game.

Game Notes

Tampa has won 10 of the 14 meetings in 2008...Garza is unbeaten in his last four starts, with a pair of wins and two no-decisions...Purcey's previous high was eight strikeouts...It was also the first time in his career that he finished a game.