St. Petersburg, FL -- (Sports Network) - Scott Kazmir tossed six effective innings and outdueled the previously unbeaten Joe Saunders helping the Tampa Bay Rays to a 2-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels.

Kazmir (1-1) rebounded nicely in his second start of the season since coming off the disabled list, allowing just three hits. He did walk three but struck out six helping the Rays set a franchise-record with their eighth consecutive home win. Tampa won its third straight overall including shutouts in the last two. Troy Percival earned his eighth save of the year after a perfect ninth.

"He got into it as he went along," Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Kazmir. "I think he started mixing the sliders in more and the changeup. It was a really good game, tremendous pitching on both sides."

Kazmir was rattled in his season debut against Boston this past Sunday when he surrendered four runs -- three earned -- on six hits and three walks. Kazmir did strike out five batters, but lasted only four innings and took the loss.

Carl Crawford had a hit, two walks, a stolen base and scored the Rays' second run. Akinori Iwamura had three hits and scored a run and Jason Bartlett added two hits for Tampa.

Saunders (6-1) settled down after a rough start after walking four in the first two frames. He tossed six innings allowing one run on four hits, and also walked four and struck out three while collecting his first loss of the season. Los Angeles dropped its third straight contest after winning four straight.

Gary Matthews Jr. had a double and two walks and Erick Aybar added a double for Los Angeles.

"When you go 18 innings without scoring runs, it's going to be tough to get a win," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "We aren't getting enough chances. Sometimes if you are waiting for a break to win a game, you aren't playing very well. I think that's kind of where we are."

The Rays wasted no time in getting to Saunders. Iwamura singled to start the first and Crawford walked. After B.J. Upton flied out, Carlos Pena drew a walk to load the bases, and Evan Longoria grounded into a force play scoring Iwamura. Saunders got Dioner Navarro to fly out to end the inning.

Tampa looked to add an insurance run in the seventh. After Bartlett stroked a two-out double to left, he was thrown out at home on an Iwamura infield hit.

Los Angeles tried to get things going in the eighth against Tampa's Dan Wheeler who walked pinch-hitter Reggie Willits and Matthews to start the inning. Aybar grounded out, moving the runners to second and third and Wheeler issued an intentional walk to Vladimir Guerrero to load the bases. Wheeler got Torii Hunter to pop out to first and pinch-hitter Garret Anderson grounded out to end the inning.

Tampa again positioned themselves to add a run in the eighth. Crawford led off the inning against Darren Oliver with a single, was sacrificed to second on a bunt by B.J. Upton and stole third with Pena batting. Pena then hit a sac fly to plate Crawford, giving the Rays some breathing room heading to the ninth.

Game Notes

LA won six of eight from the Rays last season...Tampa will look for the sweep in Sunday's series finale featuring Ervin Santana (6-0) for the Angels and Andy Sonnanstine (5-1) for the Rays...The Rays have outscored their opponents 61-31 from the seventh inning on this season...With the win Saturday, the Rays have assured themselves of winning five of their last six series...With the win, Kazmir became the Rays' all-time winningest pitcher with 36 wins, passing Victor Zambrano...The Angels placed Chone Figgins on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring and recalled Kendry Morales from Triple-A Salt Lake.