Oakland, CA (Best E Casino) - Scott Kazmir allowed just one run and struck out eight over seven innings, and Dioner Navarro provided all three runs for the Tampa Bay Rays with an eighth-inning double on the way to a 3-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics in the middle contest of a three-game set at McAfee Coliseum.

Kazmir (3-1) allowed just four hits and walked one for the Rays, who have won five straight against the A's. Troy Percival staved off disaster in the ninth and earned his 13th save despite allowing a run.

"That was as good as we've seen Kaz this year and as good as he was in the second half last year," said Rays manager Joe Maddon. " He had great stuff and pitched a great game."

B.J. Upton went 2-for-4 as the Rays won despite collecting just six hits.

Greg Smith (2-4) lost despite surrendering just two runs in seven-plus frames for the A's, losers in three straight and seven of eight overall. Frank Thomas clubbed a solo home run for Oakland, while Rajai Davis added an RBI single.

Trailing 1-0 and unable to sustain a rally throughout the game, the Rays finally rattled Smith in the eighth, as a leadoff walk to Jason Bartlett and a single by Carl Crawford chased him in favor of Joey Devine. With Upton at the plate, Bartlett stole third, and Crawford advanced to second on a throwing error by Kurt Suzuki.

Upton struck out, and Carlos Pena was intentionally walked to load the bases. Devine fanned Evan Longoria, but Emil Brown couldn't handle Navarro's liner to left and the ball went all the way to the fence as the bases were cleared on the double, giving Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead.

"The guy pitched his butt off and I was just trying to put the ball in play and make something happen," Navarro said.

Navarro's hit was originally ruled as a two-base error, but the official scorer later ruled that it was a double.

Dan Wheeler worked around Jack Hannahan's one-out single in the bottom of the frame to set the stage for Percival.

Percival wouldn't get through the ninth without trouble, as Thomas immediately closed the gap to one with a leadoff homer to left. Brown struck out, but Ryan Sweeney walked to put the tying run on base. However, Percival struck out pinch-hitter Daric Barton, then retired pinch-hitter Rob Bowen on a grounder to the mound to escape with the win.

Kazmir dominated the A's through the early innings, but Oakland finally broke through with the game's first run in the fifth.

Jack Cust drew a one-out walk, and after a Suzuki popup, Gregorio Petit singled Cust to third. Davis then lined a single into right, delivering Cust for the 1-0 lead.

Smith ran into some trouble in the road sixth, as he allowed a one-out single to Upton. One out later, Upton stole second, then Longoria worked a walk. But, Navarro flew out as the Rays came away empty-handed.

Game Notes

Smith is now winless in his last five starts (0-4), despite allowing just 12 earned runs in 31 2/3 innings...Percival now has 32 saves against Oakland, the most he has against any team...Before the game, the A's placed pitcher Andrew Brown -- who was scheduled to undergo an appendectomy on Tuesday -- on the 15- day disabled list. Pitcher Lenny DiNardo was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to take Brown's place...The Rays send Andy Sonnanstine (6-1) to the hill in the series finale against Dana Eveland (3-3).