Rays reliever Troy Percival pumps his fist after getting the final out against the Angels for his eighth save of the year.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Strong starting pitching, stellar defense and just enough offense to win close games. After a decade of life at the bottom of the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays are beginning to get things right.

Scott Kazmir pitched six scoreless innings and the improving Rays beat the suddenly punchless Los Angeles Angels 2-0 on Saturday night to hand Joe Saunders his first loss of the season.

One day after James Shields shut out the Angels 2-0 on a one-hitter, Kazmir (1-1) held them to a single and two doubles in his second start since missing all of April with a left elbow strain suffered during spring training.

Tampa Bay starting pitchers have not yielded a run in their last 23 innings. The defense behind them has been outstanding, too, with the Rays committing just one error in the past 16 games to help the team win five of their last six series.

"It's been fabulous. … We know that we have good arms. We know that we are physically skilled pitching-wise," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

"It's what we've been planning to do since spring training, just feed off each other," Kazmir added.

"We're going to try to keep the momentum going."

Evan Longoria, who won Friday night's game with a two-run, ninth-inning homer, drove in the only run off Saunders (6-1) when he grounded into a force play with the bases loaded in the first inning.

Saunders, trying to become the AL's first seven-game winner, allowed four hits, struck out three and walked a season-high four in six innings. Teammate Ervin Santana (6-0) will put his perfect record on the line against the Rays in today's series finale.

"They've done a good job on the mound, and we're not swinging the bats and getting enough chances," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We really only pressured them one inning.

"Couldn't get that one hit to fall in."