Rays 11, Angels 1 (Game #62) [31-31]

Tampa Bay may be best known for their speed and leading the majors in stolen bases. The Rays can hit the long ball, too.
Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs, and Dioner Navarro homered and had three RBIs as the Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels 11-1 on Thursday night.
"The combination of speed and power, I really believe we are that," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said.
Tampa Bay stole three bases and have 96 this season. The Rays have 22 homers over the past 12 games.
Navarro homered to lead off the eighth and Pena followed with his 19th homer of the season off Rich Thompson to make it 11-1. Pena also had a third-inning sacrifice fly.
Mired in a 3-for-34 slide, Navarro gave Tampa Bay a 4-0 lead on a two-run double during the fourth.
Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford both hit solo homers for Tampa Bay, which reached the .500 mark (31-31) by winning the final two games of the three-game series.
Ervin Santana (1-3) allowed six runs and eight hits over 4 2-3 innings.
"None of us are happy about how we went after it tonight," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who held a postgame team meeting. "That's a bad game. We need to play with consistency. If the guys in that room are not going to do it, then we're going to have to look for some changes."
The defending AL West champion Angels (29-29) are also playing .500 ball.
"We're failing miserably in many areas, and it's something we've looked at," Scioscia said. "When there are options that come up that are better we will make moves."
Rays starter David Price left with one out in the fourth because of a high pitch count (105). The first overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft gave up one run, two hits, six walks and had six strikeouts.
"It's frustrating," Price said. "It's a tough pill to swallow."
Price earned national acclaim when he pitched out of the bullpen during the playoffs last season, winning Game 2 and saving the AL pennant clinching Game 7 against Boston. This was his fifth career start, including four this season.
"It's going to happen. I have no question," Maddon said. "It's just a matter of when. He's got great stuff, and he knows it. He knows what he has to do, and he's going to do it."
Gabe Gross put the Rays up 1-0 on a run-scoring single in the second. He had another RBI single during a two-run fifth.
Torii Hunter's run-scoring single off Grant Balfour (3-1) got the Angels within 4-1 in the top of the fifth. The inning ended when Bobby Abreu was doubled off second on Vladimir Guerrero's liner to short.
Longoria hit his 14th homer of the season to stop an 0-for-19 slide in the fifth, and Crawford went deep one inning later.
Tropicana Field (30 games) and the new Yankee Stadium (29 games) are the only major league stadiums to have at least one homer hit in every game this season.
Los Angeles loaded the bases with two outs in the first, but failed to score when Price struck out Robb Quinlan.
Price threw 32 pitches, including 17 balls, in the first.
"Sometimes we have opportunities and we don't come through on both sides of the ball," Los Angeles third baseman Chone Figgins said. "I think that's frustrating for all of us."
Xtra, xtra: Maddon said the team plans to have Price throw no more than 175-180 innings in the regular season this year. Hunter, slowed the past couple weeks by a groin strain, was back in the lineup after being rested Wednesday. Price has walked 18 batters in 19 innings this season. Tampa Bay reinstated DH Pat Burrell (neck strain) and optioned OF Matt Joyce to Triple-A Durham after the game (Associated Press - Sports).

Rays 9, Angels 5 (Game #61) [30-31]

The Tampa Bay Rays were hardly concerned about their poor history against John Lackey.
"That was another time," manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday night after Carlos Pena and Willy Aybar homered to help the defending AL champions beat Lackey and the Los Angeles Angels 9-5. "That was against the Devil Rays."
The Angels right-hander had won nine of 10 previous decisions against the Rays, though most of the damage was done before last season, when Tampa Bay dropped the "Devil" from its nickname and posted its first winning record.
"I'm not denigrating John in any way. It's just about we're a different group right now," Maddon said. "The guys here have no interest in that negative history."
Pena hit a solo homer in the third inning and Aybar added a two-run shot off Lackey (1-2) for a 9-5 lead in the fifth.
Aybar also had an RBI single during a five-run second during which the Rays began the inning with four straight hits, three of them well-placed grounders that got through the right side of the infield.
"Kind of everything that could happen wrong happened. Good pitches, they managed to get infield hits. I throw a bad pitch, and they were hitting those hard," Lackey said. "If a couple of those ground balls are at somebody, it's a different game."
The Rays, who ended a three-game skid that featured a lack of timely hitting, rallied from a 3-0 deficit to build a 7-3 lead for Jeff Niemann. But the rookie right-hander lasted just 3 2-3 innings.
Lance Cormier (1-1) pitched 2 1-3 scoreless innings for the win. Jason Isringhausen, Joe Nelson and Dan Wheeler finished up, holding the Angels to one hit Vladimir Guerrero's ninth-inning triple over the last three innings.
Chone Figgins had a two-run triple for Los Angeles, but also committed a costly throwing error. Gary Matthews Jr., Bobby Abreu and Juan Rivera also drove in runs for the Angels, who stranded nine baserunners while wasting several scoring opportunities.
Coming off the best performance of his career a two-hit, complete-game shutout of Kansas City and pitching on extra rest, Niemann allowed five runs and seven hits.
"He just could not get into any kind of rhythm," Maddon said.
Aybar, Gabe Gross, Dioner Navarro and Carl Crawford drove in runs in the second inning for the Rays. A fifth run scored on a wild pitch by Lackey, who was 9-1 with a 2.36 ERA in 11 career start against Tampa Bay before Wednesday night.
Pena hit his 18th homer in the third, and the Rays went up 7-3 when Ben Zobrist scored on Figgins' two-out error. After Los Angeles pulled within two on Abreu's sacrifice fly and Rivera's RBI single in the fourth, Aybar restored the four-run lead with his fifth homer.
Lackey allowed nine runs and 11 hits, even though he felt he threw the ball well until the fifth inning.
"I definitely expect more of myself," said Lackey, who spent the first six weeks of the season on the disabled list with a strained right forearm. "I don't believe in moral victories. You either win or you lose."
Xtra, xtra: Los Angeles CF Torii Hunter, slowed by a groin strain, was out of the lineup. The Angels didn't want Hunter, who will start Thursday, to play three straight days on artificial turf. Rays DH Pat Burrell (neck strain) could return this weekend, and SS Jason Bartlett (sprained left ankle) might be back early next week. Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said setup man Scot Shields' stay on the 15-day disabled list with an injured left knee remains open-ended. Tampa Bay LHP Scott Kazmir (right quadriceps) is scheduled to throw three innings in a simulated game Friday. If all goes well, he will pitch in a minor league game next week (Associated Press - Sports).

Angels 4, Rays 3 (Game #60) [29-31]

Jered Weaver struggled with more than his fastball control. The Angels right-hander also overcame humidity inside the domed Tropicana Field.
Weaver allowed two runs over six innings to win his third consecutive start and Los Angeles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Tuesday night.
"I was down in the bullpen warming up and they said the temperature is 72 degrees and I was like 'no way it's 72 degrees in here,'" Weaver said. "I was sweating. It probably got to me a little bit. I changed my shirt and jersey in about the third or fourth (inning)."
Weaver (6-2) gave up five hits, four walks and struck out six. The right-hander has been touched for four runs over 21 innings in his last three outings.
"I was able to locate my pitches when I needed to," Weaver said. "It was just one of those games where it didn't feel right and I had to battle."
Weaver's four walks were a season-high.
"It was weird," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "I know we're inside, but it seems like the humidity keeps creeping in here. He was tired. He wasn't as sharp as he's been, but he had enough to finish out the sixth."
Vladimir Guerrero had an RBI single during a two-run first. Brian Fuentes pitched the ninth, which included a game-ending double play by the speedy Carl Crawford, for his AL-best 16th save in 19 opportunties.
Ben Zobrist hit solo homer and finished with two RBIs for the Rays, who have lost three in a row following a four-game winning streak. James Shields (5-5) allowed four runs and 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings.
"It's very uncharacteristic for us. We need to start making plays," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "There were so many things that could have gone our way that did not go our way."
Guerrero hit a run-scoring single and Juan Rivera had an RBI grounder to put Los Angeles ahead 2-0 in the first. Rivera has four RBIs in last two games.
Howie Kendrick opened the fifth with an opposite-field triple off the right-field wall - which was confirmed after a video review by the umpires - and scored on Chone Figgins sacrifice fly that extended the Angels advantage to 3-0.
Tampa Bay got within 3-2 in the sixth on an RBI grounder by Zobrist and Matt Joyce's sacrifice fly.
Bobby Abreu ended Shields' night with an RBI double with one out in the seventh that gave the Angels a 4-2 lead.
The Rays loaded the bases - on a pair of hit batters and an intentional walk- against Darren Oliver in the seventh, but failed to score when Carlos Pena hit a hard liner that first baseman Kendry Morales turned into a double play.
"We were fortunate," Scioscia said. "We gave them a lot of baserunners. The ball Pena hit, obviously, was a momentum changer."
Zobrist made it 4-3 on his 12th home of the season during the eighth.
Tropicana Field (28 games) and the new Yankee Stadium (29 games) are the only major league stadiums that have had at least one homer in every game this season.
Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton, who appeared to be unhappy when a 3-1 pitch in the ninth was called a strike, was ejected by plate umpire Mark Wegner after later flying out. Upton was talking to Wegner while heading toward the dugout after the out and was thrown out of the game.
Xtra, xtra: After the game, the Angels recalled RHP Kevin Jepsen from Triple-A Salt Lake and optioned RHP Jose Arredondo to the Pacific Coast League club. Tampa Bay SS Jason Bartlett (sprained left ankle) took BP and fielded grounders, and could return within the next week. Angels CF Torii Hunter, slowed recently by a groin strain, was back in the lineup after sitting out Sunday's game. He is scheduled to get a day off Wednesday and start again Thursday. The Rays should have a rehab pitching schedule set for LHP Scott Kazmir (strained right quadriceps) in the next few days. Los Angeles RHP John Lackey, Wednesday's scheduled starter, is 9-1 overall against Tampa Bay (Associated Press - Sports).

Yankees 5, Rays 3 (Game #59) [29-30]

Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter all know the secret to success at the new Yankee Stadium: Hit the ball in the air to right field.
Four more home runs by the Yankees at baseball's $1.5 billion bandbox - all to right field - backed Andy Pettitte in a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night , the start of what figures to be a challenging week for New York.
"I just think we didn't hit enough balls to right-center. There's a conveyor-belt effect out there," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "It's kind of like a jet stream."
Teixeira's solo homer in the first and Swisher's two-run drive in the second built a 3-0 lead, but the Rays tied the score in the fourth after Alex Rodriguez bobbled Ben Zobrist's leadoff grounder to third for an error. Michel Hernandez had an RBI single and Gabe Kapler followed with a two-run homer to left, Kapler's first home run since Sept. 7 for Milwaukee off San Diego's Chris Young.
Solo homers by Damon in the sixth and Jeter in the eighth finished Andy Sonnanstine (4-6), who gave up four homers for the first time in his big league career and dropped to 1-6 on the road.
There have been 105 homers in 29 games at the new ballpark, a sharp increase from the 160 last season at the original Yankee Stadium, and 63 have been hit to right and right-center. New York won despite finishing with just six hits - and no plate appearances with runners in scoring position for the first time since May 14, 2006.
"This team hasn't been textbook all year," Damon said. "As long as we get the hits and they fly out of the ballpark, it's a good thing."
It was the 10th game of five or more homers at Yankee Stadium.
"I made a few mistakes up in the zone and they really made me pay for them," said Sonnanstine, who gave up five runs and six hits in seven-plus innings.
New York improved the AL's best record to 34-23, opened a one-game AL East lead over second-place Boston and improved to 21-0 when allowing three runs or fewer. The Yankees headed to Boston after the game for a three-game series against the Red Sox, who are 5-0 against New York this year. The Yankees return home for a weekend Subway Series against the Mets.
"Obviously we would like to get payback and say all that good stuff, but we have to go out and play well," Damon said.
Damon wasn't sure his homer would make it. Nine of Damon's 12 home runs this season and six of Jeter's eight have come at home.
"I just have to remember that I am strong and my will could will the ball out," Damon said humorously.
Pettitte (6-2) allowed three runs - two earned - and five hits in six innings, striking out a season-high seven. After walking 11 in his previous two starts, he cut his bases on balls to three.
Phil Hughes, bumped to the bullpen so Chien-Ming Wang could rejoin the rotation, followed with a 1-2-3 seventh in his first major league regular-season relief outing after 28 starts.
"Whatever it is, I'm ready to go," Hughes said.
Phil Coke followed with a hitless eighth and Mariano Rivera finished with a perfect ninth for save No. 496, his 14th save in 15 chances this year. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Rivera, who had a pair of 1-2-3 outings after Saturday's loss to the Rays, might not be available Tuesday after pitching three days in a row, but the closer said he'd pitch if needed.
"Oh, definitely, we need to win a game there," he said.
All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria returned to the Rays' starting lineup after missing nearly a week with an injured left hamstring and went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a walk. Since injuring the leg while running out a grounder last Tuesday, Longoria had been limited to a pair of pinch-hitting appearances against the Yankees.
"He came in. He was adamant. He felt ready to go today, so we threw him out there," Maddon said.
Xtra, xtra: The Yankees have made at least one error in six straight games since the end of their record 18-game errorless streak. Tampa Bay 2B Willy Aybar was scratched about 40 minutes before the first pitch because of a migraine. Ben Zobrist moved from shortstop to second, and Reid Brignac took over at shortstop. Hideki Matsui is hitless in 16 at-bats, matching the worst stretch of his big league career (Associated Press - Sports).

Yankees 4, Rays 3 (Game #58) [29-29]

A day after one of his worst relief outings, Mariano Rivera was right where he wanted to be: back on the mound.
Unlike Saturday, when his manager ordered him to walk Evan Longoria, Rivera got his chance to face Tampa Bay's slugger, this time with two outs in the ninth inning and a one-run lead to protect.
And the outcome was more familiar. Rivera got Longoria to ground meekly to second, closing out the New York Yankees' 4-3, come-from-behind victory over the Rays on Sunday for his 495th career save.
"I guess Mo was right," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Nick Swisher hit the 100th home run at the new Yankee Stadium, helping Girardi earn his 200th win as a manager. Alfredo Aceves (4-1) pitched two scoreless innings in New York's major league-leading 20th comeback victory this season.
"It's the comeback kids," Swisher said. "In a sense it just feels like that. When we get in those situations we hunker down and really, really get after the guy."
Hideki Matsui beat out a potential double-play grounder to drive in the go-ahead run during a three-run eighth inning, setting the stage for Rivera's 13th save of the season.
Rivera was upset after being forced to intentionally walk an ailing Longoria to face B.J. Upton in the Rays' four-run ninth inning of a 9-7 victory Saturday. On Sunday, however, he said he didn't second-guess his manager and had forgotten the outing before the game.
"You can't come to a game angry or with too much venom. Then you are not in control of what you are doing," Rivera said. "I have to control myself before I can go out and pitch. Yesterday is over. What can I do?"
With the Yankees trailing 3-1 with one out in the eighth, Johnny Damon lined a single off Grant Balfour (2-1), and Mark Teixeira followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Alex Rodriguez walked to load the bases.
J.P. Howell relieved and walked Robinson Cano, making it 3-2. Jorge Posada then hit a bouncer to third that Willy Aybar, subbing for Longoria (hamstring), couldn't handle. Teixeira scored the tying run, Posada was given an RBI and Aybar was charged with an error.
"They're like us, they do play all nine," said Howell, who walked two while getting just two outs. "They're ready to take advantage because you're going to get a break and they're ready to pounce when they get one."
Matsui then chopped a soft grounder to second and beat the throw to first, preventing an inning-ending double play and giving New York a 4-3 lead.
"When I hit the ball it was hit pretty weakly. I had a feeling it wouldn't be a double play," said Matsui, who has struggled with leg injuries this season but insisted he was close to 100 percent.
Swisher's 11th homer in the third made it 28 games in a row with a homer to open the ballpark, extending a record - Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico opened with long balls in 22 straight. There were 160 homers last season at the old Yankee Stadium.
Upton had an RBI double in the third and Gabe Gross hit a two-run single in the sixth to give Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead. The Rays, who had been 3-0 in New York this season, had their season-best four-game winning streak snapped.
Matt Garza outpitched Joba Chamberlain in a matchup of hard-throwing youngsters that was over early. Garza was done after a tense fifth inning, his shortest outing in 12 starts this season, and Chamberlain left after the sixth.
Garza gave up four hits and struck out three. The 25-year-old right-hander, however, walked the first two batters he faced in the fifth and was done after getting Teixeira to pop out with the bases loaded. He had not gone less than 5 2-3 innings this season.
"I went out there and gave it all I have," Garza said. "You know, I told (pitching coach Jim) Hickey before I went out that I wasn't 100 percent. My lower half didn't feel right."
Chamberlain was less fortunate when he issued his first walk - to load the bases with two outs in the sixth. After the free pass to Matt Joyce, Gross grounded a ball into center field to make it 3-1.
The walk came a batter after Melky Cabrera made a spectacular diving catch in left-center with two runners on base.
Xtra, xtra: Girardi is 200-183 in his third year as a major league manager. Yankees setup man Brian Bruney had a bullpen session. Out with a strained right elbow, Bruney has pitched only once for New York since April 21. He said the 30-pitch session was a "huge positive step" (Associated Press - Sports).

Rays 9, Yankees 7 (Game #57) [29-28]

No matter which hitters the Tampa Bay Rays send up against Mariano Rivera, they hardly seem intimidated.
Joe Dillon hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning and the surging Rays touched up Rivera for the second time this season, beating the New York Yankees 9-7 on Saturday despite committing four errors.
B.J. Upton added an RBI single off the star closer, part of a four-run rally that carried the AL champions to their fourth straight victory and sixth in seven games.
“I just loved the way we kept fighting back,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
David Price left with a chance to beat CC Sabathia in a much-anticipated matchup pitting a potential ace against an established one. But the Yankees scored twice in the eighth against Tampa Bay’s bullpen, tying it 5-all.
Willy Aybar and Ben Zobrist homered for the Rays, who doubled their previous season high for errors in a game. Three were wild throws by All-Star catcher Dioner Navarro.
Tampa Bay is 3-0 at the new Yankee Stadium, including an 8-6 victory May 7 when Rivera served up back-to-back homers for the first time in his career. Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria connected for ninth-inning solo shots in that one.
This time, injury fill-ins Dillon and Ben Zobrist sparked the burst against Rivera.
“I think anytime you do something against a closer and you do it in recent memory, it gives you a little bit of confidence,” said Zobrist, who opened the inning with a triple.
Mark Teixeira homered in the eighth and hit a two-run double in the ninth for New York. Alex Rodriguez also went deep for the Yankees, who had won 17 of 22.
Handed a 9-5 cushion, Rays reliever Dan Wheeler gave up three straight hits to start the ninth, then retired Rodriguez and Jorge Posada with Teixeira on second.
Ex-Yankee Randy Choate got Robinson Cano on a long fly to center for his third save in eight days — the first three of his major league career, which began in 2000. Upton made a lunging grab to end it.
“One of the guys said to me, ‘Only 491 more to go to catch Mo,’” Choate said.
Zobrist tripled to left-center and scored on a single by Dillon, a journeyman who was acquired from Oakland on May 9. Dillon has three hits in each of the past two games, matching his career high each time.
Upton added a two-out RBI single off Rivera (0-2), who was then lifted from the game in a rare sight. Crawford hit a run-scoring single off Phil Coke and another run scored on Rodriguez’s error at third.
“After the team ties the game, it was tough to go out and do that,” Rivera said. “Especially when you know that you have the top of your lineup coming up. You just want to get three outs and then you look up and it’s four runs.”
Rivera hadn’t allowed four runs in a game since April 27, 2007, against Boston.
“I thought he threw some good pitches to Zobrist. It didn’t look to me like he had a problem. The drives into the gap just got too much of the plate,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “It’s going to happen from time to time. He’s been in a good stretch for us. When you see it, you’re kind of shocked.”
Friday night’s rainout pushed back the matchup between Sabathia and Price, drafted No. 1 overall by Tampa Bay in 2007.
Making his fourth big league start, the 23-year-old lefty walked five in 5 2-3 innings but allowed only two hits and three runs — one earned.
“I didn’t have it today,” Price said. “I’m lucky to get out of here with our team winning.”
Sabathia went eight innings, giving up five runs (four earned) and five hits. He entered 7-1 with a 2.44 ERA in 11 career starts against Tampa Bay.
“Couple of bad pitches, some bad locations,” Sabathia said. “I’m sure we will face each other again during the course of the season and we certainly will have an opportunity to talk.”
Tampa Bay’s J.P. Howell (1-2) struck out pinch-hitter Hideki Matsui with runners at the corners to end the eighth.
Xtra, xtra: Maddon said injured DH Pat Burrell (neck strain) likely will begin a minor league rehab assignment in the next few days and could be back in Tampa Bay’s lineup by Friday. Rodriguez’s 561st homer put him two behind Reggie Jackson for 11th on the career list (Associated Press - Sports).

Rays vs. Yankees - Postponed!

New York rain, please go away! According to the weather forecast, there will be baseball tomorrow in N.Y.

Rays 3, Royals 2 (Game #56) [28-28]

B.J. Upton turned a game of missed opportunities into a victory for Tampa Bay.
Upton hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth and James Shields allowed two runs over eight innings as the Rays completed a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with a 3-2 win Thursday.
“It was great to see,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “I really felt we were going win somehow.”
Upton’s two-out shot off Jamey Wright (0-2) helped the Rays overcome an 0-for-13 performance with runners in scoring position. Carl Crawford homered in the seventh for the Rays’ first run.
“Whatever happened we just knew we had to keep grinding at the end,” Rays left fielder Crawford said. “B.J. hitting the homer at the end, that’s from us just keeping at it. We just didn’t worry about what we did earlier in the game.”
Upton has two consecutive games with two RBIs after not having a multiple RBI effort in his previous 46 games this year.
“The important thing is we got a win,” Upton said.
Upton’s homer came on a first pitch sinker and made it 3-2.
“I’ve thrown that pitch a million times and it’s been fouled off and hit into the ground a million times,” Wright said. “He just got underneath it and crushed it.”
Shields (5-4) gave up six hits and had eight strikeouts. He has won two consecutive starts, allowing four runs over 15 innings.
“That’s what this team is all about. It brings back memories of last year,” Shields said.
The defending AL champion Rays returned to the .500 mark at 28-28. Tampa Bay has lost four times previously when having an opportunity to climb above .500 since starting the season 4-3.
“We need to maintain our traction and keep moving it forward,” Maddon said.
Crawford also homered for the Rays, who have won five of six following a season-high five-game losing streak. J.P. Howell pitched the ninth for his second save.
Kansas City right-hander Gil Meche gave up one run and six hits in six-plus innings. The Royals have lost a season-high seven games.
Billy Butler had a two-run, two-out double to put the Royals ahead 2-0 in the third, which ended Kansas City’s stretch of 15 scoreless innings. The double came after Alberto Callaspo had hit into a bases-loaded double play.
“I thought for sure we had that one,” Butler said. “We just have to put it behind us.”
Tampa Bay threatened in each of the first six innings, but failed to score after going hitless in 12 at-bats with runners in scoring position. The Rays left 10 runners on base over the stretch.
“It wasn’t an easy six innings,” said Meche, who is winless in his last six starts. “The good thing was I kept getting out of it. I just kept waiting to get through a couple innings that somehow weren’t so tough, and it just never happened.”
The Rays finally got on the scoreboard when Crawford hit a leadoff homer in the seventh that ended Meche’s day. Three of Crawford’s four homers this season have come in the last six games.
Xtra, xtra: Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria, who left Tuesday’s game with tightness in his left hamstring, could return to the starting lineup by Saturday. The Royals activated outfielder Coco Crisp from the bereavement list and optioned infielder Tug Hulett to Triple-A Omaha. Rays SS Jason Bartlett (sprained left ankle) has started hitting off a tee. Kansas City DH Mike Jacobs went 0 for 4, including two strikeouts, and has two hits in last 30 at-bats (Associated Press - Sports).

Rays 9, Royals 0 (Game #55) [27-28]

Jeff Niemann appears to be finally pitching up to his potential.
Niemann took a perfect game into the fifth inning and wound up with a two-hitter, and Ben Zobrist hit a grand slam to help lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 9-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.
“That was really fun to watch,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
Niemann (5-4) retired his first 14 batters before Mark Teahen lined a two-out single to center in the fifth. The right-hander struck out a career-high nine and walked one in his first complete game.
The Royals other hit against the fourth overall selection in the 2004 amateur draft was a two-out infield single by Alberto Callaspo in the ninth. Niemann has been slowed by shoulder problems during his professional career.
“I’ve always felt that I can do that,” Niemann said. “To come out here and do it, it was awesome. You get that confidence boost that you really can do it.”
Niemann’s outing was the eighth shutout with two or fewer hits by a Rays’ pitcher, and the first since Matt Garza had a two-hitter last August 15 at Texas.
“He throws it hard and it breaks a lot,” Teahen said of Niemann’s breaking ball. “He was getting it over for strikes. He established that early and made it tough for us all day.”
Zobrist became the first Rays’ player with four career grand slams when he gave Tampa Bay an 8-0 lead in the fourth. He has two grand slams this year, with the other coming on April 17 against the Chicago White Sox.
“It makes it easy to hit when you’re going out there and he’s (Niemann) shutting the door time after time,” Zobrist said. “He was on his game the whole time.”
Zobrist’s four grand slams came in a span of 195 at-bats, dating back to August 29, 2008.
Kansas City closer Joakim Soria got two outs in the eighth in his first outing since being sidelined May 7 with a right rotator cuff strain.
B.J. Upton hit a two-run double and later scored on a wild pitch by Brian Bannister (4-3) as Tampa Bay took a 4-0 lead in the second.
Bannister gave up eight runs, nine hits and three walks in 3 2-3 innings for the Royals, who have lost six in a row and 11 of 13.
“It’s just a lack of production that leads to a lack of confidence,” Royals manager Trey Hillman said of his teams’ recent struggles. “We need some good at-bats back-to-back, and we need a pitcher to go out there and throw a heck of a game.”
Bannister has lost two straight starts, allowing 15 runs over 8 2-3 innings.
“This one was all my fault,” Bannister said.
Niemann is 3-1 in his last five starts. During that stretch he has given up eight runs in 31 innings.
Carlos Pena put the Rays ahead 1-0 on an RBI double during the first. Dioner Navarro had a solo homer in the fifth.
Tampa Bay has won four of five following a season-high five-game losing skid.
Xtra, xtra: Rays 3B Evan Longoria (left hamstring) didn't play. He could return to the lineup within a few days. .Royals OF Coca Crisp (bereavement list) is expected to rejoin the team Thursday. .Rays LF Carl Crawford stole two bases. He leads the majors with 33 stolen bases. RHP Luke Hochevar could be recalled from Triple-A Omaha to start Saturday's game at Toronto (Associated Press - Sports).

Rays 6, Royals 2 (Game #54) [26-28]

Matt Joyce probably has earned himself more than three games with the Rays this time.
In his second game since being recalled from the minors, Joyce hit a tiebreaking two-run double and added a two-run homer, and Andy Sonnanstine allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings to lead the Tampa Bay Rays past the Kansas City Royals 6-2 Tuesday night.
“It’s one thing to be here, but it’s another thing to help the team win,” said Joyce, who was brought up from Triple-A Durham late Saturday. “That’s what you want. You want to come up and make an impression, have fun, win some ballgames and stick around.”
Joyce made it 4-2 on his two-out double during the sixth off reliever Horacio Ramirez He extended the lead with his third homer of the season in the eighth.
“Like I’ve been saying all along, this guy has a special bat,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “It makes a different sound when he hits it. What you’re seeing does not surprise me at all.”
Joyce homered in his first game back Sunday. He played in three games early in early April before being sent to the minors April 13.
“Two games in the book. I’m pretty happy with the results,” Joyce said. “Hopefully keep rolling.”
Sonnanstine (4-5) gave up six hits and had three strikeouts, rebounding from a start last Wednesday at Cleveland when the right-hander allowed eight runs and nine hits in three innings.
“I had more conviction about my pitches,” Sonnanstine said. “I stayed focused.”
Tampa Bay, which won for the third time in nine games, also got a homer from Ben Zobrist.
Jose Guillen and Miguel Olivo homered for the Royals, who have lost five in a row and 10 of 12.
The Rays went up 2-1 after a two-run homer by Zobrist off Kyle Davies (2-5) in the fourth.
Davies lost his fourth consecutive start, allowing four runs, three hits and six walks over 5 2-3 innings. He struck out seven during his 114-pitch outing.
“It’s a bad combo: extra-base hits, especially ones that get out of the ballpark, and walks,” Royals manager Trey Hillman said.
Davies walked Willy Aybar and Zobrist with two outs in the sixth. Ramirez replaced him and gave up Joyce’s go-ahead hit.
“Six walks in less than six innings is not good,” Davies said.
Guillen put the Royals up 1-0 on a second-inning homer. Olivo tied it at 2 with solo shot during the fifth.
Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria left the game with tightness in his left hamstring, which occurred running out a grounder in the sixth. Gabe Gross pinch hit for Longoria, who was the designated hitter due to a sore throwing arm, in the seventh.
“It’s probably just a day-to-day thing. I think the telltale thing’s going to be tomorrow, how it feels when I wake up in the morning,” Longoria said. “I don’t really know when it happened, the first or second step after the base. But I didn’t feel a pop, I didn’t feel a pull. I think if it was something serious, I would be feeling it right now a lot more than I am.”
The Rays said Longoria, the leading AL vote getter for this year’s All-Star Game, will have an MRI exam Wednesday.
Xtra, xtra: Joyce had a career-best five RBIs on July 21, 2008 at Kansas City while with Detroit. The Rays obtained Joyce from the Tigers for RHP Edwin Jackson last December. The Royals reinstated closer Joakim Soria (right rotator cuff) and SS Tony Pena Jr. (left hand) from the 15-day disabled list, and put RHP Sidney Ponson (right elbow) on the DL. Tampa Bay DH Pat Burrell (neck) could resume batting practice this week. Kansas City C John Buck, hospitalized after hurting his lower back while to preparing to bat Saturday, has been released from the hospital and will be re-evaluated in five to seven days. Royals SS Mike Aviles (right forearm strain) was scheduled to undergo additional tests, including an MR (Associated Press - Sports).

Twins 3, Rays 2 (Game #53) [25-28]

Brendan Harris homered, Nick Blackburn pitched well, Denard Span made a highlight-reel defensive play, and reliever Jose Mijares made a difficult catch before falling face-first on the mound.
The Minnesota Twins needed all of that—and more—to get a rare road victory Sunday, with Justin Morneau and Carlos Gomez also prividing timely hitting to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Sunday.
“A much-needed win for our baseball team,” manager Ron Gardenhire said after the Twins avoided a weekend sweep and improved to just 6-16 away from the Metrodome. “A few good things happened there.”
Blackburn (5-2) pitched six strong innings, allowing two runs and seven hits, and the Twins scored all their runs off Matt Garza (4-4) to beat their former teammate and end a three-game losing streak.
Span, who began the game in left field, climbed the wall in right to rob Tampa Bay’s Gabe Gross of an extra-base hit with the Rays threatening to break the game open after taking a 2-0 lead in the fifth.
Mijares helped the Twins through a jam in the eighth by keeping track of Carlos Pena’s pop fly that deflected off one of the catwalks supporting the roof at Tropicana Field before the portly six-foot, 231-pound pitcher caught the ball and wound up on his stomach.
“The way things have been going for us on the road, it might have been fitting if that ball hit right on the rubber and bounced back somewhere,” Gardenhire mused. “But Mijares, the athletic ability that he has, made a super play.”
Pena hit his AL-leading 17th homer for the Rays. Matt Joyce also homered off Blackburn, however Garza—facing his former team for the first time—was unable to hold a 2-1 lead after limiting the Twins to two hits over the first five innings.
Mijares escaped the eighth with the tying run on third base when pinch hitter Gabe Kapler grounded out. Joe Nathan worked a perfect ninth for his ninth save, ensuring Blackburn would improve to 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA over the starter’s last five outings.
“Our bullpen was phenomenal,” Gardenhire said. “They came in and got some huge outs.”
Garza was acquired in the November 2007 trade that also brought shortstop Jason Bartlett to the Rays as part of a six-player transaction that sent Harris and outfielder Delmon Young to Minnesota.
The 25-year-old right-hander was an 11-game winner last season, and beat Boston in Games 3 and 7 to claim MVP honors in the AL Championship Series. He has been Tampa Bay’s most consistent pitcher this year, flirting with a no-hitter against the Red Sox on April 30, when Jacoby Ellsbury’s infield single leading off the seventh inning spoiled a bid for a perfect game.
Harris and Young had the first two hits off Garza Sunday, with Harris hitting a two-out solo homer in the second and Young leading off the fourth with a single. Span legged out a bunt and later scored on Morneau’s RBI single that made it 2-2 in the sixth.
Gomez’s bloop single, the third straight hit off Garza, snapped the tie in the seventh. Garza allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings.
“I set out to do my job and wasn’t able to squeak through it. … It’s one of those losses you just have to choke down,” said Garza, who felt he pitched well.
“He had great stuff. They just got a couple of knocks and they eeked out their three runs,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “We hit the ball really well, but without any luck. That’s how this game works sometimes.”
Xtra, xtra: Twins C Joe Mauer, who fouled a ball off his right leg just above the ankle and was also hit by a couple foul tips Saturday, was out of the starting lineup. He was available off the bench. Tampa Bay leadoff hitter B.J. Upton, hitting .200 with two homers and nine RBIs in 44 games, was rested but entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth. 2B Ben Zobrist replaced Upton at the top of the lineup. Minnesota 3B Joe Crede (bruised left knee) didn’t play. Maddon has talked with injured closer Troy Percival (right shoulder). Maddon said the right-hander plans to rehab his shoulder, but added that retirement remains a possibility. Twins RF Michael Cuddyer left the game in the second inning with right index finger strain. He is day to day (Associated Press - Sports).

Rays 5, Twins 2 (Game #52) [25-27]

Even before he earned his first regular-season win, David Price knew what it was like to get a standing ovation.
That doesn’t mean he didn’t enjoy this one, too.
Price struck out 11 for his first career victory and Evan Longoria got his 55th RBI of the season to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Saturday.
“It was fun out there,” said Price, who tipped his cap to the cheering crowd of 36,052 when he left the game. “Any win you’ve got to look at all the positives. It’s fun to be here. It’s fun to pitch here.”
Price (1-0), who started the season at Triple-A Durham and was recalled Monday, gave up one run, five hits and two walks over 5 2-3 innings in his first start at Tropicana Field.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 amateur draft was the winner out of the bullpen in Game 2 and picked up the Game 7 save in last year’s AL championship series against Boston, making the rookie an immediate fan favorite.
“David again, great stuff,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “His stuff was dominant.”
Longoria had an RBI single during a four-run third for the Rays, who have won two in a row after a season-high five-game skid. Carl Crawford had two RBIs, including a solo homer in the seventh, and Randy Choate earned his second save.
Minnesota left-hander Francisco Liriano (2-7) allowed four runs and seven hits in four innings. He has lasted just four innings in three straight starts.
“It’s tough right now,” Liriano said. “I just got to go out there and pitch and see what happens.”
The Twins are 5-16 on the road this season. Minnesota was hitless in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position and is 1 of 20 overall the past two games.
“Another one of those games where I think we were facing a guy that was really, really throwing the fire out of the ball,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
Joe Dillon hit a solo homer, Crawford had an RBI infield single, Longoria hit a run-scoring single and Ben Zobrist drove in a run on an infield single to give Tampa Bay a 4-1 lead in the third.
Gardenhire said his team made “some bad decisions” on three infield grounders in the third, possibly missing out on potential forceouts at second that might have changed the complexion of the inning.
Justin Morneau put the Twins ahead 1-0 on an RBI grounder in the third. He has driven in 28 runs this month.
Price worked out of a self-induced, second-and-third, two-out jam in the second by getting a grounder to third from Alexi Casilla. With Joe Crede on first after an earlier walk, Price fielded a routine grounder by Carlos Gomez and proceeded to lob a throw well over first baseman Carlos Pena’s head that put the two runners in scoring position.
“That was awful,” Price said. “The most unathletic thing I’ve ever done. That was embarrassing.”
Crede left in the fourth after fouling a ball off his left knee. X-rays were negative and although he is day to day, Gardenhire doesn’t expect him to play Sunday.
“There’s just quite a bit of swelling,” Crede said.
Twins catcher Joe Mauer might also get a day off Sunday. He fouled off a ball just above his right ankle Saturday.
Grant Balfour pitched 2 2-3 innings before being replaced by Choate with two on in the ninth. Choate got two outs, including an RBI grounder by Casilla.
Xtra, xtra: Tampa Bay recalled OF Matt Joyce from Triple-A Durham after the game and optioned RHP Dale Thayer to the International League club. Maddon said DH Pat Burrell, out since May 11 with a strained neck, underwent a third round of shots for the injury and will likely have his status reviewed on Tuesday. Twins OF Jason Kubel, bothered by a sore knee, was rested. Tampa Bay LHP Scott Kazmir (right quadriceps strain) is playing catch, but team officials are still talking about how to put together his overall throwing program. Crawford had his streak of 32 successful stolen base attempts—including 30 this season—stopped when he was thrown out trying to steal second during the third. Liriano threw 47 of his 93 pitches in the third (Associated Press - Sports).

Rays 5, Twins 3 (Game #51) [24-27]

Back home following a calamitous trip, the Tampa Bay Rays righted themselves.
Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford homered, James Shields pitched into the eighth inning, and the defending AL champions ended a season-high, five-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
“This was a make-us-feel-good type of game,” Crawford said. “We really needed it.”
Shields (4-4) allowed two runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings to get his first win since May 3. The right-hander gave up a solo homer to Michael Cuddyer in the sixth and a second run that scored on Justin Morneau’s RBI double off reliever J.P Howell in the eighth.
The Rays stopped their longest skid since dropping seven straight heading into last season’s All-Star break. They went 2-5 on a disappointing road trip that concluded with four straight losses at Cleveland, which entered the series with the worst record in the league.
“We definitely needed a win. … It’s a good way to start a homestand,” said Shields, who had been 0-2 over his previous four starts.
“You just have to keep plugging away,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “We had a tough go up in Cleveland. That stuff happens during a season. I thought our guys were in good order, we just lost some games.”
Longoria boosted his major league-leading RBI total to 54 with his three-run homer off Scott Baker (2-6), snapping a 1-1 tie in the sixth. Crawford’s second homer of the season gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the third.
Joe Mauer had a single, double and triple to boost his batting average to .417 for the Twins, who fell to 5-15 on the road. His triple leading off the eighth finished Shields, and Morneau followed with his double to trim Tampa Bay’s lead to 4-2.
Morneau scored from second base on Longoria’s throwing error on Cuddyer’s grounder to third, however Minnesota stranded the potential tying run at second when Howell struck out Joe Crede and Brendan Harris to end the eighth.
Willy Aybar gave Tampa Bay some more breathing room with an RBI double that made it 5-3. Dan Wheeler and Randy Choate pitched the ninth, with Choate getting his first major league save by striking out Mauer with one runner on base.
“We battled pretty hard there toward the end,” said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who’s at a loss to explain Minnesota’s futility away from home.
“We’ve played good baseball on the road, but we’re not winning games. You’ve got to find a way to win games.”
Shields walked one and struck out five. He has suffered from a lack of run support this season, with Tampa Bay winning just two of the last eight games in which he’s pitched, even though the right-hander has not pitched that poorly.
Entering Friday night, the Rays had scored 4.03 runs per nine innings for Shields. That was fifth-lowest in the AL.
The Twins wasted opportunities early, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position through five innings. Cuddyer’s ninth homer wiped out a 1-0 deficit in the sixth, however it didn’t take Tampa Bay long to regain the lead.
B.J. Upton and Crawford singled before Longoria lined his 13th homer over the center field wall to make it 4-1. Baker didn’t make it through the inning, leaving after Ben Zobrist doubled with two outs.
The Minnesota starter allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings.
“We came up a little short, but I don’t think we should dwell on this game,” Baker said, adding that the Twins can still take the series by winning the remaining two games. “To get down about this game would be kind of foolish in my opinion.”
Xtra, xtra: Longoria finished 3-for-4. Crawford extended his hitting streak to nine games. Minnesota SS Nick Punto, who missed his second straight game with a groin injury, was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Rays RHP Chad Bradford, whose recovering from right elbow surgery, is close to beginning a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Montgomery. Twins LHP Glen Perkins (left elbow) is set to resume throwing off a mound. He is expected to have several bullpen sessions before starting a minor league rehab assignment (Associated Press - Sports).

Indians 2, Rays 1 (Game #50) [23-27]

The Tampa Bay Rays limped out of town, hoping a homestand will help the them get back on track.
Rookie David Huff and four relievers combined to stifle the Rays and Victor Martinez drove in both runs for the Cleveland Indians in a 2-1 victory Thursday, completing a four-game sweep of the defending American League champions.
The Rays have lost five in a row overall and 17 straight in Cleveland, the longest road losing streak against one team in club history. It was the first four-game sweep for the Indians since they did it to the Rays July 10-13 at Progressive Field.
“Maybe next time we come in, we’ll have some candles and holy water,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “I have no good explanation for this.”
The Rays’ run came on Willy Aybar’s homer in the sixth, which was upheld after using video replay.
Aybar’s 1-0 pitch to right field was just out of the reach of a leaping Shin-Soo Choo. Replays showed the ball hit the yellow line atop the wall before caroming back into the field of play. First base umpire Angel Hernandez immediately ruled it a home run, prompting Indians manager Eric Wedge to argue. After a 90-second video review, crew chief Tim Welke confirmed the call.
“You ask four people what they saw on the replay, two of them are going to be adamant that it was not a home run and two will be adamant that it was a home run,” Wedge said. “I’m not talking about umpires, I’m talking players, fans, coaches, whoever it may be. But I appreciate the fact they went in and took a look at it. It has to be their choice. When they do that, you have to respect what they come up with.”
It was a difficult road trip for the Rays, who went 2-5 against the Florida Marlins and Cleveland, placing their shortstop, second baseman, closer and staff ace on the disabled list in the span of a week. Now they return home to open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins, having dropped six games back of Boston in he AL East.
“It was a strange series, all in all,” Maddon said. “We need to play some games at home. We need to get our mojo back.”
The Indians’ bullpen, which has struggled much of this season, excelled Thursday. Jensen Lewis, Matt Herges, Rafael Betancourt and Kerry Wood combined to hold Tampa Bay to one run on four hits over five innings after a 2 hour, 40 minute rain delay in the fourth inning knocked out Huff.
Herges (1-0) struck out Evan Longoria to end the seventh inning with B.J. Upton on second to preserve the slim lead.
“He’s a lot better than I am,” Herges said of Longoria. “Anytime I get him out, I’ll take it. He’s going to get me a lot more than I’ll get him.”
Asdrubal Cabrera reached on a bunt single in the third off starter Jeff Niemann (4-4). He scored on a groundout by Martinez, who singled to drive home Kelly Shoppach in the fifth for the game’s only other run.
The Indians’ bullpen did the rest. Over their last 18 innings—all against Tampa Bay—Tribe relievers have allowed one run on 13 hits. It has allowed the Indians to rally for victories from 10-0 and 5-0 deficits in the series.
“They’ve gone beyond the call of duty here of late because we’ve needed so many innings from them,” Wedge said. “They’ve been doing a very good job. They need to recognize that and feel good about how they’re performing as a unit.”
The final three games of this series were delayed by rain, and Tampa Bay has now endured rain delays in four of its last five games.
The delay prevented Huff from picking up his first major league victory after he was off to the best start of his brief career.
He entered 0-1 with a 17.55 ERA, and was blasted by the Rays for seven runs in 3 2-3 innings last week in his major league debut. Huff had allowed four hits through four innings Thursday before giving way to the rain. He made seven starts at Triple-A, six of which were affected by rain, he said.
"My nickname was Rainman," Huff said. "I'm used to it. It happens. You can't control it, so you just move on."
Xtra, xtra: Prior to the game, the Indians recalled Tomo Ohka from Triple-A Columbus and optioned Zach Jackson back to Columbus. RHP Anthony Reyes was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Ohka. RHP Joe Smith will begin a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Columbus on Saturday. Ben Zobrist started for the second straight game at short for the Rays after starting in right field the first two games of the series (Associated Press - Sports).

Indians 12, Rays 7 (Game #49) [23-26]

Ben Francisco smiled, shrugged his shoulders and had no explanation for his success against Tampa Bay right-hander Andy Sonnanstine.
Francisco homered and drove in four runs for Cleveland and the Indians earned their first three-game winning streak of the season by defeating the Rays 12-7 Wednesday night.
“It’s a big win for us, to finally get three straight,” Francisco said. “We’re all feeling confident.”
Francisco extended his domination against Sonnanstine (3-5) with a three-run homer and RBI single as Cleveland overcame a 5-0 deficit. On Monday night, the Indians came back from 10-0, beating the Rays with a seven-run ninth inning, 11-10.
“We gave up two huge leads here and have to do a better job of pitching,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
Greg Aquino (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win—Cleveland’s sixth in eight games. It was the right-hander’s first win since June 19, 2006, for Arizona. Luis Vizcaino worked three scoreless innings for his first save since Sept. 29, 2004, with Milwaukee.
“Those two did a tremendous job running through five innings,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said.
The Rays lost their fourth straight for the first time this season and have dropped 16 in a row in Cleveland since a 1-0 win on Sept. 29, 2005. But the Indians are a long way from matching their team record for consecutive home wins over a team. They beat the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles 27 straight times in Cleveland from 1952-54.
Francisco’s three-run homer in Cleveland’s five-run second was his third in three at-bats against Sonnanstine this year and fourth straight off the right-hander. Francisco also homered off him in Cleveland on July 10. Francisco is 8 for 9 with five homers and 12 RBIs against the 26-year-old who grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio, about 40 miles southwest of Progressive Field.
“I try not to think about it and don’t want to talk about it too much,” Francisco said, fearful that he may jinx his streak. “Some guys you just have success against and others you don’t.”
Maddon can’t comprehend why Francisco becomes Babe Ruth when he sees Sonnanstine on the mound.
“I’m sure Andy never wants to see him again,” Maddon said. “It’s amazing.”
Said Sonnanstine: “He’s hitting everything I’m throwing. I have to figure a way to get him out.”
Cleveland starter Zach Jackson had to wait out a one-hour, 55-minute rain delay before making his first pitch after being called up from Triple-A Columbus. The left-hander trailed 5-0 in 15 minutes.
Tampa Bay sent 10 men to the plate, getting five singles, a double and walk in the first inning.
“Zach, we waited two hours for this, buddy!” a fan yelled from the upper deck midway through the Rays’ rally.
Gabe Kapler had a two-run single, Ben Zobrist an RBI double, while Evan Longoria and Willy Aybar each singled home runs.
Ryan Garko singled in Cleveland’s first run. Francisco’s homer made it 5-4, then Jamey Carroll singled and later scored on Grady Sizemore’s double to make it 5-5.
The Rays went ahead 6-5 in the third on Mark DeRosa’s two-out throwing error. The third baseman backed up on a grounder hit by Michel Hernandez and his throw in the soggy dirt skipped past first baseman Garko, scoring Zobrist from third.
Francisco’s single tied it in the bottom half and Carroll followed by poking an RBI single between first and second to give Cleveland its first lead, 7-6. Asdrubal Cabrera added an RBI single.
Longoria’s 12th homer in the fourth got the Rays within 8-7, but the Indians went ahead by five in the fifth on a two-run double by Victor Martinez and Shin-Soo Choo’s two-run homer.
Sonnanstine gave up eight hits and nine runs over three innings.
Jackson allowed six earned runs and eight hits over four innings.
The game ended at 12:16 a.m., with the teams scheduled for a 12:05 p.m. start Thursday.
“We have to sleep fast and come back and fight again,” Wedge said.
Xtra, xtra: Tampa Bay is 31-63 against the Indians, including 12-37 in Cleveland. Three of Francisco’s four career games of four RBIs are against Tampa Bay. Longoria’s homer was his first in 64 at-bats, the longest drought of his career. Indians RHP Joe Smith, sidelined since May 2 with a strained rotator cuff, threw a simulated game and may go to the minors this weekend to begin a rehab assignment. Indians DH Travis Hafner, out since April 29 with a sore right shoulder, will return to his rehab assignment with Columbus. He missed three days with a sore back (Associated Press - Sports).

Indians 5, Rays 1 (Game #48) [23-25]

Carl Pavano has done as much on the mound this May as he did the past three years combined.
Pavano won for the fifth time in six starts, Ryan Garko homered for the third time in two games and the Cleveland Indians beat the Tampa Bay Rays without needing a big comeback, 5-1 on Tuesday night.
“It’s good to get a couple of wins in a row, but the story was Carl,” said Indians left fielder Mark DeRosa, who hit a two-run homer. “He’s worked his butt off to get back.”
The right-hander’s comeback is more impressive than the Indians overcoming a 10-0 deficit to beat the Rays on Monday night.
Pavano (5-4) allowed one run and four hits over seven innings. He walked two and struck out six to enhance an outstanding month. He’s 5-1 with a 3.58 ERA and only seven walks against 30 strikeouts since May 1, when he got his first win of the season in Detroit.
“I’m feeling better, getting deeper in games,” Pavano said. “I didn’t exactly know what to expect this year, but I worked hard and stayed positive. There’s still a long way to go for me to be remotely settled in.”
Pavano’s 10th start this season surpassed by one his total for the previous three years. He was signed to a one-year contract as a free agent in January after four injury plagued years with the New York Yankees—where he missed the entire 2006 season and pitched only 45 2-3 innings in 2007-08 combined. He won only five games the last two years.
Garko hit his home run in the second inning after connecting twice and driving in five runs Monday night in Cleveland’s 11-10 win that was the biggest collapse in Tampa Bay history.
Asdrubal Cabrera and Kelly Shoppach also homered for the Indians, who won for the fifth time in seven games and earned their 15th consecutive home win over the Rays since Sept. 29, 2005.
Rays right-hander Matt Garza (4-3) struck out seven without issuing a walk, but couldn’t keep the ball in the park. He allowed four runs and five hits— three of them homers. He dropped to 1-4 in his career against Cleveland.
“I have to find a way to get past these guys,” Garza said. “I won’t face them again this year, but it’s still going to be in the back of my head not to let them beat me again.”
Garko hit the first pitch he saw from Garza over the wall in right-center with one out to put Cleveland ahead 1-0 in the second. On Monday night, Garko hit a two-run homer and three-run shot in the comeback.
Tampa Bay’s bad run continued before Tuesday’s game when shortstop Jason Bartlett was put on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left ankle. Bartlett, a career .276 hitter, is batting .373 with seven homers, 30 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.
He joined second baseman Akinori Iwamura, closer Troy Percival, DH Pat Burrell, staff ace Scott Kazmir and four others on the Rays’ crowded DL. Iwamura is lost for the season with a torn knee ligament, and Percival’s career might be over because of right shoulder tendinitis.
“A lot of guys are going on the DL, but we have to push through this,” Rays right fielder Ben Zobrist said. “Last year we had guys go down and other guys stepped up. We have to do that again.”
The Rays mustered little offense against Pavano until Carlos Pena hit his AL-leading 16th homer to lead off the Rays’ seventh. It ruined Pavano’s bid for his first shutout since May 17, 2005, when he was with the New York Yankees.
“He’s added a splitter, changeup or whatever it is,” Rays left fielder Carl Crawford said. “He’s locating his fastball really well. He’s definitely not the same pitcher we faced in the past.”
Xtra, xtra: Rain delayed play 32 minutes in the bottom of the fourth. It drizzled throughout most of the final five innings. Before the game, Cleveland optioned OF Matt LaPorta back to Triple-A Columbus and recalled OF Trevor Crowe. LaPorta hit .190 (8 for 42) with one homer and four RBIs in his first 13 career games after being called up May 2. After the game, the Indians sent LHP Rich Rundles to Columbus and recalled LHP Zach Jackson from the Clippers to start Wednesday night. Crawford stole second in the fourth inning and is 30 for 30 in steal attempts. He has not been caught in 32 attempts since July 18 (Associated Press - Sports).

Indians 11, Rays 10 (Game #47) [23-24]

Trailing by 10 runs, Victor Martinez told his Cleveland Indians teammates they could win.
Martinez, in an 0-for-18 slump, backed up his words by lining a two-out, two-run single to cap a seven-run ninth inning that gave the Indians an 11-10 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.
“You never know what’s going to happen,” Martinez said after his hit off Jason Isringhausen (0-1) ruined the Rays night, which began with the much-awaited season debut of starter David Price. The left-hander was staked to a 10-0 lead but ran his pitch count up and lasted only 3 1-3 innings.
“When he came out, I said, ‘Go out there and be a tough out, and just keep battling,’ ” Martinez said. “That’s what we did.”
The Indians became the first team to make up a 10-run deficit and win since the Texas Rangers rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 16-15 on May 8, 2004, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“When you do something like this, it is special,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said.
It was the largest blown lead in Rays history. Tampa Bay had twice led games 10-2 before losing 20-11 each time—to the New York Yankees in 2005 and Cleveland in 1999.
Ryan Garko’s two-run homer off Price in the fourth started the comeback. His three-run shot in the ninth off Grant Balfour made it 10-7.
“I wanted to put the barrel of the bat on the ball and just happened to hit a home run,” Garko said of his second homer. “The important thing was not making the last out. Nobody wanted to do that.”
Jeremy Sowers (1-2) pitched five scoreless innings for the win in his first relief appearance after 51 career starts.
The loss was Tampa Bay’s 14th in a row in Cleveland. The Rays have not won a road game against the Indians since a 1-0 victory on Sept. 28, 2005.
The teams combined to use 11 pitchers, who issued a total of 19 walks—10 by the Rays.
Isringhausen walked the first three men he faced, forcing in one run to make it 10-8. Martinez then lined a 3-2 pitch to center and was mobbed by teammates in Cleveland’s biggest win of a disappointing season.
“The walks are unacceptable,” Isringhausen. “I’d rather give up home runs than walk guys.”
The Indians still have the worst record in the AL at 18-28 and are just 8-11 at home.
But Garko said he felt confident seeing Martinez at the plate with the game on the line. The catcher leads the Indians with 32 RBIs and a .364 batting average.
“That’s the guy you want up there in that spot,” Garko said.
Price struggled with his command, walking five.
“He had great stuff, but was all over the place,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
Indians starter Fausto Carmona was even wilder. The right-hander unraveled in the second inning, walking the first four men he faced on 20 pitches and giving up five runs while registering only one out.
Gabe Gross hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs for the Rays.
Price struck out the side in the first after Jamey Carroll drew a leadoff walk and went to third on a bloop double by Grady Sizemore. But he couldn’t complete the five innings required of a starter to earn a win. The left-hander gave up two runs and four hits, striking out six. He threw 100 pitches—57 for strikes.
“I was averaging 10 pitches an out,” Price said. “I didn’t have a feel for anything.”
He didn’t use sitting for long stretches as an excuse. The Rays twice batted around—in their five-run second and three-run fourth.
“That’s what you want as a pitcher, to score runs,” Price said. “They gave me 10.”
Price was recalled from Triple-A Durham, where he was 1-4 with a 3.93 ERA in eight starts. He started in place of Scott Kazmir, who went on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained right quadriceps.
Carmona gave up five runs and three hits with five walks in 1 1-3 innings. He has walked 35 and struck out 33 in 54 2-3 innings this season.
Xtra, xtra: Maddon got a three-year contract extension. Rays INF Akinori Iwamura will have surgery for a torn left ACL and is out for the season. The Rays put LHP Brian Shouse on the 15-day DL with a strained left elbow and recalled LHP Randy Choate from Durham. Rays SS Jason Bartlett, hitting .431 with 19 RBIs in his last 16 games, did not play. He sprained his left ankle Sunday, but Maddon doesn’t think the injury is too serious (Associated Press - Sports).