Sign of the times: Rays win
Carlos Pena called it a sign that Tampa Bay is destined for big things this season. Joe Maddon said it was the most exciting win since he's been with the Rays.
Hold on, guys. There's a long way to go and the Red Sox aren't going away.
Pena's three-run homer capped a six-run rally in the ninth inning that carried Tampa Bay past the Cleveland Indians 10-7 Wednesday, putting pressure on Boston to keep pace.
The Red Sox did, getting a strong performance from knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and a three-run homer from light-hitting Jacoby Ellsbury in an 8-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals to stay three games back in the AL East.
"I felt great from the time I warmed up today that I had good movement and good command," said Wakefield, who gave up four hits through six crisp innings. "It's a matter of continuing what I've been doing, working hard, and the results will eventually show up."
Jed Lowrie and J.D. Drew drove in two runs apiece for the Red Sox, who finished their season series 6-1 against the Royals.
The Rays trailed 7-4 in the ninth when Eric Hinske hit an RBI double and Gabe Gross tied it 7-all with a two-run homer off Edward Mujica, who was trying for his first big league save.
Masa Kobayashi (4-5) replaced Mujica and gave up an infield single to Akinori Iwamura. The right-hander then walked Ben Zobrist before Pena homered to center for his fifth career game-ending homer, setting off a raucous celebration at Tropicana Field.
Pena tossed his helmet aside as he approached home plate, where he was mobbed by jubilant teammates bouncing in unison. The AL East leaders, who have never won more than 70 games in 10 previous seasons, improved to 68-45 with their eighth victory in 11 games.
Jason Giambi homered, Sidney Ponson (7-2) beat his former teammates and Mariano Rivera returned from an aching back to save a win for visiting New York.
Jim Thome hit a three-run homer and John Danks (9-4) worked efficiently into the seventh inning, helping the host White Sox stay a game ahead of Minnesota in the AL Central.
Denard Span drove in a career-high four runs and robbed Adrian Beltre of a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning, leading visiting Minnesota to a victory.
Vladimir Guerrero homered and drove in four runs, Garret Anderson had three hits and two RBI, and host Los Angeles rolled past Baltimore.
At Toronto, Rod Barajas hit a three-run homer, Shaun Marcum (6-5) pitched seven strong innings and the Blue Jays extended the Athletics' season-long losing streak to nine games.
Continuing a season-long slump against the last-place Padres' pitching, New York lost at home to drop three games behind Philadelphia in the East race.
Kyle Kendrick pitched six effective innings, Ryan Howard homered for host Philadelphia.
Mark DeRosa hit a grand slam, and Alfonso Soriano had a three-run homer during an eight-run third inning that carried host Chicago to the win
At Cincinnati, struggling leadoff hitter Rickie Weeks matched his career high with four hits to help Milwaukee earn the series victory.
Ryan Ludwick homered in his fifth straight game to tie a team record and Albert Pujols hit a grand slam for St. Louis.Manny Ramirez hit his 513th homer to break a tie with Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews for 20th place on the career list. Ramirez is batting .600 (12-for-20) with three homers and six RBI in five games since joining the Dodgers.
Tim Lincecum (12-3) pitched eight innings for his first win in more than three weeks and Aaron Rowand homered and drove in three runs to lead host San Francisco.
