First-place Rays, Angels walk off with wins again

Baseball Betting Lines

06/02/2008 -

The Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels are getting used to late rallies, a big reason both teams remain in first place.

Gabe Gross hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the 10th inning Sunday, giving the AL East-leading Rays a 4-3 comeback victory over the Chicago White Sox.

It was Tampa Bay's second walk-off win in three days. Cliff Floyd's ninth-inning homer beat Chicago on Friday night, and Floyd homered again in a 2-0 victory Saturday.

The surprising Rays maintained their one-game lead over Boston, and they take their league-best record of 35-22 to Fenway Park for the start of a three-game series Tuesday night. Tampa Bay is 13 games above .500 for the first time in the team's 11-season history.

``We're getting to the point now where we're not satisfied with yesterday's win,'' Rays manager Joe Maddon said. ``It's a whole team effort right now.''

The Angels also rallied in their final at-bat, scoring twice in the bottom of the ninth off closer B.J. Ryan for a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ryan (1-1) hit Howie Kendrick with a pitch to force home the tying run, and Maicer Izturis singled in the game-winner one pitch later. All four of Los Angeles' victories on its six-game homestand were walk-off wins.

``If you can't get excited about a victory like this, you shouldn't be playing baseball. You should be staying home,'' Izturis said through a translator. ``Every player dreams of doing something like that at some point in the game.''

In other AL games, it was: Boston 9, Baltimore 4; Minnesota 5, New York 1; Kansas City 6, Cleveland 1; Oakland 13, Texas 8; and Detroit 7, Seattle 5.

Ryan's first blown save in 13 attempts this season spoiled a masterful performance by A.J. Burnett, who allowed two runs and three hits over eight innings but was pulled by manager John Gibbons after 102 pitches.

Sean Rodriguez hit his first major league homer for the Angels, a two-run shot off Burnett.

Jose Arredondo (2-0) got credit for the victory after three innings of scoreless relief by Darren Oliver.

``I wish we were attacking clubs a little better on the offensive side early in games - but a win's a win,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``It's not how you're always going to write it up, but our last two nights were good wins. It's certainly not our template.''

At St. Petersburg, Fla., Gross made the most of a rare start against left-handed pitching. He lined a two-run triple off Mark Buehrle to tie it 3-all in the fifth, then delivered his third homer of the season on an 0-2 pitch from lefty Matt Thornton (1-1) in the 10th.

``I've never really thought about hitting a walk-off. But if I had, it wouldn't have lived up to this,'' said Gross, who was 6-for-64 lifetime against left-handers before his triple.

The finale of the four-game set against the AL Central-leading White Sox drew a crowd of 24,720.

J.P. Howell (4-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory, which enabled Tampa Bay to go 8-2 on the team's longest homestand of the year. The Rays have won 10 of their last 12 series, including seven straight at home since losing two of three to the White Sox six weeks ago.

This time, a weekend of wasted scoring opportunities left Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen fuming and promising changes.

``There's only one message I'm going to send. Just get ready because I expect movement on Tuesday,'' Guillen said.

The White Sox went 5-for-39 with runners in scoring position during the four-game series, including 2-of-14 Sunday, when they stranded the potential go-ahead run at third base after getting a leadoff double in the 10th.

``I expect (general manager) Kenny (Williams) to do something Tuesday. Because if we don't do anything Tuesday, there's (going to be) a lot of change in the lineup. That's all I'm going to say about the offense,'' said Guillen, whose comments were spiced with an occasional expletive.

But the manager wasn't finished.

``It could be me. It could be (hitting coach) Greg Walker, the players, anybody,'' Guillen said. ``I'm sick and tired watching this for a year and a half. I'm not protecting anybody anymore.''Red Sox 9, Orioles 4

At Baltimore, Manny Ramirez hit his 501st home run, and Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew also connected for Boston.

After becoming the 24th major leaguer to hit No. 500, Ramirez said Saturday night, ``The next goal is 501.'' He took care of that in his third at-bat, driving a pitch from Brian Burres (4-5) into the right-field seats.

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz sat out with a sprained wrist and was expected to have an MRI Monday in Boston. Bartolo Colon (3-0) won his third straight start.

Luke Scott homered for the Orioles, who have lost four straight and nine of 11.Twins 5, Yankees 1

At Minneapolis, Michael Cuddyer drove in three runs and Minnesota's bullpen came through with 4 2-3 innings of scoreless relief after starter Nick Blackburn was hit in the nose by Bobby Abreu's line drive.

Blackburn walked off the field under his own power, escorted by a trainer with a bloody towel pressed against his face. The Twins said Blackburn did not lose consciousness or any teeth. X-rays were negative and he is day to day with a bruised nose.

Minnesota snapped New York's three-game winning streak and handed the Yankees their third loss in 11 games. Derek Jeter homered for the Yankees (28-28). Darrell Rasner (3-2) took the loss.Royals 6, Indians 1

At Kansas City, Mo., Brian Bannister (5-6) pitched into the eighth inning and Mark Grudzielanek and Jose Guillen homered to help the Royals win again, one day after they snapped a 12-game skid.

Paul Byrd (2-5) dropped to 0-5 in six road starts. The Indians, the defending AL Central champs, have lost five straight series.Athletics 13, Rangers 8

At Arlington, Texas, Jack Cust and Mark Ellis homered in a nine-run seventh inning as Oakland rallied to end a four-game losing streak.

Josh Hamilton hit his AL-best 15th homer for the Rangers and drove in two runs, giving him a major league-high 63 RBIs. Travis Buck also homered for the A's, who scored only nine runs in their previous five games.Tigers 7, Mariners 5

At Seattle, Placido Polanco hit a tiebreaking single and Detroit scored four times in the ninth off struggling J.J. Putz (2-3). Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera each drove in two runs as the Tigers, wayward for most of the season against everyone else, won for the fifth time in six meetings with the Mariners.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.