No matter what happens the rest of this season, the Tampa Bay Rays can proudly wear their new label: winners.
The Rays surpassed the break-even point with a 14-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night, getting a grand slam from Ben Zobrist and five RBIs from Cliff Floyd in win No. 82.
“Going into spring training I knew we were better,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “We just didn’t know how much better. Eighty-two wins is a big moment, and I want this to be the standard of what we do, to get that number on an annual basis.”
The Rays never had a winning season since the expansion team joined the AL East as the Devil Rays in 1998, until now.
Tampa Bay dropped the Devil before this season and exceeded their best effort of 70 wins – accomplished in 2004 under Lou Piniella – on Aug. 10 with a win over Seattle. The worst they could do is go 82-80 after finishing 66-96 last year.
“You’ve got to break through the barrier eventually,” Maddon said. “We’ve done it, now let’s move on down the road.”
In other AL games, it was: N.Y. Yankees 2, Toronto 1; Boston 8, Chicago White Sox 0; Detroit 6, Kansas City 3; Seattle 3, Cleveland 2; Minnesota 12, Oakland 2; L.A. Angels 3, Texas 1.
Scott Kazmir (10-6) allowed three hits and three walks over 5 1-3 scoreless innings. The left-hander has won 10 games or more in four straight seasons. Tampa Bay joined the 1968 Oakland Athletics as the only teams to have five pitchers 26 years old or younger with 20 starts and 10 wins in the same season. The others are Andy Sonnanstine (13-6), Matt Garza (11-7), James Shields (11-8), and Edwin Jackson (11-8).
“It’s been a great season and we’re showing no signs of letting up,” Kazmir said.
Tampa Bay (82-51) is 4 1/2 games ahead of second-place Boston in the AL East. The Rays are an AL-best 50-19 at home.
“They’re on a roll right now. They’re playing very well at home,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said.
Jeremy Guthrie (10-11) lost his third consecutive start, giving up seven runs, seven hits and six walks in three-plus innings. It was shortest start of his career.
“I didn’t feel great physically,” Guthrie said. “At the same time it doesn’t mean I can’t pitch well.”
Twins 12, Athletics 2
At Oakland, Calif., Joe Mauer matched his career high with five hits and had a season-best four RBIs, and Kevin Slowey won his fourth straight decision for Minnesota.
Cleanup hitter Justin Morneau doubled twice among his four hits and scored twice as the Twins pulled within a half game of the AL Central-leading White Sox. Mauer had a two-run single in Minnesota’s six-run second.
Slowey (11-8) struck out 10 in six innings to win for the fifth time in his past six decisions.
Red Sox 8, White Sox 0
At Boston, Daisuke Matsuzaka allowed two hits in eight innings, Dustin Pedroia had four hits and Jason Bay drove in three runs to lead Boston past Chicago.
Coming off a 6-3 road trip and with Josh Beckett placed on the disabled list, Boston used Matsuzaka (16-2), starting in place of the injured Beckett, pitched one of his most efficient games of the season. He struck out seven, walked two. His 16 wins tied Hideo Nomo’s single-season record for the most by a native of Japan.
Yankees 2, Blue Jays 1
At New York, Carl Pavano (2-0) gave up three hits and a run in six innings in his first start at Yankee Stadium since opening day last year, and Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu drove in runs for New York.
Pavano (2-0) drew a smattering of applause from a sellout crowd when he stepped to the mound for just his 21st start with the Yankees since signing a four-year contract worth nearly $40 million before the 2005 season.
Mariano Rivera got the final five outs for his 32nd save.
A.J. Burnett (16-10) allowed only seven hits in a complete game, but lost for the first time in four starts this season against New York.
Angels 3, Rangers 1
At Anaheim, Calif., Garret Anderson hit a go-ahead two-run homer off Dustin Nippert (1-4), and center fielder Torii Hunter robbed Marlon Byrd of a two-run shot to help Los Angeles increase its AL West lead over Texas to 17 games.
Ervin Santana (14-5) allowed a run and five hits over eight innings and struck out seven as the Angels reduced their magic number to 11.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth for his major league-leading 52nd save in 57 chances.
Tigers 6, Royals 3
At Detroit, Curtis Granderson and Jeff Larish each drove in two runs and Detroit scored all its runs in the fifth inning to beat Kansas City.
Zach Miner (8-4) allowed a run and six hits in six innings as the Tigers snapped a four-game losing streak.
Royals starter Kyle Davies (5-6) gave up six runs – two earned – and six hits in 4 2-3 innings.
Mariners 3, Indians 2
At Cleveland, Felix Hernandez (9-8) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings, Raul Ibanez homered off Jeremy Sowers (2-7) and drove in three runs and lowly Seattle ended Cleveland’s 10-game winning streak.
Hernandez (9-8) held the Indians to 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
Seattle closer J.J. Putz, who had blown four of his previous six save chances, worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 10th save.
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