05/11/2008 - St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carl Crawford blasted the go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays used 15 hits to beat the Angels, 8-5, completing a three-game weekend sweep.
Crawford had three hits and stole two bases, while Akinori Iwamura went 3-for-5 and scored twice for the Rays. B.J. Upton added three hits, scoring three times.
Cliff Floyd had two RBI in his first action since coming off the disabled list on Friday. Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine went five innings, surrendering five runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three.
J.P. Howell (2-0) came on to pitch three strong innings, retiring seven straight and nine of 10 to secure the win. Tampa Bay extended its franchise- record nine-game winning streak at home and has won four straight overall. Troy Percival came on in the ninth to record his ninth save of the season.
"That's just the beginning hopefully," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "We feel pretty good about ourselves right now. I believe we're capable of playing this way consistently."
Torii Hunter had three hits and drove in two runs for the Angels. Garret Anderson had two hits and two RBI and Vladimir Guerrero added two hits and knocked in a run in defeat.
Los Angeles starter Ervin Santana lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits and one walk. He did strike out seven and left with a one-run lead, but remained at 6-0 on the season.
"Ervin started off a little slow, picked it up, and actually got into a pretty good rhythm," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I thought he had to work hard to get out of some innings but he settled in and gave us a chance to win."
The Angels have dropped four straight, their longest slide since dropping six in a row, April 12-18, 2007.
Tampa Bay erased the Halo's 5-4 lead with a four-run sixth off Justin Speier (0-3).
Dioner Navarro led off with a single, but Santana retired the next two batters before being lifted in favor of Speier. Iwamura roped a double to left-center, but Navarro had to be held at third. Crawford then gave an offering a ride to the right-field seats, making it 7-5. Upton followed with a double off the center-field wall and Speier uncorked consecutive wild pitches to bring in Tampa Bay's eighth run.
The Rays jumped on Santana, getting runs in the first for the second consecutive day. Upton singled in a run, while Evan Longoria lofted a sacrifice fly, and Floyd's base hit drove in Upton.
The Angels, who had been blanked by consecutive 2-0 finals in the first two outings, broke out of their series slump in the third scoring three runs to tie the game. Jeff Mathis walked and Sean Rodriguez singled to start the inning. After two fly ball outs, Guerrero, Anderson and Hunter collected RBI base-hits.
The Rays wasted no time in regaining the lead at 5-4, posting a run in the bottom half on Floyd's second single of the day, plating Upton who led off with a base hit.
Los Angeles continued to hit in the fifth getting another two runs to take the lead. Erick Aybar started with a one-out single and Guerrero followed with a double to left. Anderson singled to right plating Aybar. but right fielder Gabe Gross gunned down Guerrero trying to score for the second out. Hunter then smoked a first-pitch fastball to the gap in right-center for a triple, scoring Anderson.
Game Notes
Los Angeles' runs in the third snapped a 25-inning scoreless streak for Rays starting pitching and a 33-inning streak for Tampa Bay hurlers at home...Los Angeles opens a seven-game homestand against the Chicago White Sox on Monday after finishing a six-game road swing at 2-4...The Rays are off to their best start in club history at 21-16...Tampa continues its homestand, opening a four-game series with the New York Yankees on Monday...Iwamura extended his nine-game hit streak for Tampa.
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Jeff Suppan (2-2) gave up one run
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Atletic
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
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