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Rays Hold Off Cubs Once Again

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By MARC LANCASTER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 19, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Two games into their showdown against the team with the best record in baseball, the Rays have collected a pair of hard-fought wins.

Is that a big deal anymore?

Navigating a schedule that has been "littered with first-place teams," as Manager Joe Maddon put it, it would seem the Rays might have reached the juncture where victories like their 5-4 triumph against the Cubs on Wednesday no longer raise eyebrows.

Maddon isn't quite there yet.

"For us, it validates that we are playing well and it validates that we are a good team," he said. "When you go through these situations where you're attempting to grow, you think you're good and you think you're better, but then you have to go out there and actually show it.

"It's not about coming close and coming up short and always saying 'what if' and 'we just missed' or whatever - you have to actually do it to get to that next level. We need confidence to do that and you gain confidence by games like Wednesday's."

The Rays certainly are past the days of shrinking from a challenge and expecting the worst when matters get dicey. Troy Percival has personified that sea of change the last two nights, coming on to protect a two-run lead each time and giving one back before finally slamming the door.

There was no spectacular defensive play to close it out Wednesday night, just a curveball that dropped into the zone for a called third strike on Kosuke Fukudome, ending the game with the tying run stranded on first base after Geovany Soto had led off the ninth with a homer to bring the Cubs within one.

Validation?

"We can validate all year long until we're in October," Percival said. "We're a good team, everybody knows we're a good team now, and we're not sneaking up on anybody anymore."

The Rays' biggest statement to that effect Wednesday came in the bottom of the third inning, when they responded to the Cubs scoring twice off Andy Sonnanstine in the top half to claim a 2-1 edge.

Tampa Bay's hitters followed up Carlos Zambrano's leadoff walk of Akinori Iwamura with four consecutive hits, eventually scoring four runs in the inning and taking control with the kind of offensive statement that has been lacking for them.

Prior to that outburst, the Rays had scored either one or zero runs in 23 consecutive innings dating to Saturday's game against the Marlins. They hadn't scored more than twice in any inning since posting five runs in the fifth against the Angels on June 9 en route to a 13-4 victory.

"That's huge, especially against Zambrano," Sonnanstine said. "He's such a good pitcher and to get a couple runs like that is huge for the momentum."

Before meeting with reporters, the soft-spoken starter donned a custom-made bathrobe that appeared in Jonny Gomes' locker earlier in the day. The white terrycloth number is done up like a jersey, with the Rays logo in the front and Gomes' name and number on the back.

It's known as the "Rally Robe," and the sight of it gracing Sonnanstine's back spawned appreciative hoots around the clubhouse.

That's how it's going for the Rays right now, with seemingly everything breaking their way. The difference is noticeable.

"It just means that we're playing hard and we're able to compete with good teams," Carl Crawford said. "It's a good confidence boost."

Do the Rays still need the boost?

"You can never have enough," he said. "You're always looking for things to keep your confidence high. In baseball, you can lose it real fast."

Tonight, the Rays will attempt to become the first team to sweep the Cubs this season. If it gets tight, the home side will feel good about its chances.

"We feel like if we can keep it close, we can win it somehow," Maddon said. "That's a great feeling to have and I think all good teams have that feeling."

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