Sun Jun 29 18:03:49 2008

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Riggans, Sonnanstine lead Rays over Bucs, into first in AL East

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Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Shawn Riggans went 3-for-4, homered, drove in two and scored, and the Tampa Bay Rays edged the Pirates, 4-3, to take two of three from Pittsburgh, and take first place in the American League East.

The Red Sox lost to the Astros, 3-2, on Sunday, allowing the Rays to vault past Boston and into first prior to a three-game set between the clubs.

Boston, which led Tampa by a half-game entering play Sunday, visits the Rays for three games starting on Monday. This will be the first matchup between the clubs since Boston's three-game sweep of the Rays at Fenway Park in early June, a series which included a benches-clearing brawl.

The win put the Rays back at a franchise-record 17 games over .500. Tampa is 49-32 at the season's official halfway point, after going a major league-worst 66-96 last season. The previous best record for the club at the halfway mark was 40-41 in 2004.

Andy Sonnanstine (9-3) scattered five hits and two runs over seven frames, fanning four and walking one for the Rays, who have won five of six heading into another clash with the American League East-leading Red Sox.

"I went in with the mindset, knowing that I'm going in as long as I can. It's tough with the National League rules,the pitchers bat in the line-up. I feel real good about what happened," said Sonnanstine.

Jack Wilson went 2-for-4 and scored twice for the Pirates, who have dropped three of four. Tyler Yates (3-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in two innings of relief for Tom Gorzelanny, who gave up two runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in six frames.

"Today was a tough one," said Wilson. "We battled, Gorzo (Gorzelanny) threw great.The other guy (Sonnanstine) had really good off-speed stuff, keeping us off-balanced. We had our chances. In the end, we couldn't come though."

The game was tied at 2-2 after seven innings, but an Xavier Nady throwing error allowed the Rays to go on top in the eighth. Carlos Pena led off with a single to right, and Willy Aybar followed with another single to right. Nady tried to throw Pena out at third, but his throw bounced up the line, allowing Pena to score the go-ahead run.

Riggans singled in Aybar later in the frame for a 4-2 lead.

Ryan Doumit's pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth cut the deficit to one run for the Pirates, but Troy Percival recovered from a leadoff walk and set down the next three batters in the ninth to pick up his 19th save.

Riggans' leadoff homer in the fourth put Tampa on top, but Jason Bay's sacrifice fly in the home half tied it at 1-1.

Aybar led off the sixth with a homer to left, again putting the Rays in front by a run, but Nate McLouth's RBI groundout in the sixth knotted the game.

Game Notes

Tampa finished its interleague slate 12-6, while the Pirates went 5-9 against the AL...Following their 4-3, 13-inning win on Saturday, the Pirates optioned pitcher Ty Taubenheim to Triple-A Indianapolis. On Sunday they recalled right-handed reliever Romulo Sanchez from their Triple-A affiliate...The Rays outhit the Bucs, 12-7, but left 11 runners on base, including failing to score despite loading the bases with one out in the second.