Monday, 4 a.m.

A win such as this allowed one thought to creep into your head: Maybe, just maybe, the Tampa Bay Rays can hold onto this AL East thing.

The Rays won in an improbable fashion Sunday, 5-4 over the San Diego Padres at Tropicana Field. Twice, they came from behind when the game appeared to be over.

It was their 14th sweep of the season.

The heroes?

-- Jorge Mateo singled with the bases loaded in the 11th inning to bring in the winning run.

-- Jonny DeLuca, batting against the great Mason Miller, hit a home run with two in the ninth to force extra innings. It appeared the left fielder Samad Taylor caught the ball, but when Taylor hit the fence, he dropped the ball on the other side of it. DeLuca brought in the run to tie the game at 4-4 in the 11th when Xander Bogaerts couldn't field his groundout.

-- Starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen went six innings and allowed four hits and two runs. One of the hits and both runs could be contested as a grounder went off Taylor Wells' glove.

-- Junior Caminero pulled into a tie for the AL East in home runs with his 37th.

Oh, there were flaws. The Rays committed two errors, which doesn't count Walls' play or a wild throw on a bunt by Fernando Tatis Jr. Tatis was called out for running in the basepaths.

Still, the Rays battled against the Padres' bullpen, which has been the best in the majors this year.

Caminero had two hits. Tyler Wells won the game for the Rays.

Tampa Bay now leads the AL East by 4 1/2 games over the Yankees and 8 1/2 over the Red Sox. They have won four in a row.

The Rays open a three-game series against the Mets tonight at 6:40. Ian Seymour (9-5) will start for the Rays against Robert Stock (0-3).

Sunday, 4 a.m.

Maybe it wasn't the finest comeback in Tampa Bay Rays' history.

But it may have been the fastest.

One moment, the Rays seemed to be dead in the water. Reliever Garrett Cleavinger had just given up three runs (while recording only one out) in the top of the seventh inning, and the Rays trailed 6-3 against San Diego at Tropicana Field.

Then the Rays woke up.

-- Richie Palacious walked.

-- Cedric Mullins singled to right.

-- Taylor Walls singleed to right to load the bases.

-- Yandy Diaz singled to deep center. Mullins scored. Palacios and Walls then scored on a throwing error by second baseman Luis Rengifo. Quick as a finger-snap, the game was tied at six.

-- Junior Caminero walked.

-- With two outs, Chandler Simpson singled to left to drive in the winning run.

It was the Rays' 81st win of the year, meaning the team cannot finish with a losing record.

The Rays had other heroes. Caminero hit his 36th home run. Jonathan Aranda hit his 17th. Bryan Baker recorded is 39th save. Yandy Diaz, Liam Hicks, Simpson and Walls all had two hits. Kevin Kelly won his sixth game.

It was the 33rd comeback win for the Rays, seventh in the major leagues.

The Rays and Padres play again today at 1:40 p.m. at Tropicana Field. The Rays will start Drew Rasmussen (14-5) against Robbie Ray (11-7).

Saturday, 4 a.m.

All in all, Friday was a good day for the Tampa Bay Rays. Wouldn't you say.

Not only did the Rays get the decisive votes from the Hillsborough County Commission to build their new ballpark, they celebrated with a 9-4 trouncing of the San Diego Padres. They became the first American League team to win 80 games this season.

The Rays scored five runs in the fourth inning on the way to their win.

San Diego managed just four hits. However, those were good for four runs -- two coming on groundouts and two more on a home run by Jackson Merrill.

The Rays got home runs from Yandy Diaz, his 20th, and Cedric Mullins, his 14th. Diaz, Chandler Simpson and Taylor Walls all had two hits.

Shane McClanahan ran his record to 10-6. He spread three hits over five and two-thirds innings. Relievers Manuel Rodriguez, Kevin Kelly and Steven Matz combined for three and a third innings of one-hit, shutout baseball.

The Rays lead the Yankees by four games and the Red Sox by seven.

Tampa Bay and San Diego play again today at 4:10 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Nick Martinez (13-4) will start for the Rays against Walker Buehler (8-6).