Rays overcome shortcomings in victory

Beckham's three-run homer drove in the winning runs./STEVE MUNCIE

Tuesday, 2 a.m.

This time, the Tampa Bay Rays seemed to have no business winning.

The previous day, they had played a grueling 15-inning game, then the team flew to Texas. Their pitching staff was running on fumes, with the previous night's closer starting. And the Rangers jumped to a quick 4-1 lead.

And then the Rays came back again.

This time, Tampa Bay won 10-8, piecing together six pitchers to get the win. Shortstop Tim Beckham had the

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kill-shot, hitting a three-run homer in the seventh inning to complete the team's 14th comeback of the season.

Rasmus hit the first pitch he saw for a double./CARMEN MANDATO

Alex Colome, who got the win on Sunday, struck out the side in the ninth to earn his 14th save.

“He was pretty adamant,” said Rays' manager Kevin Cash. “'I'm good. I want to pitch.' He was up for pitching. We ask an awful lot of Alex, and it's really appreciated what he does for us. It's a pretty calming feeling.”

The Rays had four hits from Steven Souza and three from Corey

Souza had four hits, and seven in the last two days, for Tampa Bay/STEVE MUNCIE

Dickerson. Beckham had two hits. Evan Longoria drove in four runs, including two with a home run.

“I was looking for a fastball,” Longoria said. “He was consistently beating me with fastballs. I didn't want to get beat on the fastball. It was one of the only flat ones he threw me.”

Longoria praised Souza and Dickerson.

“We've seen it all year,” Longoria said. “Those guys have been the backbone of our offense. When Souza gets hot, he gets hot. That's a good thing to see. Corey has been as consistent as anyone all year.”

The Rays started Erasmo Ramirez, who had closed Sunday's game

Dickerson remained hot, getting three more hits./CARMEN MANDATO

in the 15th. But Ramirez struggled, lasting only 2 1/3 innings and giving up four earned runs.

Jose De Leon, just up from the minors, pitched 2 2/3 innings and struggled. He gave up four hits, three walks and two earned runs, but got the win. Still, Kevin Cash praised De Leon.

“We knew coming in with Jose, early this year, part of season was derailed by injuries,” Cash said.
“He is still working his way back. He picked us up in a big way. We didn't have another candidate down there to do what he did. We're extremely appreciative of that.We know he's a better pitcher than what he showed today. He did enough to help us win.”

Beckham made two nice plays in the field, throwing out catcher Robinson Chirinos at the plate on one of them. His three-run homer was his eighth of the season, and it came after Colby Rasmus' pinch-hit double tied the game at seven.

“I wanted to see a pitch in the zone,” Beckham said. “A pitch I could do damage with. He gave me a fastball over the plate and I put a good swing on it.”

The Rays play again tonight when Matt Andriese pitches against Nick Martinez.

Colome got his 14th save of the season./JEFFREY S. KING