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, pitching 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 Xavier Bogarts 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 hte 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).