Tampa Bay Rays weekly report

The Rays on Wednesday night fell to .500 in their 4-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Behind 2-1 going into the top of the ninth, the Rays tied the game but lost it in the bottom of the frame on a walk-off two-run shot off losing pitcher Russ Springer (0-4) by Matt Wieters. Starter Andy Sonnanstine surrendered just two runs on three hits, but Carl Crawford was caught stealing twice. Springer pitched to two batters in the bottom of the ninth, giving up one hit, the two-run shot, and walking one.

On Thursday, the Rays salvaged their series with the Orioles, winning 3-0 in Baltimore. Rookie righthander Wade Davis (1-1) picked up his first major-league win. Gabe Kapler made two outstanding defensive plays and drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt. Davis gave the bullpen a break, pitching nine innings, giving up four hits, walking two and striking out 10.

On Friday, the Rays started a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays, and opened the series with an 11-4 win. After falling behind 2-0, the Rays roared back with six in the bottom of the third and two in the bottom of the fourth to support James Shields (10-10). Evan Longoria hit a two-run shot and drove in three. Shields pitched six innings, giving up nine hits, four earned runs, walking one and striking out four.

The Rays on Saturday shut out the Blue Jays 4-0 as Matt Garza improved to 8-10 with a three-hitter. The four runs in the bottom of the first were all the Rays needed as Evan Longoria, Ben Zobrist, Willy Aybar and Gabe Kapler had RBI singles. Garza pitched 7 1/3 innings, giving up three hits no runs, walking six and striking out 10.

On Sunday, the Rays completed a sweep of the Blue Jays at home with a 3-1 win. Not only that, the Rays became the first team to beat Roy Halladay four times in one season. Carl Crawford had a two-run homer in the first and Willy Aybar connected with a solo shot in the eighth to seal it. Ray Price (9-7) pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up three hits, one earned run, a homer, walking two and striking out two. J.P. Howell pitched a third of an inning for his 17^th save.

The Rays on Tuesday lost a close game to the Seattle Mariners 4-3. Down 3-1 going into the bottom of the sixth, the Rays rallied for two runs to tie it, but Dan Wheeler gave up a decisive homer in the top of the eighth. Jeff Niemann had a quality start, but the Rays' offense couldn't help him. Wheeler (4-5) pitched an inning, giving up one hit, one earned run on the homer, walking one and striking out one.