Tampa Bay Rays Sweep Floria Marlins, Move into Third Place in AL East

The Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of their cross-state rivals, the Florida Marlins.

In doing so, Tampa Bay kept pace with the New York Yankees in the Wild Card chase while moving past the Toronto Blue Jays and sole possesion of third place in the American League East. Depending on the outcome of tonight's Mets-Yankees game, the Rays could be within one game of the Yankees for second in the division.

BJ Upton apparently wishes he played in the National League. In 16 interleague competitions, the Tampa Bay centerfielder is batting .357 with two homers and 13 RBI. This compared to .207 against AL competition.

It was Upton who powered the Rays past the Marlins in game one with a 7-3 victory. He broke up a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning by scoring on a wild pitch. Then in the eighth he put the game away with a three-run double.

Unfortunately, teammate Jason Bartlett went 0-for-4, seeing his 19 game hit streak be broken. Tampa Bay got a solid pitching performance from James Shields, who went 6 2/3 innings, allowing nine hits and three earned runs.

In game two, Scott Kazmir made his triumphant return to the Rays and looked like the old dominating Kaz that Rays' fans remember. The former All-Star went five strong innings, allowing four hits, two runs, striking out five and walking only one batter. This was a major achievement for a hurler who has struggled with control all season.

Kazmir was gone by the time the Rays snapped a 2-2 tie. That would be the bottom of the ninth when Jason Barlett singled, stole second, advanced to third, then was driven home by Willy Aybar's sacrifice fly to center. Carlos Pena hit his 23rd home run of the season.

In the final game of the home stand, the Rays completed the sweep with a little pitching from phenom David Price and a little power from Upton.

Upton's blast in the third inning secured their place as only the fifth team in Major League Baseball history to have 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases before the All-Star break.

Price had his best outing after two bad ones, going six and third innings, allowing only one run and striking out four. Price is still struggling with control, walking five while allowing only two hits. T

he Rays found themselves executing on several scoring opportunities throughout the contest—getting run scoring hits from Jason Bartlett, Gabe Kapler, Evan Longoria, and Ben Zobrist.

In addition, Tropicana Field remained the only field in the majors to have a home run hit in every game.

Tampa Bay finished up its home stand 5-1, winners of five straight. They'll finally get their shot at AL East rival Toronto, beginning a six-game road trip in the great white north tomorrow, then coming home to face the Blue Jays at Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay is five games behind Boston in the AL East, two games behind the Yankees for the Wild Card.