Pena's single in 8th leads Rays over White Sox

CHICAGO (AP) -- Carlos Pena's two-run single capped a four-run eighth inning, and the surging Tampa Bay Rays increased their AL East lead Saturday by rallying for a 5-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Pena's bases-loaded single off Matt Thornton broke a 3-all tie and sent Tampa Bay to its 11th win in 14 games. The surprising Rays, who keep winning despite injuries to Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford Troy Percival, moved 5 1/2 games ahead of second-place Boston.

(Pictured - Carlos Pena looks to the dugout after hitting a two-run single in the 8th. AP photo. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[Mo Chedda]

9=8.com is like the hooked on phonics of Rays blogs.

[9equals8.com]

I am so glad that this team was able to put on a display for most of the country. The Rays have not been on the national stage for 5 years and this was their chance to show the country what Rays baseball is all about. A true "9=8" performance with the entire team contributing the whole game. Enjoy the ride, Rays fans. This is special.

[Weekend4Ryleigh]

Why would Fox want to cover the Baltimore series? They should have waited until Sept. 20th and picked up the Minnesota game.
Today was another example of how solid this team is. I hope they can hold it together through the stretch. I believe.

[Mark]

You want to see some bandwagon fans at the Trop?

Look no further than when FOX comes to Tampa next Saturday. XD

What took THEM so long? It's not like we haven't had some good Saturday games lined up that would please them, right?

[Andy]

I respectfully disagree regarding attendance. The test will not be our final attendance figures for this year, but how we draw next year, when we will get to see how many new season-ticket holders have come to the table. Baseball is an 81 game commitment (twice that of basketball, and 10X that of football), and you cannot expect consistent attendance on the basis of walk-ups alone.

[Grace]

I expected the TV news to cover this fabulous game in Chicago at the top of the sports segment..but they didn't until they'd interviewed losing Bucs players in Jax.
Why does a Bucs pre-season loss take all the media space while the Rays' new records get short shrift?

[Slappy]

Joe's an "idiot." I use the quotation marks because the Times' Board Nanny won't permit me to call Joe something more fitting.

Now, if the crowds don't start turning out, I think people have to admit (1) the Trop is a dump; and (2) it's a dump in a really inconvenient location for the majority of the metroplex. Not a knock on St. Petersburg - just a fact.

[joe has a problem]

See below.

[Terri]

Rocco on steroids? I dont think so - what a crappy thing to say. The Rays are playing great ball this year - they simply do not give up.

[Jason]

If anyone was on Roids it's Gomes. Heat attack at 21? Yeah, that's roids all the way/

Rocco is a good player, who has an illness.

[tbird]

nice comment Joe--I'll bet you would wish Rocco's ailment on yourself so you could show just how tough you are and what a wimp Rocco was, Huh ?? What a sicko and may your computer lose it's connection due to roids...

[Sam]

Hey Joe, maybe you should keep your opinions to yourself, especially when you don't know what you're talking about. If Rocco were to be on steroids he would weight a lot more than 190. Give us all a break. 2 for 4 with a homerun yesterday. You can form an opinion, about his physical conition, but only when you walk in his shoes.

[Charles Crist, Governor, State of Florida, U S of A]

Rays possess best record in MLB and SP Times give BUCS PRESEASON game top billing? What's wrong with you?

[Sick]

I am so sick of Joe. Drop the steroids references! What'd Rock ever do to you?

[Joe]

What about Upton displaying some good base-running skills in the 8th after Mr. steroids (Baldelli) grounded out to third? I'm glad to see that Upton is hustling again.

[A.J. Bird]

I am a hard nut to convince but the Rays are a GOOD base ball team. More than luck involved when you keep coming back like they have been doing.

[Joanne]

So much for being on national FOX TV. Here in upstate NY we got the LAA/Phillies game instead. For some reason, the country just can't admit the RAYs are great.

[Dave]

Aki's at bat against Thornton was simply spectacular!

[David L.]

That's the mark of a good team. The Rays continue to pull out games that they have no business winning. Tuesday night against the Angels and today against the Chi Sox.

[dick]

Typical Rays win and great that it was on the national stage so the rest of the country can see what we have and all this is just not playing "over our heads." Good enough starting pitching, good defense and staying close enough that when we face their starter the 3rd time around, something usually happens, as it did today. Balfour, Bradford and Wheeler were untouchable..
These games are our Olympics....

[jim]

First national game in five years. On the road playing a[nother] contender. Down 2-0. Perfect game--against us--thru five. Used to be I figured, "This game's lost."

Now? "How we gonna pull this one out?"

Fun season.

[David]

Wow