Rays 5, Orioles 3

James Shields takes a shutout into the eighth inning in his final start of the season, and Ben Zobrist and Carl Crawford hit homers as Tampa Bay wins its fourth in a row and clinches a winning record. Shields matches his season high with eight strikeouts and pitches eight or more innings for the fourth time.

Crawford would like to work out new deal this winter; Rays interested

UPDATE, 7:41: The Rays sounded like they were interested. “We are very pleased to hear C.C.’s comments,'' executive vice president Andrew Friedman said.  "Consistent with our policy, we do not speak publicly about contract negotiations but obviously we have a tremendous amount of respect for Carl both on and off the field.  He has been a big part of our past success and I expect he will be a big part of our future success as well.”

DEVELOPING: Three-time All-Star LF Carl Crawford would like to stay with the Rays long term.

While it seems all but certain the Rays will pick up his $10-million option for 2010, Crawford said he would be open to discussing a new long-term deal this winter before heading into what would be the final year of his contract.

"I hope we can get something done,'' Crawford said. “I think the organization is definitely headed in the right direction and I’d like to be part of that.’’

Crawford has spent his entire career with the Rays, and for years had been looking forward to free agency. But with the change in direction and the team's success last season, he said he now very much would like to stay.

"I'd be open to whatever they're open to, and they know that. It's no secret,'' Crawford said. "
I just really hope something happens.''

He also said he would like to avoid the uncertainty of being in the final year of his contract, and might feel he has to play cautiously if that is the case.

"I've never been in this position before so I don't know what to expect,'' he said. "I don't like worrying about it, and you can sit there and say you're not worried about it, but to not know what your future's going to be in the next five or six years or so is definitely ... it makes you scared at times. I just hope we can do something. It's uncomfortable worrying about it. I don't like playing cautious. ... I'm the kind of guy that doesn't like to play cautious. You'd be a liar if you say you didn't play cautious when you have to go through contracts and stuff like that. I want to just be able to play baseball, don't worry about nothing else.
" I hope we can get something done, but if not I'll just go into next season, do what I have to do and try to help the team win and go from there.''

Crawford did say he wants any negotiations take place before the start of next season, and either have a new deal by then or play the season and head into free agency.

For starters, Rays-O's, without Burrell

The Rays look to make it four straight wins, and ensure a winning record for the season, tonight against the Orioles, as James Shields make his final start of the season. Pat Burrell is out of the lineup, with Jason Bartlett the DH and Reid Brignac at short. Also, Shawn Riggans is again behind the plate.

The lineup:
Bartlett ss
Crawford lf
Longoria 3b
Zobrist rf
Upton cf
Aybar 1b
Iwamura 2b
Riggans c
Brignac ss
Shields p

And for the Orioles:
Roberts 2b
Fiorentino cf
Markakis rf
Scott lf
Wieters dh
Mora 3b
Aubrey 1b
Moeller c
Andino ss
Hernandez p

Rays 3, Orioles 1

View photo gallery from the Tampa Bay Rays vs. Orioles game.

Rookie Wade Davis battles through several early jams to pitch seven effective innings, Ben Zobrist drives in his 85th run and Carl Crawford steals his 60th base of the season as Tampa Bay clinches the second .500 record in franchise history. The Rays score two in the first on Zobrist's double and a single by Willy Aybar, who has three hits, and add insurance in the seventh on B.J. Upton's sacrifice fly following Reid Brignac's one-out triple.

Crawford steals career-high 60th base

Carl Crawford finally got his career-high 60th stolen base, swiping second against Baltimore's Matt Wieters in the first inning. Crawford hadn't stolen a base since Sept. 18, and had been caught twice in the interim.

For starters, Rays-O's with Upton on top

The Rays look to at least guarantee a .500 record with a win tonight against the Orioles, and will try to do so with B.J. Upton back in the leadoff spot and Jason Bartlett on the bench. Rookie Wade Davis will be on the mound, making his fifth major-league start.

The Rays lineup:
Upton cf
Crawford lf
Longoria 3b
Zobrist 2b
Aybar 1b
Burrell dh
Zaun c
Gross rf
Brignac ss
Davis p

And for the Orioles
Roberts 2b
Wigginton dh
Markakis rf
Scott lf
Mora 3b
Weiters c
Aubrey 1b
Fiorentino cf
Izturis ss
Guthrie p

Rays 7, Orioles 6

Tampa Bay rallies for the second straight game, hitting four home runs and overcoming a 6-3 deficit to beat Baltimore. Willy Aybar hits a tying three-run homer in the seventh inning, then Burrell drives in the eventual winner with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Click for a slide show.

For starters, Rays vs Orioles

Update 5:04 p.m. Zobrist said he hasn't played first base since spring training (other than an inning Sunday), but said he expects to be comfortable in that spot.

Manager Joe Maddon said the move was mostly so he could get Iwamura and Kapler in the lineup the same day, and give Carl Crawford a day off, and plus the fact Zobrist is versatile enough to do it. It is not, however, a test to see if Zobrist could play more extensively at first base; he's got plenty other positions he can tackle.

Maddon said he plans to get a few guys a breather later in the week, possibly Upton and Bartlett, and maybe Longoria, as the season winds down, making sure they finish the year strong (and healthy). 

***

The Rays begin their final homestand of the season with a four-game set with the struggling Orioles, who have lost 10 straight.

Manager Joe Maddon said that after the series with Texas - which was still in contention for a playoff spot - he'd use this week to get some other guys in the lineup. And he did just that today, with Fernando Perez getting a start in leftfield and Shawn Riggans getting a start behind the plate.

Right-hander Jeff Niemann will pitch tonight in a battle of the big men, as ex- Rays (and fellow lefty Mark Hendrickson will be his counterpart tonight.

Here is the Rays lineup:
Bartlett ss
Kapler, rf
Longoria, 3b
Zobrist 1b
Upton, cf
Burrell dh
Iwamura, 2b
Riggans, c
Perez, lf
Niemann, p

- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Rays 7, Rangers 6

Tampa Bay ends its road schedule on an up note, rallying with three runs in the eighth and four in the ninth to erase a 5-0 deficit and prevent a three-game sweep in Texas. Fernando Perez drives in the eventual winner with a sacrifice squeeze that brings in Evan Longoria. The Rays, who finish 32-49 away from the Trop, end their season at home against the Orioles and Yankees needing to go 3-4 to finish above .500.

For starters, Rays vs Rangers, with Richard at first base

Update 2:04 p.m. Manager Joe Maddon said he plans to sit down with his coaches in the week after the season is over, and as of right now, he doesn't anticipate any changes.

****

The Rays will close out their road slate with another game with the Rangers, trying to snap their 0-for-5 skid here in Arlington this season.

With Texas still in the AL West race (though barely), the Rays will have a lot of their regulars in today, with the exception of Chris Richard at 1B. Pat Burrell is not in the lineup.

LHP David Price will take the mound and go for his 10th win. If he can complete the feat, that will give two Rays rookies with 10 wins and winning records; in the AL, since 1980, only three sets of rookie teammates have finished above .500 with 10 wins, with the last the Mariners duo of Freddy Garcia and John Halama (1999).

Here is the Rays lineup:
Bartlett ss
Crawford lf
Longoria, 3b
Zobrist 2b
Aybar, dh
Upton cf
Gross, rf
Richard, 1b
Navarro, c
Price, p

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com