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Devil Rays start August with win over Blue Jays

Aug 1, 2007 - 11:21 PM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - Thankfully for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, July is finally over.

After finishing with the worst July in franchise history, the Devil Rays opened August with a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon.

All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford had three hits, including a two-run home run, as Tampa Bay won its first series since June 17-19 - against the Los Angeles Angels.

"I hope this is the start of a hot streak for us," Crawford said. "We'll see when this next series comes around."

Crawford, who delivered a walk-off home run in the 11th inning of Monday's win over Toronto, homered to give Tampa Bay the lead for good, 3-2, in the sixth.

"He's an All-Star and a chance to be an MVP someday," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "We're tired of looking at him."

Since returning Monday from a sore right wrist injury, Crawford is 5-for-8 with two home runs.

"I think Carl's finding his groove right now," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "He's ready for a real good hot streak."

The Devil Rays won despite losing starter Jason Hammel to an injury in the fourth inning. Hammel left after three pitches in the fourth due to tightness in his right shoulder. The injury is not believed to be serious, a team official said.

Relievers Juan Salas, Gary Glover, Dan Wheeler and Al Reyes blanked the Blue Jays in the final six innings, allowing only two hits. Glover (5-3), who pitched the sixth and seventh, picked up the win.

"It really was nice to watch that whole thing unfold," Maddon said. "They all went in there and did a great job. I thought Salas was the key to the whole thing.

"It was just one game but it's nice to see. It really shows how you'd like to do it. When we've got the bullpen going, it makes all the difference in the world."

After Crawford homered off Josh Towers (5-8), Brendan Harris' RBI single made it 4-2. In the seventh, Akinori Iwamura's sacrifice fly scored Dioner Navarro, who led off with a double, to increase Tampa Bay's lead to 5-2. Harris' RBI double in the eighth accounted for the Devil Rays' final run.

Towers, who lost for the third time in his last four starts, went 5 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs with two walks and four strike outs.

"It started out good for us," Towers said. "Late in the game, my control was not as good. The home run showed how good of a player Crawford is. We did some things right, but they were patient and got pitches to hit and hit them."

Alex Rios' RBI single and Matt Stairs' RBI double spotted Toronto a 2-0 lead after two innings before the Devil Rays rallied.

Jonny Gomes hit a solo home run in the third inning, ending an 11-inning scoreless streak for the Devil Rays, who were shut out by Toronto on Tuesday.