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Sonnanstine solid as Rays top Marlins

Jun 14, 2008 - 3:55 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Andy Sonnanstine survived a shaky start and the Tampa Bay Rays continued their home dominance with a 6-3 interleague victory over the Florida Marlins on Friday.

Sonnanstine won for the first time in five starts and helped the Rays win for the 21st time in their last 24 home games. Jason Bartlett had three hits and an RBI and Eric Hinske had two hits, including a two-run double.

Coming off a 3-6 road trip, Tampa Bay (39-28) moved within 1 1/2 games of first-place Boston in the American League East.

"We play great here," Bartlett said. "We faced some good teams and good pitching on the road, but we came out today pretty refreshed and swung the bat well."

Sonnanstine (7-3) was 0-2 in his last four starts and appeared headed for another long night after the Marlins opened the game with three consecutive hits.

"Once again Andy started out slowly, but he picked it up," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "I just think he started locating his fastball better."

However, after allowing two first-inning runs, Sonnanstine blanked the Marlins until surrendering a run in the fifth.

"I felt good and felt like I bounced back nice in the second inning," Sonnanstine said. "The offense picked me up in the first inning. That was huge."

By that point, the Rays had scored four runs. In the bottom of the first, Hinske hit a two-run double before a run-scoring double by Gabe Gross and an RBI groundout by Akinori Iwamura gave Tampa Bay a 4-2 lead.

Leading, 4-3, entering the bottom of the fifth, the Rays added single runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings.

The victory was the first in the Rays' nine-game homestand against the Marlins, Cubs and Astros.

"When you come home and get nine games at home, you want to take advantage of it," Rays outfielder Cliff Floyd said.

Sonnanstine allowed three runs and six hits while striking five in 5 1/3 innings. Relievers J.P. Howell, Dan Wheeler and Troy Percival closed the game with 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

Percival, who came off the disabled list Friday, struck out two of three batters in the ninth inning in his first appearance since May 28.

Marlins starter Ryan Tucker (1-1) gave up five runs, seven hits and three walks in five innings.

"I've got to keep myself under control and try and do a better job at keeping my team in the game," Tucker said. "I just don't think I did a good job moving the ball in and out."

Jeremy Hermida had two hits and drove in a run for Florida.