• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Four-run third lifts Rays past Cubs

Jun 19, 2008 - 3:27 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs hope all they lost at Tampa Bay on Wednesday night was their second consecutive game.

Ace Victor Zambrano left in the seventh inning of the Cubs' 5-4 loss to the Rays with right shoulder discomfort and will return to Chicago on Thursday to undergo an MRI exam and see team orthopedist Stephen Gryzlo.

"He had discomfort and we had to get him out," Chicago manager Lou Piniella said. "That's all we know."

The Rays used a four-run third inning against Zambrano and another strong effort from their bullpen to post their second straight interleague victory over the Cubs.

The Rays recorded five of their seven hits against Zambrano in the third en route to their 24th victory in their past 28 home games.

With the win, the Rays clinched their ninth consecutive series at home and remained two games behind Boston in the American League East race.

J.P. Howell, Dan Wheeler and Troy Percival pitched the final four innings, allowing only two hits and one run - a ninth-inning leadoff homer by Geovany Soto.

"I haven't had a lot of work in one-run saves and I wanted to see what it was like again," Percival joked. "We're a good team. Everyone knows we're a good team now. I think this many close games now is teaching this team how to win close games."

For the second consecutive night, Percival allowed a run but still got the save, his 17th of the season.

"(Percival) likes to bring excitement to the very end," Rays catcher Dioner Navarro said.

With Tampa Bay trailing, 2-1, in the third, Akinori Iwamura led off with a walk. The Rays followed with four consecutive hits - a double by Carl Crawford and RBI singles from B.J. Upton, Eric Hinske and Evan Longoria.

After Cliff Floyd popped up to second, Willy Aybar's RBI single made it 5-2.

"I was leaving some pitches up in the middle," Zambrano said.

Zambrano (8-3) got Jason Bartlett to ground into an inning-ending double play and retired 13 of the next 15 batters before leaving with two outs in the seventh after throwing ball one to Hinske - his 100th pitch of the night.

"I felt something, but I feel good," Zambrano said. "I don't think I'll miss my next start. I hope not."

Zambrano allowed seven hits, five runs (four earned), four walks and struck out two in remaining winless since June 2.

"He tried to talk me into staying," Piniella said. "He was convincing. We just hope for the best."

Cubs center fielder Jim Edmonds left after his at-bat in the fourth inning with a left foot injury. The seriousness of the injury is unknown.

Andy Sonnanstine (8-3) allowed seven hits and three runs in five innings. He walked two and struck out four in winning his second consecutive game.

"They had a chance to really get some runs," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "I thought he had better command of his fastball."

The Cubs took a 2-1 lead in the third on Kosuke Fukudome's RBI double and Ryan Theriot's RBI single.

In the fifth, the Cubs loaded the bases with no outs but managed only one run on Theriot's RBI groundout. With runners on first and third, Derrek Lee struck out and Aramis Ramirez flied out to right.

"A game like tonight is just another game that helps us have more confidence in ourselves," Crawford said.

The loss was the Cubs' second in a row at Tampa Bay. The Cubs have not lost three consecutive games this season. The Rays also swept three games from the White Sox May 30-June 1.

"We make games exciting, don't we?" Piniella said. "I think Tampa Bay likes playing the Chicago teams. It was an exciting ballgame and we got beat."