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Crawford leads Rays over Orioles

May 1, 2008 - 9:19 PM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- After posting the most successful April in franchise history, the Tampa Bay Rays got May off to a good start.

Carl Crawford's two-run single snapped a tie in the top of the seventh inning as the Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 4-2, on Thursday for their eighth win in nine games.

Tampa Bay (16-12) moved four games over .500 this late in a season for the first time in its 11-year history.

"It's early, but we want to keep playing well and hard and see what happens," Crawford said. "This is a positive group of people. It doesn't take too much to get us ready to play."

Rays center fielder B.J. Upton left the game in the fifth inning with a strained left shoulder. He suffered the injury while swinging at a 2-1 pitch with two outs in the fifth.

"I don't think it will be anything long-term," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said.

Orioles starter Brian Burres (3-2) departed after walking Shawn Riggans and giving up a single to Jason Barlett to start the seventh. The runners moved up on a error by center fielder Adam Jones.

Jamie Walker replaced Burres and struck out Akinori Iwamura, but Crawford lined a single to center field, giving the Rays a 4-2 lead.

"We are coming out on a daily basis believing that we can win that game, regardless of who we are playing or who is pitching against us," Maddon added. "I like the way this team is handling success right now."

Crawford's hit made a winner of Matt Garza (1-0), who allowed only three hits in six innings. One of them was a two-run home run by Jones that tied the contest in the fourth inning.

"I just went after the hitters and make them beat me and not beat myself," Garza said. "Just keep pounding the strike zone and let them make that contact."

The only other hits allowed by Garza were a leadoff single by Brian Roberts in the bottom of the first and a double by Aubrey Huff ahead of Jones' homer.

Despite the strong outing, Garza could lose his spot in the rotation as Tampa Bay ace Scott Kazmir is set to make his season debut on Sunday.

"I am just going to pitch," Garza said. "It's not my decision. I will keep working my butt off."

The Rays grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Carlos Pena's run-scoring groundout in the first inning, then doubled their advantage on Jonny Gomes' solo homer in the top of the fourth.

Dan Wheeler followed Garza will two perfect innings in relief before Troy Percival recorded the final three outs for his 330th career save. Percival moved into a tie with John Wetteland for 10th on the all-time list.

"The guys are handling this with a lot of composure because we know it's early," Percival said. "We know we will probably hit a slide here and there. But as long as we keep playing consistent and hard, I think the guys' attitude is really going to help us out."

The three hits matched a season low for the Orioles, who have dropped four of their last five games.