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Surging Rays extend winning streak to seven

Jul 6, 2008 - 10:52 PM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- How good are the surprising Tampa Bay Rays?

Even without All-Star catcher Dioner Navarro and lefthanded pitcher Scott Kazmir, the Rays still rolled to their seventh consecutive victory with a 9-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Rookie Evan Longoria and Gabe Gross homered and James Shields allowed two runs in seven dominating innings as Tampa Bay made three straight wins over the Royals.

Carlos Pena had three hits to pace the Rays' 13-hit attack, which included six for extra bases.

The Rays (55-32) own the best record in the majors.

Tampa Bay is 17-4 in its last 21 and 32-6 in its last 38 home games at Tropicana Field.

"We're learning it doesn't matter who we play," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "There are no pushovers in this league. We don't take anyone lightly."

Longoria, who hit his 16th home run, Pena and B.J. Upton each had two RBI.

"Longoria's had quite a last couple of weeks," Maddon said. "He's playing with a lot of confidence. It's not really a surprise."

Shields (7-5) won his third consecutive start. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out eight.

"I was attacking the zone and everything was clicking," Shields said. "My job was to keep the team in the game and get as deep in the game as possible."

Navarro and Kazmir watched from the dugout Sunday after being named to the American League All-Star team, only the second time the Rays have had two representatives.

"It's been such a wonderful thing for the whole team," said Navarro, named to his first All-Star team. "I'll take this and enjoy it as much as I can. It was a relief being selected."

Kazmir, who spent the first month of the season on the disabled list, is making his second All-Star appearance in three years.

"I just wanted to get back (off the DL) and wanted to contribute," Kazmir said. "Once I got back, I felt like I was hitting on all cylinders."

Trailing 2-1, the Rays broke it open with a four-run third. Pena ripped a two-run double to right and Longoria followed with a two-run homer to left for a 5-2 lead.

In the fourth, Upton's two-run double increased the margin to 7-2.

Gross' leadoff homer in the sixth and Carl Crawford's sacrifice fly accounted for the Rays' final two runs.

"I think we're just grinding," Gross said. "It's what we have to do."

Kansas City starter Luke Hochevar (5-7) allowed nine hits and seven earned runs in four innings.

"I didn't do a good job with moving the ball around and changing speeds," Hochevar said. "I felt they were able to sit one one location and one pitch. I have to do a better job pitching, changing speeds, moving the ball in and out."

The Royals, who have been outscored in the three-game series, 23-4, took a 2-0 lead in the second. Following Ross Gload's single and John Buck's double, Esteban German had a two-run single.

It was the last hit the Royals got off Shields until Gload's two-out double in the seventh.

"After the two runs, we let Shields get in a groove," Kansas City manager Trey Hillman said. "Tampa Bay is hot, they're confident and you can't make that many mistakes."

The Royals lost their third consecutive game and seventh in their last nine games.

"Individually we don't stand out," Maddon said. "But as a team we stand out. I'd rather have it be like that. We're playing like all-stars as a group."