Rays zap Cubs; Zambrano hurt
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - With every victory against contenders like the Chicago Cubs, the Tampa Bay Rays gain a little more confidence.
"It validates that we are a good team," manager Joe Maddon said last night after the surprising Rays held off the Cubs, 5-4, for their second straight win over the club with baseball's best record.
Andy Sonnanstine allowed three runs in five innings-plus and Tampa Bay's improved bullpen shut down the Cubs for the second night in a row to help the Rays clinch their ninth consecutive series at home.
B.J. Upton, Eric Hinske, Evan Longoria, and Willy Aybar provided just enough offensive support, driving in runs off Carlos Zambrano during Tampa Bay's four-run third inning.
Zambrano (8-3) lost for just the second time in his last nine decisions. He allowed five runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, departing after throwing 100 pitches. The Cubs later said he was lifted because of right shoulder discomfort.
The two-time NL All-Star will fly today to Chicago, where he will see a doctor and have an MRI.
"At this point I don't know nothing. We'll see what happens," Zambrano said, adding that his shoulder was feeling better. "Hopefully, it's nothing bad."
Catcher Geovany Soto motioned for manager Lou Piniella to head out to the mound after Zambrano threw his last pitch.
"He threw a pitch funny. Like weird," Soto said. "I went out there. It was like, 'Are you all right? What's going on?' He said, 'Yeah, I'm fine.' I just had to call somebody because I didn't think it was all right."
The Cubs scored twice in the third and once in the fifth off Sonnanstine (8-3), who allowed six hits and kept the Rays in front by only giving up one run after Chicago loaded the bases in the fifth.
The Rays' bullpen limited the Cubs to one run and three hits over the last 4 1/3 innings of Tampa Bay's 3-2 victory in the series opener. This time, J.P. Howell and Dan Wheeler held Chicago in check until Troy Percival closed it out in the ninth.
Percival earned his 17th save in 19 opportunities to tie Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers for ninth place on the career list with 341.
