Winning attitude starting to develop

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - With the Rays clubhouse still closed to the media after last night's win, director of communications Chris Costello stepped outside the door. He announced that closer Troy Percival, the guy who came to the team as a coach, not a player, was headed to the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury.

It was something that, in past years, probably could have tarnished their 3-1 win over the Red Sox. But not now. Not with the best record in the majors, not with a 2 1/2-game lead over the Red Sox, not with the guarantee that when the Sox head to New York tonight, the Rays will remain in first place in the American League East.

"It's all about what we think about ourselves in here," said Evan Longoria, who scored the winning run and made the defensive play of the game. "I don't know what the media thinks, what ESPN thinks, or whatever. In here it's different. We believe in here and that's all that matters. We look to one another. We've got confidence in each other.

"I don't think that anybody has any doubts in their mind in here as far as how good we are and how good we can be. It's good to know that we're plugging along in the AL East, which is pretty much the premier league as far as pure talent on teams. I don't want to put any of the other leagues down, but it's been like this for a long time in the AL East. It's tough to play in and we're doing it."

So from the manager to the substitute closer (Grant Balfour, who went 1 1/3 innings for the save), there was no self-pity, no outward concern, just the reassurance that comes with a winning team. As manager Joe Maddon said, "It's a great moment for us, obviously, but we have to continue to build on it. There's still a long way to go in this season. You can't take anything for granted. There's no complacency. It's one day at a time. All those clichés that we all like to use. But they're true."

And no one showed that more so than boy wonder Longoria, whose full-out dive toward the third base line and throw across the diamond from his knees caught Alex Cora at first base in a sensational play to end the seventh. Could have scored a run. Could have tied the score. Not bad for the rookie.

"That was a good play," Longoria said, with a wide grin. "That was one of my favorites."

Matt Garza, who allowed five hits and an unearned run in seven innings, said, "I was thinking sure double. Then he sits down and launches it across the diamond. I was like, 'Oh man.' I was so jacked after that."

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said the play could have been the game saver. Brandon Moss had just hit a two-out single, putting the tying run on first base in a 2-1 game. Then Cora made his bid. In past years? It probably gets by the third baseman, rattles around, allows Moss to score.

Not this year. And, if people remain surprised about that fact, well, they clearly aren't members of the Rays. Calm and cool, Balfour made sure to mention that "We expect to win, so we're not shocked to go out there and win the ballgame."

There are caveats in this tale of a rising young ball club primed to unseat the big boys in the AL East. After the All-Star break, Tampa Bay has just 31 games at Tropicana Field (where the Rays are 32-13). That doesn't help. Percival being out can't be easy, either. And it's a division in which the Red Sox and Yankees are almost always there at the end.

The Rays understand that.

"There's no guarantees with still 79 to go," Balfour said. "There's never any guarantees in this game. You play long enough, you learn that. We've got to keep playing hard. It's going to be a nonstop battle. We're looking forward to it. We're having fun. We're having fun in the clubhouse. You can see the guys enjoying baseball right now, and that's a good feeling to have.

"It's a different clubhouse right now [than last year]. This is what it should be like. It's fun to be playing in the big leagues any time, but to be winning right now and to have this feeling in the clubhouse, there's only a couple more things that could get better than that - and that's maybe down the tracks."

Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com.