Crawford's 3-Run Homer Lifts Rays

Tampa Bay sweeps weekend series against Angels
Posted May 11, 2008 5:37 PM CDT
Crawford's 3-Run Homer Lifts Rays
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Justin Speier, center, watches a three-run home run by Tampa Bay Rays' Carl Crawford, foreground, during the sixth inning of a baseball game today.   (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)

Carl Crawford hit a three-run homer and Cliff Floyd added a pair of run-scoring singles, helping the Tampa Bay Rays win 8-5 over the Los Angeles Angels today. Santana departed with a 5-4 lead with one runner on and two outs in the sixth inning, but the game shifted when Justin Speier (0-3) entered and gave up a double to Akinori Iwamura and Crawford's homer.

The series sweep left Los Angeles with a four-game losing streak and lifted the Rays (21-16) five games over .500 for the first time in the club's 11-season history. Although Santana remained unbeaten, Tampa Bay prevented an Angels starter from becoming the league's first seven-game winner for the second straight day. Joe Saunders lost for the first time in seven decisions yesterday. (More MLB stories.)

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