Tampa Bay wins matchup of AL’s best records
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:46 AM PDT
The Tampa Bay Rays have been on top of the AL East for the last month. Now, they are on top of the whole league.
Willy Aybar’s two-run single broke an eighth-inning tie and the Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 on Tuesday night to claim the AL’s best record (77-48), which matches the Chicago Cubs for the best in the majors.
‘‘It just means we’re starting to do things in the right way,’’ manager Joe Maddon said after the Rays maintained their 41⁄2-game lead over second-place Boston in the division.
The win was the ninth in 11 games for Tampa Bay and the second in two nights over the Angels, the runaway AL West leaders who are now 76-48. The Rays lead the season series 6-2, including 5-0 at home.
White Sox 5
Mariners 0
Clayton Richard (1-2) allowed five hits in six innings for his first major league win in his fourth start. Matt Thornton, Octavio Dotel and Bobby Jenks each threw an inning to complete the shutout.
Nick Swisher and Jim Thome homered for host Chicago, which won for the seventh time in eight games and maintained a one-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central.
Cubs 5
Reds 0
Rich Harden allowed two hits in seven innings, struck out 10 and bunted in the go-ahead run for his first career RBI to lead host Chicago.
The NL Central-leading Cubs (77-48) improved to a season-high 29 games over .500. Chicago has won seven of eight and 17 of its last 21.
Phillies 5
Nationals 4
Jayson Werth hit a tiebreaking solo homer off Steven Shell (0-1), sending visiting Washington to its 11th straight loss.
It is the longest skid for the franchise since the Montreal Expos dropped 11 in a row from June 23-July 4, 1991.
Ryan Madson (3-1) pitched a perfect eighth and Brad Lidge finished for his 31st save in as many chances.
