Count Derek Jeter among those who are impressed with the improving Tampa Bay Rays. "They're playing well," the New York captain said Monday night after the Rays beat the Yankees 7-1 for their fifth consecutive victory, pulling within a half-game of first-place Boston in the AL East. "The biggest difference with them is it looks like they've got a lot more confidence.

Carl Crawford has played more games for Tampa Bay than any player in team history, so it was fitting that he delivered the blow that lifted the Rays into uncharted territory. The surging Rays climbed five games over .500 for the first time in the club's 11 seasons, with Crawford hitting a three-run homer, stealing two bases and scoring twice Sunday to pace an 8-5 victory over the Los Angeles...

Strong starting pitching, stellar defense and just enough offense to win close games. After a decade of life at the bottom of the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays are beginning to get things right. Scott Kazmir pitched six scoreless innings and the improving Rays beat the suddenly punchless Los Angeles Angels 2-0 on Saturday night to hand Joe Saunders his first loss of the season.

With James Shields pitching the way he is, the Tampa Bay Rays are beginning to believe anything is possible. Shields pitched a one-hitter and Evan Longoria's two-run, ninth-inning homer gave the surging Rays a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. The victory was Tampa Bay's 11th in 16 games and lifted the Rays, who have won four of their last five series, three games over .500...

An extra-inning grand slam sent the Tampa Bay Rays home feeling good after an nine-game road trip that had its ups and downs. Dioner Navarro hit a grand slam in the 13th inning after Carl Crawford drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly and the Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 Thursday night.

Shaun Marcum gave Toronto another outstanding pitching performance and the Blue Jays feeble offense gave the right-hander some runs to work with for a change. Marcum came within an out of a shutout, Scott Rolen hit a two-run homer and the Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Wednesday night. Marcum (4-2) walked one and matched a season-high by striking out nine, allowing two runs in 8 2-3...

Andy Sonnanstine's fastball was erratic, but he stuck with it long enough to beat the Toronto Blue Jays. Sonnanstine pitched six innings, Eric Hinske homered, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Blue Jays 5-4 on Tuesday night, snapping Toronto's five-game winning streak. Sonnanstine (5-1) allowed four runs and 10 hits, becoming the fastest five-game winner in Tampa Bay's 11-year history.

Jon Lester's expanding repertoire helped Boston finish off a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay. Kevin Youkilis had four RBIs and Lester pitched six innings to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday, spoiling the return of Rays ace Scott Kazmir. "He's taken steps to be a more complete pitcher," Sox captain Jason Varitek said of Lester.

Manny Ramirez finally ended his longest RBI drought since joining the Red Sox. Ramirez singled in two runs in the first inning to end his longest RBI drought since 1997, and Josh Beckett pitched eight innings to help the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 12-4 on Saturday night. A quick look at Manny Ramirez's numbers so far this season makes the drought hard to fathom.

Julio Franco finally called it quits. The 49-year-old announced his retirement from baseball after a 23-year career in the major leagues and stints in his native Dominican Republic, South Korea, Japan and Mexico. In 2007, he became the oldest player to hit a home run in the majors. "It was the hardest decision in my life," Franco said in an interview published Saturday by Mexican sports daily...

The Boston Red Sox used some late-night offense to cool off the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. Dustin Pedroia drove in three runs, including a two-run single in a five-run fourth inning, and the Red Sox earned a 7-3 win over the Rays in a game that started 2 hours, 27 minutes late because of a rain delay.

With every victory, the Tampa Bay Rays seemingly reach another milestone and put a bit more distance between themselves and that sorry franchise known as the Devil Rays. Matt Garza allowed three hits in six innings, Carl Crawford snapped a tie with a two-run single in the seventh, and the surging Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 Thursday.

Andy Sonnanstine and the Tampa Bay Rays can only hope the remaining five months of the season are as memorable as the first one. Sonnanstine pitched eight innings of six-hit ball, Erik Hinske homered and the Rays completed the first winning April in franchise history by beating the Baltimore Orioles 8-1 Wednesday night.

One year later, Garrett Olson finally appears to have grasped the concept of what it takes to be successful in the major leagues. Olson took a shutout into the seventh inning, and the Baltimore Orioles ended the Tampa Bay Rays' six-game winning streak with a 7-4 victory Tuesday night in a surprising duel for first place in the AL East.