Rays send some fans home happy

RAYS 9, BRAVES 7: Complete effort a pleasant sight to those who didn't come to see the Braves.

ST. PETERSBURG - The lines at the ticket windows and concession stands were nice, but the line to shake hands at the end of the game was even better.

The Devil Rays treated their second-largest paid crowd of the season, 26,696, to one of their biggest victories Saturday, beating the National League-leading Braves 9-7.

"We played well tonight, we really did," manager Lou Piniella said. "It was a real good ballgame. If I was a fan, this is the type of game I'd like to see - some scoring, some pitching, some good defense, some hitting. An entertaining ballgame. And thank God we won."

Several Rays had a hand in the victory, which despite leads of 7-0 and 9-3 wasn't secure until closer Lance Carter retired Braves sluggers Gary Sheffield, Chipper Jones and - after two hits that brought the tying run to the plate - Javy Lopez.

"Tonight, we did a little of everything," Aubrey Huff said.

Damian Rolls continued his recent roll, collecting two hits, three RBIs and the first intentional walk of his big-league career. Rocco Baldelli, who earlier was featured on the This Week In Baseball TV show, scored two runs, knocked in another and made a leaping catch against the centerfield fence in the ninth. ("A heck of a play," Piniella said.) Huff drove in the first two runs with his 29th double, retaining a share of the American League lead. Marlon Anderson, among the AL's top clutch hitters, knocked in two more with a two-out single in the third. Carl Crawford had three hits.

"Outside of the fact that we gave up seven runs - and who really cares - it was one of our better ballgames of the year," Piniella said.

Victor Zambrano wasn't as dominant as he has been, allowing eight hits and a season-high matching six walks, but did enough for the win. Of the Rays' five June victories, he has four.

Zambrano worked out of most of the trouble he got himself into in the first five innings, then allowed three runs in the sixth, including a two-run homer by ex-Ray Vinny Castilla, who was again booed lustily.

Zambrano got his most important out in the fourth. With two runs in and the bases loaded, he struck out Rafael Furcal - "The biggest out in the game," Zambrano said - then got Mark DeRosa on a ground out to end the inning.

It was a pretty good crowd for a Saturday, and the manager gave everyone a smile. Piniella spoke before the game about how winning was the key element in making a franchise successful and made a point to reinforce his message.

"You treat people to good baseball and they'll come back," Piniella said. "Hopefully they enjoyed themselves at the ballpark and they come back."

The players treated the crowd - only the third of the season above 20,000 - as something of a novelty, especially, as has been the case all week, many were rooting for the visitors. "It was good to get them out of here with a little dejection," Huff said.

Beating the Braves - "They're arguably the best team in baseball right now," Crawford said - was an accomplishment. But after a week packed with tough losses and controversy, the Rays were just pleased to get a win.

"It's nice," Piniella said. "We started the homestand with a win on Monday and now we're shaking hands on Saturday. Let's hope we shake hands a little more often."