Kids mastering the close ones

A three-run 13th gives Rays 7-4 win over Indians, their seventh game in 13 decided in the final inning.

CLEVELAND - If part of the education process for the young Devil Rays is learning how to play in close games, they'll all be experts by the end of the season.

The Rays were up, even, up, down, even, up and even again before coming out on top Monday night, beating Cleveland 7-4 in 13.

It was the seventh game of their past 13 decided in the final inning and their 29th overall decided in the winner's final at-bat.

"That's how we do it," catcher Toby Hall said. "I don't think we know any better yet."

Carl Crawford knocked in the go-ahead run, bouncing a single through the drawn-in Cleveland infield that scored two after the Rays loaded the bases to open the 13th.

"I was just trying to hit it hard enough to score a run," Crawford said. "I wanted to end the game. I didn't want to play too much longer."

The exciting victory was the Rays' 50th of the season, and they got it nearly a month sooner than last season, when they won 55 overall. Better, it negated what would have been a frustrating loss.

After the second of Julio Lugo's two home runs tied the score at 3 in the eighth, the Rays went ahead with a two-out run in the 11th thanks to a two-out double by Hall and infield singles by Jason Tyner, who beat 40-year-old pitcher Terry Mulholland to the base, and Marlon Anderson.

But Lance Carter couldn't hold the lead, putting the first two Indians on and giving up the tying run on a sacrifice fly. He got out of trouble without giving up another run, and the Rays rallied in the 13th.

Damian Rolls got them started with a single and Hall, who had an excellent at-bat, followed with another key double. Thinking squeeze, the Indians walked Tyner to load the bases, then got one out at home on Anderson's grounder.

But Crawford bounced a Mulholland pitch up the middle, and Lugo's sacrifice fly brought home a third run.

"What can I tell you," manager Lou Piniella said. "We endured."

The game wasn't quite over, Anderson booting Matt Lawton's grounder to start the 13th. But Carter, who has had a win or save in 28 of the victories, got the final three outs in order.

Lugo became the first shortstop in Rays history to hit two homers in a game. "I'll take it," Lugo said. "I'll take it every day."

The first gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the first, but Rob Bell, with his sixth no-decision in nine starts, literally gave it right back, giving up a leadoff homer to Coco Crisp.

The Rays loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth but, like Sunday, failed to capitalize, getting only one run, and that on Travis Lee's fielder's choice grounder. They ran themselves out of a chance for more when Rocco Baldelli was thrown out at home after Rolls struck out and catcher Josh Bard threw to second.

The 2-1 lead lasted only an inning as Bell put two men and rookie Mark Malaska let them in, but Lugo tied it in the eighth.

All the back and forth and up and down should teach the Rays something.

"We learn to be patient and keep battling," Crawford said. "That's what we learn."