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On July 4th, a Bostonian feels sorry for Yankees (Yahoo! Sports)

The New York Yankees are an American institution. Yankee Stadium is the most famous sports venue in our nation.

Small-market AL clubs keep rolling (AP)

Move over, Yankees and Red Sox. Out of the way, White Sox. A couple of small-market clubs are showing the big boys how to play. Edwin Jackson took a two-hitter into the eighth inning and Carlos Pena homered and drove in five runs Friday night, helping the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 11-2 for their fifth straight victory.

Rays Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

There was legitimate concern Friday about a letdown, with the Rays facing the Royals coming off an emotional sweep of the Red Sox.

The same thing happened a few weeks ago, when the Rays swept the Cubs, then lost two of three to a Houston team that came in on an eight-game losing streak.

But Friday there were fireworks as the Rays played an impressive and aggressive game, and they won easily, 11-2.

"It was huge for us, coming off a series like that, just to let everyone know we (didn't) really come in on chill mode," starter Edwin Jackson said. "We're still being aggressive, regardless of the team. We are going out to win every game."

Manager Joe Maddon has a simple philosophy, that he wants the team to play every game the same, regardless of opponent, date...

Jackson's pitching, Pena's hitting pace Rays win (AP)

The Tampa Bay Rays surged to first place without the offensive production they're accustomed to getting from Carlos Pena. Now that he's back in the middle of the lineup, the AL East leaders are counting on him to help them stay on top. Pena homered for the first time in a month and drove in five runs Friday night, supporting a strong pitching performance by Edwin Jackson and pacing an 11-2 victory...

Tampa Bay's Bartlett goes on DL (AP)

Tampa Bay placed shortstop Jason Bartlett on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, a day after he sprained his right knee in a 7-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The Rays recalled infielder Ben Zobrist from Triple-A Durham. The team also purchased the contract of shortstop Reid Brignac from the minor league affiliate.

First-place Tampa Bay turns AL East upside down (AP)

Pennant fever is alive in the oddest of places. Ticket lines are longer, television ratings are rising and the young, budget-minded Tampa Bay Rays are in first place in the AL East, looking down on the big-spending Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. "First-place Rays halfway to history," read one newspaper headline.

Rays place Bartlett on DL (PA SportsTicker)

The Tampa Bay Rays placed shortstop Jason Bartlett on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a right knee sprain.

Boston comes to New York with neither team in 1st place (Yahoo! Sports)

When the Boston Red Sox face the Yankees in July, one of them is usually leading the American League East, the...

Longoria's hot bat helps Rays top Red Sox (AP)

There's no secret to the success of the Tampa Bay Rays this season. Good pitching, solid defense and timely hitting carried them to the top of the AL East standings. The same winning combination is keeping them there. Evan Longoria went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs and B.J. Upton made a "Willie Mays-esque" catch in center field to help an improved bullpen hold off Boston 7-6 Wednesday night for...

Garza beats Wakefield, Rays down Red Sox again (AP)

The Tampa Bay Rays are taking a business-as-usual approach to their position atop the AL East. Matt Garza pitched seven strong innings in his first outing since throwing a one-hitter, and the Rays beat Boston and nemesis Tim Wakefield 3-1 on Tuesday night to extend their lead in the division to a season-best 2 1/2 games over the second-place Red Sox.

Rays put Percival on disabled list. (AP)

The Tampa Bay Rays placed closer Troy Percival on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring after beating the Boston Red Sox 3-1 on Tuesday night. It is the second time Percival has gone on the DL this season due to a left hamstring injury. He missed 13 games from May 29-June 12 after getting hurt while pitching against the Texas Rangers on May 28.

Pass out the midterm report cards (Yahoo! Sports)

We don't grade on a curve, and that's why only the Rays get an A-plus while three teams are given Fs.

ModernTube: Rays' Cowbell Kid bravely battles Red Sox Nation (Yahoo! Sports)

We've learned a lot of things about the once-anonymous Tampa Bay Rays as they've streaked from only 66 wins in...

Manny just being Manny is unacceptable this time (Yahoo! Sports)

What's up with Manny? Is the goofy slugger in need of some anger management? And why won't the Red Sox publicly...

Rays RHP Percival leaves game with injury (PA SportsTicker)

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - Tampa Bay Rays reliever Troy Percival left Monday's game against the Boston Red Sox with an undisclosed leg injury.

Surprising Rays beat Red Sox to stay in 1st place (AP)

No punches, no angry words exchanged. With first place on the line in the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox stuck to playing baseball Monday night. James Shields scattered five hits over 6 1-3 innings and B.J. Upton and Gabe Gross homered, helping the Rays remain unbeaten at home against the Red Sox with a 5-4 victory that hiked their lead to 1 1/2 games in the division.

A look back at June blooms, swoons (Yahoo! Sports)

Interleague action benefited the AL, Jim Edmonds benefited from Chicago, and home cooking benefited many.

Rays' Longoria earns weekly honors (PA SportsTicker)

Tampa Bay Rays rookie third baseman Evan Longoria was named the American League Player of the Week on Monday.

Nine-game stretch could be telling for Yankees (Yahoo! Sports)

The schedule says the Texas Rangers will make their only appearance at Yankee Stadium this week, but that is not...

Riggans, Sonnanstine lead Rays past Pirates, 4-3 (AP)

What a first half the Tampa Bay Rays enjoyed as the majors' surprise team of the season. Their goal now? To make the second half just as stunningly good. Backup catcher Shawn Riggans homered among his three hits and drove in two runs and the first-place Rays completed a remarkable first-half turnaround, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 Sunday behind Andy Sonnanstine's seven effective innings.

Bay's home run gives Pirates victory (AP)

With one swing of the bat, Jason Bay turned a miserable night into an ecstatic one. After going hitless in five at-bats, Bay homered in the 13th inning to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night. "That's the funny thing about baseball," said Bay, who struck out three times.

Longoria, Hinske power Rays past Pirates, 10-5 (AP)

Home runs to left field, home runs to right, line drives all over PNC Park. The Tampa Bay Rays are fast developing not only into one of the majors' best young teams, but one of the best teams, period. Or exactly the kind of team the Pittsburgh Pirates have spent 16 years trying to become. Evan Longoria and Eric Hinske hit three-run homers off the Pirates' Jimmy Barthmaier in his major league debut,...

Pena rejoins Rays, but Iwamura will sit 3 games (AP)

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Pena was activated off the 15-day disabled list Friday following a 3 1/2 weeks layoff with a broken left index finger and immediately went back into the lineup. Only not in his usual spot. To give Pena time to readjust, manager Joe Maddon batted him sixth against the Pirates and may keep him lower in the lineup until he regains his batting stroke and timing.

Rays activate 1B Pena (PA SportsTicker)

The Tampa Bay Rays activated first baseman Carlos Pena from the 15-day disabled list and are expected to place him in the lineup on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Garza's 1-hitter leads Rays over Marlins (AP)

Matt Garza couldn't sleep Thursday morning. Phone calls and text messages kept coming in from his former Fresno State teammates, who had just won the College World Series. The calls from back home kept waking him up, and he only got a couple hours sleep before his noon start. Now he'll be calling them.