Beating the Red Sox three out of four games was important for the Rays, who are still struggling to get on a roll this season.
But how they did so was more significant as they returned to what they consider their type of baseball, and what worked for them last season. "It's starting to get back to a more familiar feel around here," closer Troy Percival said.
That means playing with intensity and playing an overall game that emphasizes all the little things.
The starting pitching was good, capped by James Shields working into the eighth inning on Sunday. The bullpen got the outs when it mattered most, with Percival working the ninth for his first 1-2-3 inning of the season.
And they ran their offense the old fashioned way, working hard, running free as they set a team mark with eight steals, and executing when they had to.
"This is the kind of baseball that we know how to play, and if we can get back to that we're going to win a lot of ballgames," Shields said. "I think our team realizes playing small ball like that is what we're all about. ...I think the way we've been playing, we've been trying to go for that big hit. Hopefully, we start to realize how we won this ballgame and keep it going."
RAYS 5, RED SOX 3: LF Carl Crawford stole a major-league record tying six bases to lead a small-ball offense as the Rays snapped a six-series losing streak by taking three of four from the Red Sox. RHP James Shields pitched effectively into the eighth inning and Troy Percival breezed through the ninth for his third save.
