--1B Carlos Pena returned to the Rays lineup after having been sidelined since June 4 with a fractured left index finger. Manager Joe Maddon dropped Pena, who had been struggling before getting hurt, to sixth in the order from the cleanup spot he previously occupied. He went 0-for-3 but drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
--INF Ben Zobrist, who homered in back-to-back games this week for the first time in his major league career, was optioned back to Class AAA Durham to make room for 1B Carlos Pena's return from the DL. Zobrist was called up to fill in for two days so SS Jason Bartlett could attend the birth of his first child. --INF Willy Aybar is expected to start at second base Saturday, Sunday and Monday after 2B Akinori Iwamura's three-game suspension was upheld by Major League Baseball. Iwamura will have to start serving the ban Saturday.
--LHP Scott Kazmir worked three impressive innings before running into trouble in the fourth, but he hung around through five and picked up the victory, improving to 7-3.
--LF Carl Crawford continued his recent hot streak with three hits, including his third homer of the week. In nine games since coming off his four-game suspension, Crawford is 15-for-38 with four homers and 11 RBIs.
BY THE NUMBERS: 7 -- Number of walk-off wins by the Rays, matching Cincinnati for the major-league most.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "There's no more wondering. Now we know we can win games ... regardless of how we have to win." -- RHP Edwin Jackson.
