Streaking Rays finish best month ever with another win

MIAMI: The surging Tampa Bay Rays won their fifth straight game and completed a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 10-4 home win on Sunday.

James Shields pitched seven strong innings and Jason Bartlett hit his first home run in more than a year as the Rays completed August with a record of 21-8, setting a franchise mark for most wins in one month.

The surprising Rays head into September having the best record in the American League, taking a 5-1/2 game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East after Boston lost 4-2 to Chicago.