ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With every victory against contenders like the Chicago Cubs, the Tampa Bay Rays gain a little more confidence.

"It validates that we are a good team," manager Joe Maddon said last night after the surprising Rays held off the Cubs, 5-4, for their second straight win over the club with baseball's best record.

"When you go through these situations where you're attempting to grow — you think you're good and you think you're better, but you actually have to go out there and show it."

Andy Sonnanstine (8-3) allowed three runs in five-plus innings and Tampa Bay's bullpen shut down the Cubs for the second night in a row to help the Rays clinch their ninth consecutive series at home.

B.J. Upton, Eric Hinske, Evan Longoria and Willy Aybar provided just enough offensive support, driving in runs off Carlos Zambrano during Tampa Bay's four-run third inning.

Zambrano (8-3) lost for just the second time in his last nine decisions. He allowed five runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, departing after throwing 100 pitches. The Cubs later said he was lifted because of right shoulder discomfort.

The two-time NL All-Star will fly today to Chicago, where he will see a doctor and have an MRI examination.

"At this point I don't know nothing. We'll see what happens tomorrow," Zambrano said, adding that his shoulder was feeling better. "Hopefully it's nothing bad."

Catcher Geovany Soto motioned for manager Lou Piniella to head out to the mound after Zambrano threw his last pitch.

"He threw a pitch funny. Like weird," Soto said. "I went out there. It was like, 'Are you all right? What's going on?' He said, 'Yeah, I'm fine.' I just had to call somebody because I didn't think it was all right."

Zambrano tried to make a case for staying in the game.

"He was convincing," said Piniella, who appeared to be ready to allow the pitcher to continue before changing his mind. "We did the right thing getting him out, obviously."

With 42 wins, the Rays have matched their club record for victories before the All-Star break. They were 42-45 at the break under Piniella in 2004 and wound up winning a franchise-best 70 games.

RED SOX 7, PHILLIES 4

J.D. Drew tied a career-high with four hits and fell a triple short of the cycle for visiting Boston. Drew hit a three-run homer in the first inning, doubled in the third, had an RBI single in the fourth and singled in the sixth before grounding out in the eighth. He finished 4 for 5 with four RBIs.

YANKEES 8, PADRES 5

Alex Rodriguez homered for the fourth straight game and host New York set a season high with its sixth consecutive victory. Johnny Damon had three hits and two RBIs for the Yankees, who have won 11 of 14 to move a season-best six games above .500 (39-33).

ORIOLES 2, ASTROS 1

Kevin Millar singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as Baltimore handed Houston its seventh straight loss. It was the fourth straight one-run game for the Orioles, three of them victories.

ROCKIES 4, INDIANS 2

Jeff Baker homered and scored three runs, and Jeff Francis (3-6) allowed one run over six innings as host Colorado beat Cleveland.

WHITE SOX 8, PIRATES 2

Toby Hall hit his first home run in two years and Carlos Quentin slugged his 17th this season as host Chicago won. Hall's homer was his first since June 4, 2006, when he was with Tampa Bay.

ROYALS 3, CARDINALS 2

David DeJesus and Alex Gordon hit solo home runs in the eighth inning to lift visiting Kansas City by St. Louis. Last in the AL Central, the Royals improved to 6-2 in interleague play and will try for a three-game sweep of their cross-state rivals today.

TWINS 11, NATIONALS 2

Kevin Slowey (4-6) allowed one earned run and seven hits over six-plus innings and Justin Morneau had three RBIs for host Minnesota.

BRAVES 5, RANGERS 2

Omar Infante hit a tiebreaking single and Atlanta scored three times in the top of the ninth inning to beat Texas. Chipper Jones hit his 16th homer and went 2 for 5 to keep his major league-leading average at .400.

BREWERS 5, BLUE JAYS 4

Mike Cameron and Russell Branyan homered as host Milwaukee won its third straight.

TIGERS 7, GIANTS 2

Placido Polanco had four hits, drove in two runs and scored three as visiting Detroit rolled over San Francisco.

DIAMONDBACKS 11, ATHLETICS 1

Dan Haren (7-4) allowed one run and drove in three as host Arizona routed Oakland. Haren limited the A's to four hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out eight.

METS 5, ANGELS 4

Jerry Manuel got his first win managing the Mets when New York rallied in the ninth inning and Damion Easley homered in the 10th to beat host Los Angeles.

MARLINS 8, MARINERS 3

Dan Uggla and Mike Jacobs hit two-run homers for visiting Florida in a win over Seattle. The Marlins took two of three in the interleague matchup, winning their first road series since a sweep of Washington May 9 to 11.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

DODGERS 6, REDS 1

Derek Lowe (5-6) earned his first road win since last August by pitching into the sixth inning as Los Angeles beat Cincinnati. Lowe hadn't won on the road since Aug. 22 at Philadelphia, going 0-6 in his next 11 starts away from Dodger Stadium. Lowe gave up three hits in 5 1/3 innings. His six strikeouts matched his season high.