PITTSBURGH — For the second straight night, the Rays' hot-hitting lineup faced a callup from Triple A.
But this time,  Pirates right-hander Ty Taubenheim  unexpectedly kept their bats at bay.

And after their 4-3 loss in 13 innings to Pittsburgh on Saturday, it likely felt like a game — and opportunity — that the Rays let get away.

Pirates leftfielder Jason Bay ended the nearly four-hour game with a two-out homer off Jason Hammel, handing Tampa Bay  its first defeat in its past five road games.

After Jonny Gomes heroics in the eighth, when he delivered a tying, pinch-hit homer in a 15-pitch at-bat, it appeared Tampa Bay was going to find another way to claw out a come-from-behind victory; it had won five of its first six extra-inning games this season. But after the dust settled, in a game delayed 42 minutes by rain, the Rays watched an opportunity to move into sole possession of first place slip away.
Tampa Bay (48-32) remained a half-game game behind Boston.

The Rays appeared ready to pounce on Taubenheim, making his season debut. B.J. Upton  and Carl Crawford each delivered first-pitch singles.

But Taubenheim, as he did most of the night, minimized the damage, with Tampa Bay settling for a sacrifice fly from Evan Longoria.

-- Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer