In the meeting between the Devil Rays and Yankees on Thursday, St. Petersburg right-hander Michael Callaway faced off against Tampa left-hander Eric Milton. Milton struck out 10 in a 3-2 Yankees win. Tuesday night the pitchers threw against each other at Legends Field. This time Callaway outpitched Milton in a 7-2 St. Petersburg win. Callaway, who pitched nine innings in his last outing, threw seven innings, scattered six hits and struck out three to improve to 6-1. Milton (6-2) lasted six innings, gave up eight hits and six runs, and struck out four. "Actually, I thought I pitched better the last time," said Callaway, who gave up seven hits Thursday. "The difference was, I got some runs to work with. I could throw more fastballs and get some ground balls." The Devil Rays (33-19) are tied with Tampa for the lead in the Western Division. Tampa has lost four straight. St. Petersburg won its third straight. Leading 2-1 in the fifth, the Rays got two runs when second baseman Manny Patel hit a two-run homer off Milton. Patel, who had only one homer for the season, hit another in the seventh. It was the first time he hit two home runs in one game as a pro. "I barely hit two home runs in a season," Patel said. "The last game, (Milton) had our number. He's a power pitcher, so you have to make the most of the opportunity when you get it. He left some up, and we were able to hit it." With a win tonight, St. Petersburg can take the lead in the division for the first time this year. There are three weeks and 22 games left before the first half of the season ends June 19. NOTES: RHP Travis Cain was placed on the seven-day disabled list Saturday with a sore arm. LHP Mike Kimbrell, who was in extended spring training, replaces Cain on the roster. OF Greg Blosser, scheduled to come off the DL Tuesday, did not play. He is day-to-day with an ankle sprain. CHARLESTON 5, ASHEVILLE 3: Trey Salinas' three-run homer in the fourth was the key hit for the visiting RiverDogs. It gave them a 4-0 lead, and they held off the Tourists, who scored in the fifth, seventh and ninth. Salinas was 3-for-4 and also had a double. Matt Quatraro had the RiverDogs' other two RBI. Smith released ST. PETERSBURG _ The Devil Rays released outfielder Dwight Smith but may not have seen the last of the eight-year major-league veteran. The move was made to give Smith, 33, a chance to return to the big leagues this season. "He's one of the outstanding people in the game, and he truly wants this opportunity and has the confidence he can help a major-league team this year and next," Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said. "We came to a mutual agreement to release him and evaluate him this summer. If he plays well, we'll have discussions about him coming aboard in '98." The Rays signed Smith in March to play for the Mexico City Tigers. But he was sidelined almost immediately by problems with his sciatic nerve and returned to St. Petersburg for extensive rehabilitation. "He went down there and was not physically ready to play, and I'm not so sure he felt Mexico City was the right place for him," LaMar said. "We kept him aboard and rehabilitated him, and it's to the point that he's ready to play." _ MARC TOPKIN