ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Angels were not "swept into the Gulf of Mexico," as Manager Mike Scioscia joked they might be by Tropical Storm Fay, and they weren't swept out of Tropicana Field, either.
Garret Anderson's two-out, bases-loaded infield single pushed across the go-ahead run in the ninth inning Wednesday night, and Francisco Rodriguez nailed down the Angels' 5-4 victory over Tampa Bay with his 48th save, breaking his own club record.
In winning for the first time in six games in the Rays' domed stadium -- they were swept here in May and lost the first two games of this series -- the Angels left the land of cowbells and catwalks feeling a little more confident about returning in October.
"Yeah, it was important to win here -- we had to win one and leave a mark," center fielder Torii Hunter said. "I'm pretty sure we'll see these guys in the playoffs, so we wanted to make a statement, to avoid a sweep."
Equally important was the finishing touch applied by Rodriguez, and not just because it broke the franchise record that he had set in 2006.
When Jose Arredondo gave up back-to-back doubles to B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena to tie the score, 4-4, in the eighth, it marked the sixth blown save in seven games for the Angels bullpen. Relievers also suffered four of the team's five losses this last week.
But after allowing a leadoff single to Gabe Gross in the ninth, Rodriguez got Dioner Navarro to ground to shortstop Erick Aybar, who turned an unassisted double play, and Jason Bartlett to ground out, reducing the Angels' magic number to clinch the American League West title to 21.
"I was happy to come out with a win, especially with the way the bullpen has been pitching lately," Rodriguez said. "It's nice to get one here."
The winning rally in the ninth began with a walk to Chone Figgins. Aybar popped out on a bunt attempt, and Mark Teixeira dropped a bloop single in front of left fielder Justin Ruggiano, who appeared to have a play but pulled up at the last second.
"A diving catch would have been great, but it would have been a lot worse if I let the ball scoot by me," said Ruggiano, who entered the game in the ninth. "I wanted to keep the double play in order."
Rays Manager Joe Maddon pulled Grant Balfour for submarine-throwing Chad Bradford, and on the first pitch to Vladimir Guerrero, Figgins and Teixeira pulled off a double steal.
