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Branyan's Blast Gives D'Rays Another Walk-Off Win

POSTED: Saturday, May 20, 2006

(Sports Network) - Russell Branyan's two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning boosted the Devil Rays to a 4-3 victory over Florida in the middle test of a three-game interleague series.

It marked Tampa Bay's second straight victory in its last at-bat. Aubrey Huff was the hero on Friday, clubbing a game-winning solo home run off Yusmeiro Petit to lead off the bottom of the 10th in a 5-4 final.

"I think this could be a nice turning point for us," Branyan said.

Travis Lee had two hits and an RBI for the Devil Rays, who won their third straight game.

Robert Andino drove in two runs and Josh Willingham had three hits with the other RBI for the Marlins, losers of six in a row.

This is the eighth time this season the Marlins have lost in their opponents' final at-bat. Florida has lost four straight games when entering the ninth inning with a lead, tying Tampa Bay's major league record. The Devil Rays did it in May 2002.

"We just can't seem to make to make it right now," Marlins manager Joe Girardi said. "It's been a tough week on us. We find out about people's character, and what they're made of during times like this. I can't imagine it gets any worse."

Logan Kensing (0-1) started the bottom of the ninth for the Marlins, but Lee doubled to right and moved to third on Josh Paul's bunt. Andino then saved a run by making a leaping stop on a grounder by Damon Hollins. However, Branyan belted his fourth homer of the season, clubbing a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right-center field.

Ruddy Lugo (1-2) picked up his first major league win after throwing the ninth inning.

Willingham singled in Dan Uggla in the first inning and Andino's sacrifice fly to right scored Reggie Abercrombie in the second. Andino's sac fly in the fourth made it 3-0.

Lee singled in Jonny Gomes in the bottom of the inning. On the play, Alfredo Amezaga`s throwing error scored Huff to bring Tampa Bay within a run.

Game Notes

This was Branyan's first career walk-off homer and the team's 18th in franchise history...Tampa Bay is 7-3 in one-run games this year, winning five in a row...The Devil Rays entered this series 0-20 when trailing after eight innings this season...Devil Rays bench coach Bill Evers filled in for the second straight night for manager Joe Maddon, who was attending his girlfriend's law school graduation...Abercrombie had his career-high 11-game hitting streak broken.

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