Angels Knock Off Rays Out Of 1st Place

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Brandon Wood hit his first homer since June 27, a tiebreaking shot leading off the ninth inning that lifted the Los Angeles Angels over Tampa Bay 4-3 on Friday night and knocked the Rays out of first place in the AL East.

Moments after Wood connected, Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth to send the Yankees to a 4-3 victory at Baltimore, pushing New York a half-game ahead of Tampa Bay.

Wood, mired in a 3-for-43 slide and hitless in three previous at-bats Friday, gave the Angels a 4-3 lead with his drive off Dan Wheeler (2-4). Los Angeles has won six of eight. 

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