"It wasn't long ago, when the Tampa Bay Rays dug such a deep hole to start the season, that everybody seemed ready to shovel red clay on them.

But by the time the Rays were done beating the Orioles 5-3 Sunday, setting a franchise record with their eighth consecutive road win by completing a three-game sweep, the team walking out of Camden Yards was in a virtual tie with the Yankees atop the American League East.

"It says we're pretty good," Rays DH Johnny Damon said. "We know our starting pitching has been solid. We have the best defense around. And it seems like we've been getting big hits.

"When someone doesn't come through, the next one is ready and willing to pick the guy up."

Despite an 0-6 and 1-8 start, only .006 separates the Rays (20-14, .588) from the Yankees (19-13, .594) in the standings.

But the Rays insist their revival might have more to do with the 6 inches between the ear flaps of their batting helmets.

"I think the cool thing about this clubhouse is that we all kept staying positive and said, 'Let's just play tomorrow, let's just work on our game and not think about the results right now,' " said Ben Zobrist, who extended his hitting streak to 14 games. "Let's just try to play our game and get better every day."

The Rays also avenged a three-game sweep by Baltimore to start the season at Tropicana Field.

They did it Sunday by centerfielder B.J. Upton driving in four runs with a pair of clutch hits and using a suddenly deep bullpen to rescue shaky starter Wade Davis, who allowed three runs and four hits while walking five.

Upton appealed the two-game suspension from Major League Baseball he received Saturday because he wanted to play in Baltimore, where he has had success at the plate.

"I like hitting here because I normally have a lot of family and friends come in," said Upton, who was born in Norfolk, Va. "This is a good field for me, it's kind of close to home and I like playing here.""