BALTIMORE, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Akinori Iwamura drove in three runs Wednesday and Tampa Bay moved to the brink of a first-ever division title by defeating Baltimore 11-6.
The Rays added another chapter to their amazing season by rallying from an early six-run deficit. A Tampa Bay win or a Boston loss during the final four days of the season will give the Rays the American League East crown.
Tampa Bay, which has won eight of its last 10, is already assured of no worse than a wild card berth in the playoffs. The Rays' first chance to wrap up the division crown will come Thursday in Detroit.
A ground out by Iwamura drove in the last of Tampa Bay's five runs in the fourth inning, cutting the Rays' deficit to 6-5.
Iwamura then doubled home the tying and go-ahead runs in the sixth.
Although he gave up five runs in the first inning, Edwin Jackson (13-11) survived 5 1/3 and got the win.
Brian Burres (7-10) suffered the loss, giving up Iwamura's sixth-inning double while retiring only two batters.
Tampa Bay closed out the season series with Baltimore by winning 15 of 18 games -- the last 12 victories coming in succession.
