By Fred Goodall, The Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — B.J. Upton slipped away from Tropicana Field without speaking to reporters, leaving others to answer questions about another base-running gaffe that overshadowed a big Tampa Bay victory.

The first-place Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-4 Monday night, but the post-game buzz was more about Upton getting caught jogging on the bases again instead of the AL East leaders improving to 5-2 against the team with the best record in the majors.

"I'll tell you one thing about tonight, he's hurting," said designated hitter Cliff Floyd, who hit a two-run homer to help right-hander Andy Sonnanstine get his team-leading 13th win. "He's hurting bad."

The speedy center fielder, who has been benched three times in the last two weeks for not hustling, was thrown out at second base on what should have been a routine double in the fourth inning.

But unlike last Friday at Texas, Upton wasn't removed from the game by manager Joe Maddon.

"That's a mental mistake he made right there. It's not a lack of effort," Maddon said, explaining why he didn't take action.

"It's one of those situations where he assumed. … That's part of his game we've got to get rid of."

Eric Hinske also hit a two-run homer, and Sonnanstine (13-6) allowed three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings to pull within one victory of the Rays' single-season record. Rolando Arrojo won 14 in 1998, and Sonnanstine's total matches the 13 Scott Kazmir won a year ago.

Dan Wheeler, the sixth Tampa Bay pitcher, worked a perfect ninth for his sixth save in seven opportunities, enabling the Rays to maintain their 4 1/2-game lead over Boston in the division.

Hinske hit his 19th homer in the second and Floyd added his ninth in the third, both coming off right-hander Jon Garland (11-8), who allowed five runs and 10 hits in six innings.

The Rays made it 5-1 in the third when Willy Aybar scored from first base after Hinske singled and the ball rolled between Vladimir Guerrero's legs in right field for a two-base error.

The Rays are back at Tropicana Field after going 7-3 on a season-high 10-game trip in which they thrived despite the benching of Upton and losing Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria and Troy Percival to injuries. They improved the best home record in the majors to 46-17.