St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Andy Sonnanstine threw five-plus innings to post his team-leading eighth victory of the season, as the Rays held off the Chicago Cubs, 5-4, in the middle test of a three-game series.

B.J. Upton, Eric Hinske and Evan Longoria had consecutive RBI singles during a four-run third inning for the Rays, who matched their season and franchise- record high-water mark at 13 games over .500 (42-29). They have won the first two of this series and four of five overall.

Willy Aybar also singled in a run in the third for Tampa Bay, which has won 24 of its last 28 games at Tropicana Field. The Rays locked up their ninth consecutive series win at home since dropping two of three to the White Sox April 18-20.

"Two really well-played games...intensity is fantastic," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "It builds confidence when the game gets deep and the game gets tight, we feel we can win."

Sonnanstine (8-3) gave up seven hits and three runs, while walking two and logging four strikeouts to win his second consecutive start. The Rays have been victorious in 10 of the last 12 games the right-hander has pitched.

Carlos Zambrano (8-3) was lifted after surrendering seven hits and five runs -- four earned -- over 6 2/3 frames to drop his second consecutive decision. He departed the contest due to right shoulder discomfort and will fly back to Chicago Thursday to get checked out.

"We'll check it out with the doctor tomorrow," Zambrano said. "We'll fly me in early in the morning and we'll see what happens tomorrow."

Ryan Theriot drove in two runs and Geovany Soto belted a solo homer in the ninth inning for Chicago, which had won six of seven entering this series.

It's a been a tough two nights for ex-Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella in his return to Tropicana Field. On Tuesday, the Cubs lost 3-2, and a night later they surrendered an early lead with the Rays getting to Zambrano on a consistent basis in the third.

Down 2-1, the Rays had their first five batters reach base in the third. Akinori Iwamura walked, Carl Crawford doubled, and Upton followed with an RBI hit to right-center field. Hinske then sent a low liner to left to give the Rays the 3-2 lead. Longoria was up next and grounded a single to right field to score Upton. After Cliff Floyd popped out, Aybar looped a base hit to left for a three-run cushion.

The Cubs loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth, but only scored once when Theriot sent a bouncer toward second base, but he ended up racing safely to first to break up a potential double play. Derrek Lee then struck out and Aramis Ramirez flied out to end the inning to keep it a 5-3 margin.

Despite allowing a lead-off homer to left-center from Soto in the ninth, Troy Percival was able to shut the door for his 17th save. After Soto homered, Mark DeRosa walked, but Micah Hoffpauir and pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot flied out before Kosuke Fukudome was caught looking at a called third strike to end the game.

"Everyone knows we're a good team now," Percival said. "We're not sneaking up on anyone. I think winning this many close games now is teaching this team how to win close games."

The Rays got the benefit of an error from left fielder DeRosa in the first to break on top. Iwamura walked to lead off and Crawford then sent a liner to left, but the ball sailed over the glove of DeRosa to the wall to account for the first run.

Fukudome doubled to right to score Hoffpauir in the second. Theriot followed with an RBI single to center.