On the field, the Rays have thrived despite not having an obvious pick for the All-Star game.

Kazmir and relievers J.P. Howell and Dan Wheeler have had strong first halfs. Catcher Dioner Navarro merits consideration and rookie third baseman Evan Longoria has had a major impact since being promoted from the minors.

Longoria drove in three runs Wednesday night, joining Fred Lynn (1975) and Devon White (1987) as the only rookies in the past 50 years to have at least 15 homers, 20 doubles and 50 RBIs by the All-Star break.

He made a clutch defensive play to help seal the middle game of the series, then delivered a two-run double during the six-run seventh that helped the Rays overcome a three-run deficit in the finale.

“We felt like we were going to win that game somehow. Why? Just because we’ve got that feeling about us right now. We believe,” Maddon said.

“Our guys are playing with a very high level of ability and emotion. When you get to that level, when you really start trusting and believing ... then you can do things like we did tonight.”

Boston’s David Ortiz thinks it would be good for baseball if the Rays, 6-0 against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field vs. 0-6 at Fenway Park, can remain in contention for the rest of the summer.

At the same time, the slugger believes the experience of the Red Sox and Yankees eventually will prevail.

“There’s a lot of games left. One way or another, (the Yankees) know how to figure it out. We know how to figure it out,” Ortiz said.

“I’m not saying that they will drop, but if you go by the numbers, that’s normally what happens. The guys with more experience at the end of the year take over.”

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