The heat of a pennant race tends to magnify even the seemingly innocent plays in baseball. (Even a hockey writer can figure that much out.) And even though the Rays still are tied with for the best record in the American League and didn’t lose any ground in the AL East with Wednesday’s loss to the Angels, who beat the Rays at Tropicana Field for the first time in six tries tonight, it won’t stop many from talking about the play in the ninth inning by Justin Ruggiano.

After the Rays rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, Ruggiano was put into the game as a defensive replacement to start the ninth inning. Chone Figgins opened the top of the ninth with a four-pitch walk off Grant Balfour. After Erick Aybar popped up a sacrifice bunt attempt, Mark Teixera hit what appeared to be a lazy, short fly ball to left field that appeared to be very catchable for what should have been the second out of the inning.

In live action, it appeared that Ruggiano either lost the ball in the lights or tried to make a bluff play on Figgins. Well, turns out neither is what Ruggiano was thinking.

When asked after the game about the play, Ruggiano had a strategic answer to his decision on the play.

“I saw it fine, I just figured at that point, the time of the game, a diving catch would have been a great play,’’ Ruggiano said. “But it would have been a lot worse if I would have let the ball shoot by and that winning run was on third base and scores.

“I wanted to keep the double play in order.’’

He also said this: “I’m the only one out there. There was no one else even close. If I diave and gthe ball sneaks underneath my glove, there’s a good chance they’re in scoring position for two runs ahead, along with Figgins scoring. I thought I made the right decision and I still think, looking back at it, I still think it was the right decision to keep the double play in order.’’

Well, as it turns out, Figgins led a double steal, allowing Teixera to swipe second on the back half of the steal, forcing the Rays to intentionally walk Vladimir Guerrero to load the bases. After Torii Hunter hit into a fielder’s choice forcing Figgins out at the plate, Teixera - who reached on the fly ball - then scored the eventual winning run on an infield single by Garrett Anderson.

Now, if this was game No. 126 of any other season, it might not be a big deal. Normally by this time the Rays are close to the 80-loss mark. But this is a pennant race and little plays can be the difference between making the postseason or firing up the hot stove early, and plays like this get magnified under the scrutiny.

So, I ask you, the loyal readers of Marc Lancaster’s Rays’ Report, do you buy Ruggiano’s rationale? It’s easy to second guess since it worked against the Rays, but in this business, that’s what we do.