Rays 3, Orioles 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays, held to two hits for seven innings, rallied for three runs in the eighth, with rookie shortstop Tim Beckham getting a two-out, two-run single to hand the Baltimore Orioles a 3-1 loss Friday to open a three-game series at Tropicana Field.
The Rays (49-49) got back to .500 in their first home game since the All-Star break, helped by a strong outing by starter Chris Archer, who struck out nine batters in six innings of one-run ball.
Baltimore (46-49) dropped its fourth straight, spoiling a strong start by Chris Tillman, who took a shutout into the eighth.
Rays reliever Jake McGee pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save of the season, extending personal scoreless streaks to 21 appearances and 20 1/3 innings.
Tillman held the Rays to two hits into the eighth inning, but left after walking center fielder Kevin Kiermaier to lead off the inning. Kiermaier stole second base -- his 11th steal of the season -- and scored the tying run with two outs on designated hitter John Jaso's RBI single off side-arm reliever Darren O'Day.
The Rays then got a bloop single from third baseman Evan Longoria and an intentional walk to first baseman James Loney to load the bases for Beckham, who delivered a two-out, two-strike, two-run single up the middle to give the Rays a 3-1 lead.
Tillman had a second consecutive dominant outing. He gave up one hit in eight scoreless innings on Saturday in a 3-0 win against Detroit, and has allowed a total of five runs in his last five starts, though Friday marked his third no-decision in that stretch.
Beckham came into the game hitting .160 (4-for-25) this season with runners in scoring position, but came through in the eighth, stepping up after being recalled from Triple-A Durham while starter Asdrubal Cabrera is on the disabled list with a groin injury.
Tillman kept the Rays in check for the first five innings, not allowing a hit until Longoria's double in the fourth inning. The Rays' only other hit through five innings was Kiermaier's bunt single in the fifth.
Archer did his best to keep the Rays in the game, striking out nine Orioles in the first five innings and only allowing a run in the fourth inning.
Third baseman Manny Machado singled and scored on right fielder Chris Davis' RBI double for Baltimore's only run.
The Orioles had runners at first and third with one out later in that inning, but Archer got out of the jam, fielding a ground ball by left fielder Travis Snider and turning quickly for an inning-ending double play.
NOTES: The Rays tried batting OF Steven Souza in the leadoff spot for the first time this year Friday. The lineup was stacked with right- and left-handed hitters alternating, in part to limit the Orioles' bullpen options based on matchups. DH John Jaso batted second, just the second time this season he's played and hasn't been leading off. ... Baltimore came in with just 39 errors, the lowest total in the majors, and the Orioles committed no errors Friday. No other American League team has fewer than 48 errors. ... Wednesday's loss at Philadelphia was the Rays' seventh walk-off loss -- only the Pittsburgh Pirates (8) have suffered more in that fashion. The Rays entered Friday's game 3-11 in games decided in the ninth inning or later and 2-7 in extra innings. ... Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher will throw out the first pitch Sunday as part of a "Chop at the Trop" promotion with FSU-themed Rays hats available with certain ticket purchases.