Orioles 5, Rays 1
ST. PETERSBURG -- Miguel Gonzalez of the Baltimore Orioles continued his mastery of the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night, taking a shutout into the eighth inning as Baltimore rode Chris Davis' grand slam to a 5-1 win at Tropicana Field.
The Orioles (47-49) ended a four-game losing streak behind Gonzalez, who came in with a 0.84 earned-run average in three starts against the Rays this season.
Tampa Bay (49-50) continues to struggle offensively, unable to score until catcher Curt Casali's solo home run in the eighth.
Rays starter Erasmo Ramirez had one bad inning, allowing five hits in the third, including Davis' grand slam.
Gonzalez limited the Rays to five hits and one run in his 7 2/3 innings, actually raising his season ERA against the Rays to 0.93 in the process.
Tampa Bay has scored four runs or fewer in 12 straight games -- the second-longest such streak in team history -- and the Rays have gone 6-6 in that stretch, winning largely on pitching and defense.
The Orioles had five hits in the first five innings, all of them in the third inning, which saw Rays starter Ramirez give up the grand slam to designated hitter Davis for a 4-0 lead.
The Orioles got singles from shortstop J.J. Hardy, second baseman Jonathan Schoop and left fielder David Lough to load the bases, and Davis blasted his 22nd home run of the season to right field for his fifth career grand slam.
Gonzalez kept the Rays off the scoreboard in the first five innings, holding them to three hits, including a first-inning double by third baseman Evan Longoria.
NOTES: Rays LHP Drew Smyly, out since May 5 because of a torn left labrum, will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Sunday. He's still targeting an August return. ... Friday night's Rays comeback win was unusual on both ends -- Tampa Bay had been 1-37 when trailing after seven innings and Baltimore was 39-0 when leading after seven. ... Rays reliever Jake McGee has a scoreless streak of 21 appearances, the longest active streak in the major leagues and the fourth longest this season, with the St. Louis Cardinals' Trevor Rosenthal leading the way at 23 games. The Rays' record is 24 by J.P. Howell in 2012. ... Baltimore OF Adam Jones leads the majors in Sunday batting average, according to Elias, at .481 and also has six home runs in 54 at-bats.