Orioles overcome four-run deficit to beat Rays
BALTIMORE -- Michael Bourn hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning that capped a late rally from an early four-run deficit and gave the Baltimore Orioles a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays Friday night.
Tampa Bay (63-84) used a pair of two-run homers for a 4-0 lead in the second inning but Baltimore (81-66) bounced back.
The Orioles got solo homers from Pedro Alvarez in the second and Chris Davis in the fourth and got an RBI single from Hyun Soo Kim in the seventh -- on a fly ball that center fielder Kevin Kiermaier leaped and pulled back from going over the wall, preventing a grand slam.
The eighth inning saw the Orioles finally take the lead against Brad Boxberger (4-2). The first three batters reached base -- thanks to two walks and a hit batter -- before J.J. Hardy tied it with an infield single.
Bourn followed with his fly ball to left field that scored pinch-runner Nolan Reimold with the tie-breaking run.
Brad Brach (9-3) earned the victory thanks to a scoreless eighth. Zach Britton then earned his 44th save in 44 chances this season by closing it in the ninth.
But he needed a break as Alexei Ramirez lined a two-out single down the left-field line that Bourn quickly fielded and threw to third baseman Manny Machado. He then gunned down Mike Mahtook, who had singled, at the plate -- a call that stood up under review.
The Rays started quickly as Evan Longoria homered in the first inning for a second straight night. He hit a three-run shot off Yovani Gallardo on Thursday.
Richie Shaffer added a two-run homer in the second inning after Steven Souza Jr. singled to open the frame. That gave the Rays the early four-run lead.
Starter Chris Archer gave up three runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings and left with the lead, but the Tampa Bay bullpen could not hold it.
Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez rebounded after giving up the two-run homers in the first two innings. He allowed only two hits after that and lasted seven innings, surrendering just those four runs.
The right-hander also struck out eight without a walk and kept the Orioles close enough to rally late.
Tampa Bay took an early lead thanks to some power. The Rays got a one-out double from Kiermaier in the first followed by a two-run homer from Longoria to go up, 2-0.
In the bottom of the inning, the Rays made two errors, but Archer escaped unscathed.
Shaffer then lined a two-run homer to left in the second for a 4-0 Rays lead, but Alvarez hit his solo shot in the bottom half to get Baltimore on the board.
The Orioles then cut the lead to 4-2 when Davis lined an opposite-field homer to left in the fourth.
NOTES: DH/OF Mark Trumbo, the major league leader in homers (42), did not start due to back spasms. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Trumbo told him this problem occurs a few times per season, and they're hoping he can start Saturday's game. ...RHP Darren O'Day threw 26 pitches in a simulated game Friday afternoon. O'Day has been on the disabled list (right shoulder rotator cuff strain) since Aug. 13, and Showalter said they'll let the right-hander rest Saturday and then make a decision Sunday or Monday on his status. ...For Tampa Bay, 1B Brad Miller made his first start in left field this season as OF Nick Franklin is battling hamstring issues. Manager Kevin Cash said he still sees Miller as a first baseman, but his versatility helps the team. In fact, Cash said he'll probably play shortstop on Saturday. ...Rays 1B Logan Morrison (left wrist strain) will be getting a second opinion on his injury next week with surgery a possibility. He is now on the 60-day disabled list, being moved there Friday to make room for OF Jaff Decker, selected from Triple-A Durham.