Rays 4, Orioles 3
Matt Joyce went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and David Price battled through five tough innings to earn the victory as visiting Tampa Bay claimed the opener of a three-game series.
Price (7-5) allowed two runs, 10 hits and struck out six while stranding 10 runners and Fernando Rodney pitched around a hit and a walk in the ninth for his 28th save. Evan Longoria also hammered a solo homer among two hits as the Rays remained one game behind Boston in the American League East after beating Baltimore for the sixth time in seven games.
Matt Wieters went 3-for-5 with a solo homer and two RBIs while Danny Valencia and J.J. Hardy each added three hits for the Orioles, who dropped four games behind Oakland for the second AL wild-card spot. Baltimore starter Chris Tillman (14-4) yielded four runs and five hits over six innings, dropping to 1-3 against Tampa Bay this season.
Longoria hit a solo blast to center field with two outs in the first inning and Kelly Johnson delivered a two-out RBI single in the second for a 2-0 lead. Valencia and Wieters responded with RBI doubles in the second and third innings, respectively, to tie the game.
After Yunel Escobar walked with one out in the fourth, Joyce hammered the first pitch he saw over the right-field wall to give the Rays a 4-2 lead. Wieters hit his blast to lead off the seventh, but Jake McGee struck out Adam Jones and Wieters to end the eighth with the tying run at second as Baltimore left 15 on base – nine in scoring position.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Longoria sealed his fourth 25-homer season, tying Carlos Pena for the most in club history. … Valencia, called up from Triple-A Norfolk Monday, improved to 9-for-12 in his career against Price with two hits. … Rays CF Desmond Jennings went 1-for-4 with a walk after being activated from the 15-day disabled list. RHP Brandon Gomes was sent to Triple-A Durham to make room on the roster for Jennings.