O's storm back with 4-run rally to stun Rays
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Orioles parlayed a four-run eighth into a 4-3 win over the Rays on Thursday night at Tropicana Field.
The Rays held a comfortable 3-0 lead after seven innings when they brought in Alex Colome to replace Matt Moore. That's when the Orioles got busy via RBI singles by Steve Clevenger and Manny Machado, as well as a two-run single by Adam Jones to take a 4-3 lead they would not surrender.
"Those were great at-bats, you know, to string together a bunch of runs like that. It's not easy to score four runs off a reliever," said right-hander Darren O'Day, who picked up the save with Zach Britton unavailable. "Little momentum, we know we are a good team. Somebody made a comment, 'When we play them, we should start the game in the sixth inning because the last three innings are always so exciting.' It was fun to watch for sure."
Video: BAL@TB: O'Day gets flyout to end game, earns save
Moore put forth his best outing since returning from Tommy John surgery as he allowed no runs in seven innings, the most he has finished in any start this season. The Rays left-hander allowed two hits while striking out nine, leaving the game after throwing 93 pitches (67 strikes).
"I think it's absolutely something I can build on and kind of continue to look forward. Let's build on those seven scoreless," Moore said. "And just being able to execute a little better, especially when I was ahead in the count, and be able to make a good pitch. Those are the kinds of things I'm looking for out of myself."
John Jaso hit his fourth home run of the season in the third on the first pitch he saw from Orioles starter Chris Tillman. The Rays then pushed across two more runs in the sixth on two-out RBI infield singles by Tim Beckham and Kevin Kiermaier to go up, 3-0.
Video: BAL@TB: Souza Jr. races home at 21 mph to beat tag
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Jones comes through: The O's finally got on the board with a two-out single from pinch-hitter Clevenger in the eighth inning, and Machado followed suit. After Chris Davis' intentional walk, Jones punched a ball into right field to plate two and give Baltimore its first lead of the game.
"Go up to the plate and get yourself a pitch to hit," Jones said of his mindset as he dug in. "Somebody's going to succeed, one of the two. Good thing it was me today."
The O's center fielder also made a diving grab on Kiermaier's fading liner to end the fourth and strand a pair of runners. More >
Video: BAL@TB: Jones lays out to steal hit, save run
C-ring special: Jaso's solo home run in the third confused O's right-fielder Dariel Alvarez, who looked for the ball that hit the C-ring and never came down. According to the ground rules at Tropicana Field, any ball that hits the C- or D-rings (the lower two rings) are ruled home runs. In the history of Tropicana Field, Jaso is the fifth player to hit a ball onto a catwalk that did not fall to the ground. The last time that occurred came on a home run by David Ortiz on Sept. 17, 2008, and the ball remained on the D-ring. More >
Video: BAL@TB: Jaso blasts 384-foot homer onto the catwalk
Tough with two: On Wednesday night against the Yankees, the Rays went 0-for-9 with six strikeouts with runners in scoring position. And they went hitless with RISP in four of their previous five games, going 2-for-30 (.067) over that span. Given that history, Tampa Bay's sixth inning came as a nice surprise. After James Loney doubled with two outs, Steven Souza Jr. walked and Loney moved to third on a throwing error by Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, who tried to pick off Souza at first. RBI infield singles by Beckham and Kiermaier followed to put the Rays up, 3-0.
Video: BAL@TB: Beckham plates Loney with infield single
QUOTABLE
"It's not about all the other games anymore. If we lose, we're not going to get there. If we win, then that's all we can do. All we can do is win. And if we win and other teams win or lose, that's up to them. But we've got to take care of our own business. You can't clean everybody else's house when your house is dirty." -- Jones, on the Orioles trying to get to the postseason
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Rays recorded their 30th scoreless start (most in the Major Leagues) after leading the Major Leagues with 32 in 2014.
WHAT'S NEXT
Orioles: Tyler Wilson will get the spot start, slotting the rest of the rotation back a day. The righty is 2-1 with a 2.19 ERA in six games (two starts) for Baltimore this season. He last pitched Sept. 10 for Triple-A Norfolk.
Rays: Drew Smyly (2-2, 3.14 ERA) will make his 10th start of the season and he's trending in the right direction. In his last start the left-hander tied a career high for strikeouts -- all swinging -- while holding the Red Sox scoreless through six innings. He is 3-0-1 with a 0.79 ERA in seven career appearances (four starts) against the Orioles.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.