After a tough trip up north, the Baltimore Orioles flew south and took two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
After being swept by the surging American League East leading New York Yankees and looking more like a Wild Card team, the Birds dusted themselves off and won an important series against another A.L. East opponent.
After splitting the first two games, Baltimore (48-49) won the series finale 5-2 to clinch the series. For a team that has struggled lately to score runs, it was nice to see the Birds jump out to an early, first inning, 3-0 lead.
The rally began with a walk by slugger Chris Davis who was moved to second on a single by outfielder Adam Jones. J.J. Hardy then singled to score Davis and give his team a 1-0 lead. Nolan Reimold then stroked a double, scoring Hardy and Jones.
Meanwhile, Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen (5-6, 2.88 ERA) kept the Rays (49-51) in check. He only surrendered six hits, but two were back to back homers in the fourth inning. He struck out three and only allowed the two runs in five and 1/3 innings of work.
The Birds got some much needed tack on runs on a fourth inning two-run homer by catcher Caleb Joseph, his seventh of the season.
The Baltimore bullpen was flawless including closer Zach Britton who came in and struck out the side to earn his 25th save of the season. He now has a 1.59 ERA.
The Orioles lost a heartbreaker, 3-1 in the first game of the series. Birds starter Chris Tillman (7-7, 4.71 ERA) followed up his near no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers with a four strikeout, three walk, two-hit, one run seven inning performance.
Leading 1-0 going into the eighth inning, usually reliable reliever Darren O’Day suffered a meltdown as the Rays scored three runs to come away with the late-inning victory.
Baltimore bounced back in the middle game of the series in grand style. Orioles slugger Chris Davis launched his team-leading 22nd homer with the bases full of Birds to give his team a 4-0 lead which would turn into a 5-1 victory, snapping a tough four game losing streak.
On the hill, Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez (9-6) who leads the team with nine wins, struck out five and surrendered five hits in seven and 2/3 innings of work. He now has a 3.99 ERA.
The Oriole’s David Lough added an insurance run in the eighth inning when he tripled and scored on a throwing error to help secure the victory.
The Orioles are now in third place in the tough A.L. East division, seven games behind the first place (55-42) Yankees.
