by : Jay Recher
@jayRecher
Alex Cobb went seven strong innings and Evan Longoria and Steven Souza Jr. each hit long home runs to left as the Rays defeated the Orioles 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Tropicana Field.
Baltimore jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 4th inning on a Jonathan Schoop solo HR to center, but that was all the Tampa Bay righthander would cede to the Orioles lineup.
Cobb (9-6) threw seven innings giving up four hits, one run, one walk, striking out six.
After being shutout by Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez through the first five innings, the Rays were finally able to break through in the 6th.
Mallex Smith worked a one-out walk and then two batters later, Longoria drilled a pitch deep into the seats in left to give Tampa Bay the 2-1 lead. Not to be outdone, Souza Jr. led off the 7th inning with a blast that smacked off the "D" ring in left to push the lead to two runs.
Jimenez (4-7) went six innings giving up three hits, two runs, two walks and struck out nine.
Logan Morrison added an RBI single and Souza Jr. plated a run with a fielder's choice in the 8th to put this game out of reach.
What's Next For the Rays : The Rays are back in action tomorrow night as they travel to New York to take on the Yankees. Tampa Bay will send RHP Chris Archer (7-6, 3.77) to the mound and New York will counter with LHP CC Sabathia (9-3, 3.44). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm with our coverage kicking things off at 6pm with the Inside Pitch ONLY on 620WDAE and 95.3FM, Home of the Rays!