ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- After spotting the Baltimore Orioles a three-run first inning advantage, the Tampa Bay Rays roared back, sending 12 men to the plate in a six-run third inning en route to a 8-3 victory Sunday at Tropicana Field.
After Vidal Nuno allowed three inherited runners to Sergio Romo's record in the first on a sacrifice fly by Chris Davis, a bases loaded walk to Chance Sisco and a base hit by Craig Gentry, but the left-hander was able to escape with just three runs scored.
Tampa Bay cut into the lead in the bottom of the first, as Brad Miller took a 2-2 pitch from Kevin Gausman and deposited it on the D-ring catwalk 436 feet away for his fifth home run of the season.
Tampa Bay's big third inning started with a leadoff walk to Christian Arroyo and a base hit by Rob Refsnyder. Miller followed with his second hit of the afternoon, a double that brought around both runners to tie the game.
Joey Wendle broke the tie two batters later with a base hit of his own to plate Miller. Wilson Ramoskept the inning going with a single that moved Wendle to third base. Daniel Robertson walked to load the bases and Mallex Smith's RBI groundout plated Wendle for a 5-3 advantage. Carlos Gomez was hit by a pitch to again load the bases and Arroyo, batting for the second time in the inning, chased Gausman (3-4) with a two-run single.
Nuno (1-0) struck out the first batter of the fourth inning, Pedro Alvarez, before manager Kevin Cash turned the ball over to Austin Pruitt. The right-hander got the final 17 outs of the game, allowing just three hits and striking out five to earn the save.
Carlos Gomez added to the lead in the bottom of the seventh, blasting a towering home run off reliever Pedro Araujo, his sixth homer of the year.
Tampa Bay finishes the homestand 3-3 after dropping the first two games to the Boston Red Sox, and get back to within a game of .500.
MONDAY'S MATCHUP
Tampa Bay Rays (25-26) at Oakland Athletics (27-25), 4:05 p.m. first pitch, with coverage on WDAE starting at 3:00 with The Inside Pitch presented by Crown Eurocars
Rays starter - RHP Chris Archer (3-3, 4.68 ERA)
A's Starter - RHP Trevor Cahill (1-2, 2.75 ERA)
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Tuesday - Rays at Oakland Athletcs, 10:05 p.m. first pitch
Wednesday - Rays at Oakland Athletics, 10:05 p.m. first pitch
Thursday - Rays at Oakland Athletics, 3:35 p.m. first pitch